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There is a phenomenal vacation destination, filled with one-of-a-kind adventures and exciting locales. Its cities are urbane and vibrant, perfect for gay tours. It is a land of wonders so diverse, with natural and manmade settings so remarkable, it is almost indescribable. Where? Australia!

Australia offers gay travelers a welcoming destination, brimming with activities to suit the whims of any traveler. And that’s probably the reason that so many gay couples and singles are saying, “G’day, mate,” and making a beeline for this beautiful continent.

When you’re in Australia you are rarely far from experiences that will excite you as never before. For the wine connoisseur, try going to Yarra, Coal River or Swan Valleys. Visit the wineries and their tasting rooms to experience first-hand the contrast between a smooth white and smoky red. Excitement junkies can go diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Visitors can swim with giant whale sharks at Ningaloo. In the Northern Territory at Darwin Harbor, you can dive World War II shipwrecks. In Tasmania you can hike national parks and ancient rainforests, home to interesting plants and animals.

No gay traveler can miss Melbourne, the second-largest city in Australia. This is a multi-cultural metropolis where Victorian and contemporary architecture blend seemlessly. In this very gay friendly city, you can spend time with the sculptures in Werrebee Park, shop to you drop at high-end shops or less expensive boutiques, go to first class theater productions, and then end your day with a visit to one of Melbourne’s hot clubs! Perfect for a gay romantic getaway too.

For gay travelers who enjoy driving, consider embarking on the Pacific Coast Touring Route and take in the lush and quaint scenery. But remember, Australians drive on the left side of the road! If that sounds too sedate, you can get your heart pumping during various water sports, such as river rafting or kayaking.

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are upside down from those of the Northern Hemisphere. Summer in Australia takes place December through February. Australia is a very big continent, so check with your travel agent for weather information about your particular time of travel and your destination.

Australia has a very wide range of accommodations. From hostels to small inns for romantic holidays, to high end spa retreats and everything in between, making a gay adventure travel to Australia affordable, no matter what you budget might be.

Thoughts about Australia written by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys list of gay guides is amazing. Their gay travel in 2010 is well rounded.

The unique geography of Chile allows visitors to explore volcanoes, ski or snowboard in the Andes, lounge on picturesque beaches and enjoy a night out in the gay district of Santiago all in one day. In short, Chile offers is a great place for gay vacations. Rich in varied landscapes and important landmarks, visitors to Chile can experience the statues of Easter Island, arid deserts, exceptional architecture and churches, the Mirador de Chepu Penguin Colony, the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia and the Elqui Valley in La Serena, which teems with legends of extraterrestrial activities, all in one trip.

With many cultural, historic and natural attractions to choose from, Chile offers a variety of options for gay trips, which include snowboarding or ski strips to world-renowned Andes resorts, touring Chile’s wine country, pilgrimages intent on experiencing the country’s deep tradition of Catholicism and exploring churches, family vacations on the beaches of Vina del Mar, sightseeing adventures to take in the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia and learn of ancient island civilizations, or urban excursions centered on experiencing the cosmopolitan culture and nightlife in Santiago.

Chile has a long history of influence from both the military and the Catholic Church, which means that changes in attitude and acceptance of the LGBT community are progressing slowly. The center of Chile’s gay culture lies in Santiago and this city is where gay vacationers will find the greatest acceptance, as well as the highest concentration of establishments that are gay-owned or gay-friendly. Barrio Bellavista is the seat of Santiago’s gay community and is a trendy, clean neighborhood with quaint eateries, shops and cafes, as well as the vast majority of Santiago’s gay bars, clubs and bathhouses. While you will not find any rainbow flags flowing from balconies or couples strolling hand in hand down the street, you will find gay and lesbian magazines prominently displayed at newsstands and happy couples taking tea at cosmopolitan sidewalk cafes.

The gay-owned Spanish restaurant, Capricho, is a popular first stop for a night out in Bellavista, often followed by drinks a one of the local gay bars and dancing into the early hours of the morning at one of Santiago’s gay clubs. Options for clubbing range from discos much like those found in most large cities to risqu clubs with live sex shows. It is common to begin a night out with dinner around 9 or 10pm, followed by a lively night of escapades that may not end until the sun is coming up. There are also several bathhouses ” often called saunas ” in Santiago, including a more upscale option catering to professionals. As in the U.S., HIV is a concern and precautions should be taken to ensure a safe, enjoyable gay vacation in Chile.

