{"id":211,"date":"2019-02-21T14:00:03","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T14:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=163223"},"modified":"2019-02-21T14:00:03","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T14:00:03","slug":"the-top-5-lesbian-travel-destinations-in-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/21\/the-top-5-lesbian-travel-destinations-in-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 5 Lesbian Travel Destinations in 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"woman
\nPosted:<\/strong> 2\/21\/2019 | February 21st, 2019<\/p>\n

We want to speak to a wide range of voices on this website so have added an LGBTQ column to talk about travel issues that are important some of our community members. This month, Dani, one of our LGBT columnists, shares the top five lesbian travel destinations in 2019. <\/em><\/p>\n

I have told you everything you need to know about traveling as a lesbian<\/a> and how to plan the perfect lesbian-friendly trip, but what about lesbian-friendly destinations? What are the greatest locations for an unforgettable lesbian vacation \u2014 where you don\u2019t have to be afraid<\/a> to get weird stares or have to be careful with PDAs if you\u2019re with your partner. <\/p>\n

There are dozens of spots that fit the bill, some of which became more interesting at certain times: Lesbos became popular with gay women when the Sappho Women\u2019s Festival was created in 2000, Los Angeles<\/a> saw an increase in lesbian travelers when The L Word first aired in 2004, and Madrid<\/a> was particularly popular with queer visitors during 2017 WorldPride. <\/p>\n

So which destinations are having their \u201clesbian moment\u201d in 2019? <\/p>\n

Here are five that welcome LGBT travelers and have something that makes them particularly interesting for lesbians now, no matter if you\u2019re solo or with your significant other. Read on for why I think you should hit up one of them this year:<\/p>\n

1. New York City, USA<\/h3>\n

\"Dani
\nWhy go?:<\/strong> New York City<\/a> is not only known as one of the gay-friendliest cities in the world and the top-ranked LGBTQ destination in the US but it is where the Stonewall riots<\/a> kicked off the modern gay liberation movement in 1969. <\/p>\n

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of this significant event in LGBT culture, and to commemorate, New York City will host WorldPride<\/a> in June \u2014 the Pride of Prides, a full month of festivities, with over 50 events. It\u2019s the first time in its 20-year history that WorldPride is being held in the United States<\/a>, and many celebrities are expected to join the festivities, including Madonna, who rang in the 50th anniversary year with a surprise performance at the historic Stonewall Inn bar on New Year\u2019s Eve. <\/p>\n

While this is a great excuse to visit NYC this year, there are many more things that make the city attractive for lesbian tourists \u2014 from world-class art museums to stunning Broadway productions and dozens of neighborhoods to explore, New York City is always worth a visit.<\/a> In the summer, you will get to enjoy free performances by the New York Metropolitan Opera and the Philharmonic in the city\u2019s parks, free outdoor movie screenings, and weekend flea markets and food markets. Check out Matt\u2019s 3-day NYC itinerary<\/a> that covers all of the city\u2019s famous sights and museums.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to check out New York\u2019s lesbian nightlife, including the iconic Cubbyhole Bar and Henrietta Hudson in the West Village, the popular Hot Rabbit party, and a number of Pride parties exclusively for women, such as the Femme Fatale<\/a> rooftop party. <\/p>\n

If you want to learn more about the LGBT history of New York, I recommend this informative LGBTQ History Walking Tour of Greenwich Village<\/a>. <\/p>\n

When to go:<\/strong> June. The biggest event, WorldPride, takes place on Sunday, June 30, 2019.<\/p>\n

Before you go:<\/strong> Check out the lesbian events<\/a> calendar before you visit NYC. There are regular lesbian stand-up comedy shows<\/a>, dance parties<\/a>, and exquisite drag shows<\/a>. Events like lesbian speed dating or a comedy show are especially great if you are traveling solo. <\/p>\n

2. Montreal, Canada<\/h3>\n

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\nWhy go?:<\/strong> Canada<\/a> legalized same-sex marriage in 2005 and has been a popular destination for LGBT-travelers ever since, and while cities like Vancouver<\/a>, Toronto<\/a>, or Quebec<\/a> are all LGBT-friendly , Montreal<\/a> is known as the city with the biggest LGBT nightlife scene and is particularly lesbian-friendly (unlike most other popular LGBT destinations, which usually focus on male clientele). The favorable exchange rate of the Canadian dollar right now also means that a trip there is not too expensive. <\/p>\n

Rue Sainte-Catherine is where most of Montreal\u2019s gay nightlife is centered, and it\u2019s the center of \u201cthe village,\u201d Montreal\u2019s gayborhood. Sadly, the infamous Le Drugstore, a lesbian bar on eight floors, closed down, but there are still plenty of amazing destinations. Don\u2019t miss Complexe Sky, the biggest gay club in all of Canada, whose four floors each have different styles of music; the terrific rooftop terrace includes a pool and hot tub.<\/p>\n

