Where To Go Right Now As a Queer Traveler

Pride Month may be halfway over and you might not even be traveling right now. That's okay, because there are places you can visit all year that are safe, welcoming, and help you engage with new people in the queer community. It can be scary going to a new place, especially as a minority, woman, or LGBTQ, so I wanted to do a little research for those of you who want to travel, but aren't entirely sure where you should go.

You don't want to keep going back to the same places you've been to before, even if it is tried-and-true, you can only visit those places so many times before you're longing for something else. Yes, this is coming from someone who visits Las Vegas multiple times per year, but it's not the only place I visit and it's also never my big trip of the year. It's just one of the smaller getaways I take, but unlike a lot of destinations, Las Vegas is continually changing. 

Some countries that are moving towards a more inclusive environment are:

• Barbados - while British Colonial law seems to have been cemented in this country's history, and gay & lesbians haven't always had the easiest time, Barbados lifted their ban on same-sex activity just in 2022. I'm not sure how they enforce a law without being in people's bedrooms, but this is a big step towards more accepting society.
• Chile - a pioneer in the queer acceptance front (in South America), Chile legalized same-sex marriage in 2022 and has created a number of laws since 2019 surrounding gender equality, trans rights, and the outlaw of conversion therapy. Santiago's pride month is the 3rd largest in South America and prohibits for-profit brands from participating.
• Estonia - the Baltics are a bit behind when it comes to marriage equality and rights, but Estonia became the first of them to legalize same-sex marriage (2024) and public opinion on same-sex relationships is on the rise as well. There's no Pride Month here, but Baltic Pride rotates country (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) each year. It's not ideal, but it's possible that changes in the future and maybe other Baltic countries will take their lead.
• Greenland - last year saw the passing of the Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination, but same-sex marriage has been legal in Greenland since 2016. Greenland finally has a direct flight from the U.S., establishing itself as a tourist destination, but it also launched this Pride Month and welcomes queer travelers to its progressive environment for equal rights.
• India - though same-sex marriage isn't legalized (yet), India has been evolving on acceptance of the queer community over the years, officially ruling that same sex couples could be recognized as familial units and also qualifying for social security. Their KASHISH Pride Film Festival in Dubai has over 150 films and 10,000 attendees.
• South Africa - same-sex marriage was legalized in 2006 and last year they passed the “Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill”, which has largely been met with enthusiasm, especially among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Cape Town is also slated to hold World Pride in 2028.
• Thailand - the second Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage is not only warm, but also very affordable. The new law that grants same-sex couples equal legal, financial, and medical rights as heterosexual couples. It also gave them adoption and inheritance rights.

If you're traveling within the U.S. and want to go to the most accepting cities, here are the top 15 for you:

• San Francisco, California (obvs)
• Hartford, Connecticut - this was a surprise to me, but now I feel like I should go visit.
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Portland, Oregon (yay!)
• Denver, Colorado
• Los Angeles, California
• San Diego, California
• Sacramento, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• San Jose, California
• Richmond, Virginia (so rich in history, too!)
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (home of Mister (Fred) Rogers)
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

You may want to avoid visiting these states:

• Florida
• Indiana
• Kansas
• North Carolina

And these cities in particular:

• Memphis, Tennessee
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• Houston, Texas
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Miami, Florida
• Dallas, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Tampa, Florida
• St Louis, Missouri
• Kansas City, Missouri

Personally, I enjoy visiting destinations that are progressive or are attempting to do better when it comes to the treatment and equality of people. All people. I'm a strong ally for marginalized people and I want to support places that are doing what is right and are supporting people of all types. Those are the communities I feel should get my tourist dollars.

Make sure to use Equaldex and Global Change Data Lab to help you plan your trips when you're unsure of safety, laws, and public opinion scores. You can also use these tips and resources, and use social media to ask your friends about their experiences.

Travel well and happy, knowing you chose the best places for you. Tell me your favorite cities/countries that are welcoming to all.

Planning Your 2025 Summer Vacation

If you haven't planned your summer travels yet, that's okay, but you also need to get on it. The closer we get to June, the more expensive flights and hotels are going to get. Do you need a little bit of a kick in the pants? Maybe some suggestions for where to go? Or some tips to make your trip more affordable?

If you're still hoping to go somewhere when the kids get out of school, and not spend every dollar you have, then I've got some great tips for you:

Book ASAP

Make sure you're getting on booking things you need as soon as you can, because you don't want to end up spending twice as much as you have to. Look to book your airfare Tuesday, Wednesday, or even Sunday. These are when the sales are out, but definitely sign up for emails for your preferred home airport to destination airport. This way, you'll be the first to know when there are deals. It's generally cheaper to fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, so I always try to fit my trip in between some combo of those days. 

Go Sooner Or Later

Mid-June through mid-August is peak summer travel times. If you can go at the beginning of June or the end of August, you might be able to get a deal and beat some of the worst crowds. And if you can go before before Memorial Day, not only will you save a lot more, you'll also need to book everything, like, yesterday. 

Book a Ride-Share Car

Need a rental car? Then skip the traditional rental companies if you can. They are still charging vast amounts of money for their shrunken fleets. I have almost exclusively used Turo for the last 5-6 years, but you can also rent through Uber now, too. These are basically Airbnb, but for cars. I've saved half off traditional rental rates this way. If you're looking for a less expensive, but more convenient rental experience from a more traditional company, check out Kyte, where they will bring the car to you.

Get Online Discounts

If you're looking to do a bunch of stuff on your trip, then see if you can get a discount by booking ahead online before you go. You can easily find promo codes for things as you're booking them, especially if you're using Chrome extensions like Honey or Rakuten, which will try all available codes at checkout. Not only that, but you'll get cashback on your purchases where these are available and save twice.

Go somewhere different

Your kids are always going to want to go to theme parks or the beach during the summer, but by changing up your destination, you can actually save a little or a lot of money. If they insist on going to the beach, look for lakeside resorts near where you live. Most still have a beach and everything that goes along with it, unless surfing is on the agenda. Other ideas are to visit cold-weather destinations or South America. The Southern Hemisphere experiences winter during our summer, making it a less desirable place to vacation. Less desirable equals more affordable. South America is close, but there are so many different places to choose from that are amazing, tropical and super budget-friendly.

Some great budget-friendly destinations for the summer broken down by month:

June: Bali, Dublin, Krakow, Japan, Las Vegas, Mexico, New York City, Portugal, San Diego, Toronto, Vietnam, Washington (State)

July: Brazil, Chicago, Costa Rica, Dallas, Denver, Ecuador, Georgia (State), Hungary, Morocco, Myrtle Beach, Nepal, New Orleans, Thailand

August: Bulgaria, Colombia, Curaçao, Ecuador, Egypt, Gatlinburg, Georgia (country), Las Vegas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Turkey (Turkiye)

If you need a lot more summer travel tips, don't forget to check out my summer travel ebook and look for more ideas on where to go, how/what to pack, and other ways to save on all your trips. I also send out other travel tips that you won't find on the blog through my newsletter. 

I'll be spending some time in Sacramento in July. Where will your summer travels take you this year? Tell me in the comments!

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