The fact that Santiago is the most accepting city in Chile for a gay vacation, coupled with its central location for ease of exploring all that Chile offers, this capital city is one of the most popular Chilean locales for gay vacations. Whether you are planning Chilean gay tours for you and your partner, your family, or a group of single friends, working with a travel agency that is accustomed to organizing gay holidays in Chile is your best bet for ensuring a safe, fun trip that you will always remember.

Spread about Chile composed by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys produces gay getaways for gay travel groups and singles.

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Greece offers an array of opportunities for fantastic gay tours or couples experience. Gay travel to Greece will naturally include amazing sunrises, relaxing on white, sandy beaches, trekking to historical sites to explore ancient ruins, and ferrying between several of Greece’s breathtakingly beautiful islands. Whether you dream of a gay vacation that includes family fun like picking olives and exploring museums, a restful respite in a seaside resort with your partner, or a rowdy week of taking in the Athens nightlife with a group of friends, Greece will undoubtedly prove to be an ideal setting for your gay vacation.

Athens has several gay bars and clubs, as well as coffee shops and cafes that are gay-owned or gay-friendly. And, of course, there are saunas for gay men interested in the bathhouse scene during their gay vacation to Greece. Athens Relax is right across the street from a gay club and is a large sauna with mixed-age clientele, while Hera is a smaller sauna with more mature patrons. Limanakia beach, just south of Athens is a popular beach area for gay men that offers a rocky shore, underwater rock formations and swimming.

Mykonos is one of the most welcoming Greek islands for gay vacation travel and has long been a popular gay travel destination. With exquisite beaches, spectacular scenery, a vibrant nightlife, welcoming locals and a cosmopolitan air, Mykonos is a must-see stop on any Greek gay vacation. Gay-friendly lodgings abound on Mykonos, including an adults only lodging option that is gay-owned and caters exclusively to gay travelers. Crete is another vastly popular Greek island for gay travel. While there is no definable gay scene on Crete, there is a bed and breakfast that is gay-owned, a few gay bars and businesses, gay beaches and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, which makes Crete a natural choice for any gay vacation to Greece.

Of course, lesbian travelers will not want to miss Lesvos and the opportunity to explore Sapphos native hometown, Eressos. Lesbian travelers can stroll along beautiful beaches, experience luxurious spa treatments, people watch from romantic cafes and indulge in a delightfully women-centered nightlife while visiting this haven for lesbian travel.

Greece remains a mostly traditional, religious country, but those who visit Greece on gay vacations will find a welcoming environment almost anywhere in the country. One of the best ways to see Greece is to use gay vacations. Another great option is to plan your gay vacation to Greece through a travel agency that regularly plans Greece gay vacations. This will ensure that you will have the opportunity to experience all that Greece has to offer and will return with a lifetime of memories.

Thoughts on Greece authored by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys offers gay nude yoga and provides gay travel information.

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The Pacific paradise of Hawaii has long held an exotic allure that draws travelers from all corners of the globe to its picturesque shores. With a population that is warm and welcoming and comprised of a remarkable blend of white European, Polynesian and Asian cultures, Hawaii is popular for both straight and gay vacations. Hawaii’s LGBT community is low-key and not necessarily highly visible, but those who take part in a Hawaii gay travel experience will find a higher level of acceptance than many places in the U.S., due in large part to an overall welcoming and accepting atmosphere created from generations of several cultures living together without one dominant culture or religion imposing its will.

Seventy percent of Hawaii’s population resides on Oahu, the third largest island in the chain, which is also home to the state capitol of Honolulu and the popular tourist destination, Waikiki. When traveling to Oahu on gay holidays, the Mexican caf La Cucaracha is a must-see and offers authentic cuisine, music and margaritas. Oahus LGBT community can also be found at the community book, novelty and clothing store, 80% Straight Inc., located in the Waikiki Grand, or one of the LGBT bars and clubs, including Fusion Waikiki, Angles Waikiki, Hulas Bar & Lei Stand and In-Between. For those who want to head to the beach, a warm welcome will be waiting at Queens Surf and below the lighthouse at the world-famous Diamond Head beach.