No matter if you make it to Montreal in time for Pride or not, I do recommend visiting in the summer, since the city prides itself on an abundance of outdoor activities during the warmer months. The streets are decked with outdoor seating, and you can relax on Jean Dore Beach on the shores of St Lawrence River, just minutes from downtown. Climb up to the top of Mount Royal for sweeping views over the city, marvel at the murals on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, and swing by lesbian-owned industrial warehouse-meets-beer garden Bar Alexandraplatz in the up-and-coming Mile-Ex neighborhood for a cold beer. <\/p>\n

When to go?:<\/strong> No dates have been released yet, but there will hopefully be another edition of the popular Slut Island Festival, a feminist-queer DIY music festival that was founded in Montreal in 2013 mainly for performers and audiences who identify as women, trans*, gender-fluid, nonbinary, or people of color. The festival usually occurs in July. <\/p>\n

Montreal Pride 2019<\/a> happens August 8\u201318, 2019.<\/p>\n

Before you go:<\/strong> LezSpreadTheWord<\/a>, an organization that publishes the feminist LSTW<\/em> magazine and created the popular queer web series F\u00e9minin\/F\u00e9minin<\/em>, hosts the bimonthly girls party \u201cO\u00f9 sont les femmes?\u201d \u2014 try to plan your trip around one of their awesome parties.<\/p>\n

3. Mallorca, Spain<\/h3>\n

\"women
\nWhy go?:<\/strong> Mallorca has been a popular holiday destination with Europeans for decades, but in 2012, the Spanish island popped up on the lesbian travel map for the first time thanks to the inaugural Ella Festival<\/a> in Palma, Mallorca\u2019s capital. In August, the festival celebrates its seventh edition, and no matter if you identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, or intersex, every woman is welcome at Ella! You\u2019ll get to enjoy beach parties, concerts, and a number of activities, from paddleboarding to beach volleyball, as well as island excursions. <\/p>\n

While most of Mallorca\u2019s LGBT nightlife happens in Palma, I recommend exploring the rest of the island as well. The easiest way to get around is by car, but you can also reach many beautiful beaches and little towns by bus. There are over 260 beaches in Mallorca, but make sure to visit the picturesque small bays of Cala Formentor and Cala Pi, and Cala Mesquida and Playa de Muro for wide sandy beaches. Also worth a visit: the Cap de Formentor lighthouse on the northern tip of Mallorca, and as many as you can of the charming little villages that dot the island, for example, S\u00f3ller, Fornalutx, Valledemossa, and Dei\u00e0.<\/p>\n

When to go?:<\/strong> The Ella Festival is August 30\u2013September 6, 2019. Add on a week of island exploration before or after the festival. <\/p>\n

Before you go:<\/strong> Check out Lesbian Mallorca<\/a>, the \u201clesbian lifestyle directory\u201d of the island, has a great overview of lesbian bars and lesbian-friendly and lesbian-owned restaurants, hotels, and shops.<\/p>\n

4. Provincetown, Mass., USA<\/h3>\n

\"women
\nWhy go?:<\/strong> Provincetown, often referred to as P-Town, is a small fishing town at the northern tip of Cape Cod, and it has long been a favorite with LGBT travelers. The charming little seaside destination is a fantastic vacation spot for anyone \u2014 straight or gay \u2014 with over 200 independent shops, plenty of art galleries, delicious restaurants, and great beaches, but its focus on lesbian travelers and the celebration of freedom of expression are what makes this open-minded community so attractive for girls. <\/p>\n

Provincetown has more lesbian-owned businesses per capita than anywhere else in the US, the highest concentration of same-sex households in the US, and many LGBTQ-owned B&Bs and inns. No matter if you are solo<\/a> or with your partner, there\u2019s something for everyone: Provincetown is home to the oldest gay bar in the US, the A-House; the gayest main street in the world, Commercial Street;<\/a> one of the top ten gay beaches in the world; and the East End Gallery District, offering world-class art. No matter what time of year you\u2019re visiting, you\u2019re likely to stumble upon one of the town\u2019s many themed weeks or weekends (see below). <\/p>\n

The daily tea dance (4\u20137pm) at the Boatslip, an expansive deck that overlooks Provincetown\u2019s West End Harbor, is something you have to experience once \u2014 expect a packed dance floor and great people-watching. You\u2019ll make new friends there for sure. <\/p>\n

When to go:<\/strong> Try to plan your visit around one of the many women-focused events, depending which one best fits your preferences and interests: Women\u2019s Media Summit<\/a> (April 5\u20137); Single Women\u2019s Weekend<\/a> (May 17\u201319); Womxn of Color Weekend<\/a> (May 30\u2013 June 2); Pride<\/a> (May 31\u2013 June 3); Girl Splash<\/a> (July 23\u201327); Family Week<\/a>, the largest annual gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified families in the world (July 27\u2013August 3); the incredible Carnival<\/a>, which attracts 90,000 visitors (August 15\u201325); Women\u2019s Week<\/a> (October 14\u201320); or the weeklong transgender celebration Fantasia Fair<\/a> (October 20\u201327).<\/p>\n

