Over the past 15 years of our relationship, we’ve traveled to over 90 countries across 6 continents as part of our Nomadic Boys gay travel blog. Along the way we’ve also celebrated special occasions at some pretty impressive places.
Whenever we plan a romantic getaway, we strive for a destination that offers a mix of everything – pristine beaches, beautiful landscapes, nature, activities like hiking/diving, great food, but most importantly, is gay friendly.
As gay travelers we sadly have an extra layer of work that we need to do before embarking on a trip abroad. For starters, we need to check the local LGBTQ laws to ensure it’s legal to be gay there. Whilst it’s enticing to visit a place like Morocco, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, or the Maldives, sadly all these places have a nasty anti-gay law in place. In Egypt, the local police enforce this law using gay apps like Grindr to target and arrest gay men! Thankfully in others, the law is more decorative, but local police can still use it to elicit a cash bribe.
We then need to check the extent that destination is safe for us. For example, do we need to go back in the closet and pretend we are two friends traveling and therefore avoid all public displays of affection? Is it safe for us to book a double bed in a hotel? Just how conservative is the local society? Are there any queer friendly spaces we can visit?
Normally we are fine to compromise on a few of these considerations for the sake of, say, experiencing the pyramids of Giza. However, for a romantic getaway, one where we want to celebrate our love and be our authentic selves without worrying about looking over our shoulder, gay friendliness is the most important factor!
We’ve put together our 5 favorite destinations that we’ve been to for a romantic getaway, which have not only inspired our wanderlust but have also welcomed us as a gay couple such that we can confidently say make for a top gay honeymoon destination.
1. Iceland
Iceland is a dream. Whether you visit in the summer months or the cold dark winter months, the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’ will blow you away.
We visited Iceland in February on one of our anniversary celebrations. We did a two-week road trip, traversing the entire country on its Ring Road. The reason for visiting in February was because we wanted to experience the Northern Lights, which you can only see between October-April on a dark clear night.
We rate Iceland as our top gay honeymoon destination for many reasons. For starters, it has the most incredible natural landscapes we’ve ever come across. This includes the myriad of waterfalls like Skogafoss, Gullfoss, Svartifoss, Detifoss – some even featured in blockbuster movies. The Geysir Geothermal Area is another highlight as is the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon – made famous after it was featured in a Justin Bieber video in 2015!
Iceland has so many activities to fill a trip, from bathing in geothermal hot springs such as Blue Lagoon, ice caving, hiking, even snorkeling between two tectonic plates at the Silfra Fissure.
But most importantly of all, Iceland is one of the most gay friendly places we’ve ever been to. Diversity and acceptance are woven deep into the cultural fabric of Icelandic society. They have several rainbow crossings in the capital city, Reykjavik, to mark this.
It’s no surprise, Iceland has some of the most progressive LGBTQ rights in the world, legalized gay marriage in 2010, gay couples have had equal access to adoption and IVF since 2006, and in 2015, the Church of Iceland voted to allow gay couples to marry in its churches. Iceland has a full range of anti-discrimination laws to cover everything including hate speech, and gender identity. In 2020, Iceland introduced the most progressive laws on trans and intersex rights.
And we certainly felt this from the moment we arrived. At no stage did we ever feel unsafe about holding hands in public. Even in a small town in rural East Iceland, locals didn’t bat an eyelid when they saw these two men sashaying down the streets holding hands.
When it comes to gay parties, Iceland isn’t going to compete with the likes of Sydney, London, or New York, however, there is a small gay scene in Reykjavik with a couple of queer bars Kika which hosts parties and drag shows on weekends.
Oh – and the Northern Lights. We got to see them, and it was everything we expected. Nothing beats watching the kaleidoscope of color above you in the pitch black in the dead of night in the arms of your loved one.
2. Thailand
We first fell in love with Thailand when we visited as a young gay couple many moons ago. We’ve been coming back for our annual no-tech ‘get away from it all’ holiday.
Thailand is a top gay honeymoon destination because it offers us everything.
We love the gay scene of Bangkok, particularly the bars in Silom Soi 4 like Stranger, Circus and Balcony. For culture, Chiang Mai in the north of the country is a joy to explore, with over 300 temples (wats). The surrounding mountainous area is ideal for adrenaline adventures from biking, river rafting, caving, and jungle tours.
And then there’s the islands, each with its unique pristine beach. The most famous are Koh Phi Phi (where the movie, The Beach, was set) and Koh Phangan – famous for its full moon parties. However, these islands are as hectic as they are famous. Instead, we recommend Koh Samui, which has several gay resorts to check out, like the Alpha Gay Resort & Spa. Our personal favorite is Koh Lipe, which is remote, therefore free from most of the mass tourism that plagues the other islands and is surrounded by thriving coral encircling the island.
