It's an unfortunate fact that at the moment we live in a world where gay and lesbian people often suffer from discrimination and that some hotels, and even some cities have to be labeled as "gay friendly" (because the alternatives are places that are very unfriendly towards gay couples.). But the fact of the matter is that gay travelers often have to take into account the level of discrimination (or even violence) they'll face when traveling to a specific destination. In many places - like most first-world countries - gay travelers can travel without care, while in some countries, same-sex couples may run into trouble.
BootsnAll's GLBT travel resources can help if you're a gay traveler planning a trip. In addition to books on gay travel and recommendations for gay-friendly destinations, we offer tips on finding a gay-friendly hotel and links to a whole host of other online resources from around the web. Towards the top of that list is the Netherlands, which is among the most welcoming to gay travelers; the gay tourism center in Amsterdam opened in 2009 to help aquaint gay travelers with the city.
No matter what your travel style - whether your style is gay backpacking or you prefer more upscale accommodation, there's a whole wide world out there waiting to be explored. Travel can open your mind and enrich your life, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Gay or straight, you can find dozens of resources on BootsnAll that will help you travel better, for less money, than you ever thought.
Photo by Thomas Lu