Before you go:<\/strong> Since there are so many events year-round, make sure to check what\u2019s going on in P-Town during the dates of your visit. If they happen to be during Carnival, for example, be aware that the town turns into party central. Never arrive without having accommodation booked in advance \u2014 B&Bs and hotels tend to fill up quickly. <\/p>\n

5. Puerto Rico<\/h3>\n

\"a
\nWhy go?:<\/strong> Just over a year after devastating Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico with full force in September 2017, the island is bouncing back. Almost all hotels are open again, the New York Times<\/em> just awarded Puerto Rico the #1 spot on its popular 52 Places To Go in 2019<\/a> list, and thanks to its status as a United States commonwealth, the legal rights of LGBT citizens (same-sex marriage has been legal since 2015) have had a great influence on Puerto Rico, which is now the gay-friendliest of all Caribbean<\/a> nations. Especially for Americans, Puerto Rico is an easy getaway: there are plenty of direct flights from East Coast airports (and other US hubs), you don\u2019t need a passport, and it\u2019s a fantastic winter escape, with temperatures around 81\u00b0 Fahrenheit (27\u00b0 Celsius) in January. <\/p>\n

Both San Juan, the capital, and Ponce, the island\u2019s second largest city, have several gay and LGBT-friendly bars and nightclubs, and last year\u2019s Pride Parade in San Juan attracted more than 5,000 people. Most gay bars are in San Juan\u2019s vibrant Santurce neighborhood. Circo Bar is the most popular, and Oceano is a sophisticated, gay-owned, open-air beach bar across from Condado Beach. While there aren\u2019t any lesbian bars per se (the last one, Cups, closed a few years ago), the go-to place for lesbians is El Cojo Bar (in the Hato Rey district), but all of Puerto Rico\u2019s gay bars welcome women. Also worth a visit are T\u00eda Mar\u00eda Liquor Store and Splash Lounge. <\/p>\n

While San Juan is the best base during your Puerto Rican gay-cation, don\u2019t miss out on the rest of the island. The jungles of El Yunque National Forest will wow even avid hikers, the underground caves of R\u00edo Camuy Cave Park are spectacular, and of course there are dozens of picture-perfect Caribbean beaches all over the island. <\/p>\n

A quick ferry ride brings you to Puerto Rico\u2019s hidden gems: the island of Vieques, which is famous for Mosquito Bay and has the most bioluminescent bays in the world, and Culebra Island, where the turquoise waters at the stunning Playa Flamenco makes all your Caribbean beach dreams come true. <\/p>\n

Vieques, a small dreamy island largely untouched by tourism, is especially popular with lesbian travelers. Don\u2019t expect any LGBT nightlife there, but instead serene beaches, unspoiled nature, and even wild horses that roam freely in some parts. TripAdvisor listed Vieques as one of Top 25 Beach Destinations in the world, because the island has \u201cmore than 40 beaches and not one traffic light.\u201d If you\u2019re looking for a relaxing hideaway or a lesbian-friendly wedding spot\u2014the W Resort offers same-sex ceremonies\u2014Vieques is the place for you. <\/p>\n

When to go:<\/strong> Puerto Rico is a wonderful beach destination during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. Mid-April to June, before the summer rainy season starts, is also a good time to visit \u2014 you\u2019ll encounter less crowded beaches and fewer tourists. The gayest event of the year is Puerto Rico Pride, but the date for the 2019 edition has yet to be announced; it usually happens on Memorial Day Weekend.<\/p>\n

Before you go:<\/strong> The upscale beachfront Ocean Park area of San Juan is where most LGBT travelers tend to stay. Not far from there is Condado, a pedestrian area with a gay-friendly<\/a> beach (the stretch facing the gay Atlantic Beach Hotel). TripSavvy has a list of gay and gay-friendly hotels in San Juan.<\/a><\/p>\n

***<\/center><\/p>\n

Of course, these are not the only places that are worth a trip this year \u2014 there are hundreds of others around the globe. You don\u2019t have to trek halfway around the globe to discover new amazing destinations. Why not plan a lesbian break during Pride weekend in a city nearby? But, out of all the places I’ve visited, I’ve found these had some of my favorite welcoming and vibrant Lesbian communities! They shouldn’t be missed. <\/p>\n

What are your favorites? Leave a comment and let us know. <\/p>\n

Dani Heinrich is the vagabonding writer and photographer behind GlobetrotterGirls.com<\/a>. Originally from Germany, she has been nomadic since 2010, when she quit her corporate job and embarked on a round-the-world-trip. She has traveled through over 60 countries on four continents and has no plans to stop any time soon! You can also follow her adventures on Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a> or Momondo<\/a>. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.<\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hotel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads<\/a> for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n