A gay vacation to Maui might not include an exciting scene, other than one smaller area of Little Beach in Makena, but Maui has much to offer to any traveler, including old-world villages, sunrises atop Mount Haleakala and wiling away an afternoon wandering amid waterfalls, making this island a wonderful location for gay tours. If you prefer exploring the most tropical, scenic island in Hawaii, Kauai is a must-see stop and is home to two LGBT-friendly lodgings that offer clothing optional areas, as well as amazing canyons, cliffs and waterfalls.

The Big Island is also a welcoming vacation option and offers several LGBT-friendly accommodations, restaurants and business, as well as one bar. Gay vacations to the Big Island provide opportunities to visit an active volcano, black sand beaches, a rain forest or the snow-capped Mauna Kea.

There are many reasons to travel to Hawaii, which is the most remote island chain in the world and a must-see paradise. In a single trip to the islands you can scuba dive or snorkel among coral reefs, explore a volcano, visit a pineapple farm, ride horses on black sand beaches, learn the hula and attend an authentic luau. To make sure you do not miss anything that Hawaii has to offer, use a gay holidays tour, or enlist the assistance of a travel agency well-versed in planning gay vacation tours.

Information by Howie Holben on Hawaii gay vacations. Spirit Journeys focuses on your gay spirit.

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South Africa has long been a gay tours destination, even before it became a human rights frontrunner with the abolition of apartheid, having the first constitution in the world that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation and becoming the fifth country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage. Of course, after these landmark events, the interest in traveling to South Africa significantly increased in both the gay and straight communities. Today South Africa is the most accepting and gay-friendly country on the African continent with a growing gay culture that stretches from the pristine beaches of the Western Cape Province to the exciting, fast-paced lifestyle of Gauteng and is an increasingly popular gay vacation destination.

Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town are must-see stops on gay vacations to South Africa and offer a variety of establishments, events and activities that are gay-centered or gay-friendly. Gay men will find a plethora of establishments that cater exclusively to them from lodging options that include gay-owned exclusively male guest houses, Pretoria’s Camp David, which is a private nude bar exclusively for gay men, and Cape Towns bathhouses, which are generally referred to as steam saunas or steam baths. While South Africa’s gay scene is mostly geared towards men, lesbians and families will also find plenty of activities to enjoy on gay vacations in this historically- and culturally-rich country, including many tour options offered by gay-friendly tour companies committed to providing a great gay vacation for gay travelers.

Gay men and lesbians who prefer a gay tour centered around gay events may want to consider visiting South Africa in September, which is gay pride month and includes several pride celebrations and events, including the Out in Africa South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which brings more than 16,000 visitors to Cape Town and Johannesburg each year. Or, in December, gay travelers to Cape Town can join more than 10,000 international visitors attending the Mother City Queer Project annual costume party. Cape Town is also home to two beaches that are widely popular among gay men, Clifton’s Third Beach and Sandy Bay nudist beach, as well as a gay village with numerous gay-friendly and gay-owned businesses and eateries in Green Point. Local publications serving the gay community, like Outright and Exit, can be picked up at various locations and provide up-to-the-minute information on gay goings on and the best bars and restaurants.

Any gay vacations to South Africa must include indulging in the plentiful options for dining in gay-friendly establishments like Johannesburg’s Bellgables Country Restaurant, where travelers dine in a refurbished farmhouse on a 21-acre farm; Cape Towns award winning Emily’s, which offers South African cuisine in a fine dining environment, as well as both beer and wine bars; or gay-owned Lola’s, a vegetarian caf in Cape Town with a bohemian feel.

To ensure a great gay travel experience in South Africa, enlist the assistance of a professional travel agency when planning your trip. Travel agents that regularly organize gay trips to South Africa will have up-to-date information about the best places to stay, eat and play, as well as safety tips for exploring in areas that may not be as accepting.

Info post about South Africa originated by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys suggests gay vacation spots and is a place for gay spiritual singles.

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