The most important reason why we love Thailand so much is because it is so gay friendly. We’ve never faced any issues here. No one bats an eyelid at us. No hotel has ever rejected our request to share a double room, no hotel staff has ever felt awkward at hosting two men. Simply, they are used to it. For years Thailand has been welcoming LGBTQ travelers.
We put this down to the Buddhist mentality, which has tolerance and acceptance at its core. The result, Thailand has one of the most progressive LGBTQ laws in Asia and is set to legalize same sex marriage at the end of 2024 becoming the second nation in Asia to do so after Taiwan.
3. Argentina
We fell in love with Argentina.
We’ve been several times, each time discovering something new. It’s the second largest country in South America (after Brazil). It offers such a wide variety of things to do, from hiking across the otherworldly Perito Merino Glacier, unforgettable hiking in El Chaltén, getting close up with penguins in Chubut, wine adventures in Mendoza, and standing in awe watching Iguazu Falls. The capital is a highlight in itself with some of the best steak restaurants (parillas) in the world and a thriving gay scene.
When it comes to LGBTQ rights, Argentina is a true trailblazer. In 2010 it became the first country in South America to legalize gay marriage, which included adoption rights. The government has for years been promoting LGBTQ travel with companies like GNetwork360 hosting grand annual gay conferences for the tourism industry. This is a country that we know welcomes us with open arms, free of any judgment.
Our most fond romantic memory in Argentina was doing queer tango classes at La Marshall Milonga in San Telmo. This is the coolest district of Buenos Aires, an area famous for its tango dance halls (milongas). Queer tango classes take place every week, which includes a social free style dancing session after. We’ll never forget those moments when we were dancing together to the nostalgic sounds of the tango music. It was like we had been transported to another era: the distinct accented staccato, the sudden changes in dynamics and the melancholic sounds from the bandoneon accordion.
For fellow tango lovers we recommend checking out the next Queer Tango Festival. The next one due to take place on 5-9 December 2024.
4. Japan
No matter how many times we visit, we can never get bored of Japan. Each time we leave we yearn to return for more.
Each time we set foot in Japan it’s like we’ve stepped into a time machine and entered a futuristic world! Everything is so advanced. Everyone so charming, friendly – always with smile and a charming bow!
When it comes to LGBTQ rights, Japan is a bit of an odd ball. It’s advanced by Asia standards but compared to West Europe and North Americas it has a way to go – gay marriage, for example, is not (yet!) nationwide law. Despite this, we couldn’t have felt more well received. The Japanese go all out to welcome foreigners both straight and gay. At no stage did we ever encounter any awkward stares or homophobia.
In terms of things to do in Japan, we were spoilt. The capital, Tokyo, has one of the largest gay scenes in Asia, with hundreds of tiny unassuming bars and clubs in the Ni-chome area of Shinjuku. One of them, New Sazae, is famous for being the favorite gay bar of the late Freddy Mercury’s favorite. It was also where one of the Queer Eye episodes was filmed when they came to Japan.
Kyoto is the cultural hub of Japan with stunning temples, the unique Fushimuri Inari Shrine, and the iconic Sagano Bamboo Forest at Arashiyama. Close to Kyoto is Osaka, the culinary capital of Japan, where you’ll find the best of the best in terms of classic Japanese dishes such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki.
Hiroshima is a must for all travelers. The Peace Memorial Park was harrowing and intense but so vital to see how the 1945 atomic bomb impacted the city.
The other reason we rate Japan as a top gay honeymoon destination is because it offers a tranquil escape in the Yaeyama Islands, home to the Japanese jungle, unspoiled beaches, and pristine reefs for world class diving.
5. New Zealand
There is nothing more romantic than an epic road trip with your lover. And when it comes to unforgettable landscapes, New Zealand is up there for us, with Iceland. You could spend months exploring North and South Island, never getting bored.
Also, like Iceland, New Zealand is a trailblazer when it comes to LGBTQ rights and welcoming gay couples. It legalized gay marriage in 2013, becoming the first nation in the Asia-Pacific region to do so. In relation to anti-discrimination laws and the right to change legal gender, New Zealand had this in place as far back as 1993, years before most places in West Europe and North America. New Zealand also had the world’s first openly transgender mayor (of Carterton) and Member of Parliament in 1995: Georgina Beyer.
New Zealand gave us a dose of adrenaline (Queenstown is renowned for its bungee jumping), some epic backdrops, rugged beauty…and of course, Hobbiton! As Lord of the Rings fans, visiting The Shire was a dream, as was tracing the movie locations as we drove around the two islands.
One of our most romantic memories in New Zealand was bathing in the mud baths of Hellsgate in Rotorua, the country’s most active geothermal reserve. Its healing powers is steeped in Māori myth and legend. The Māori culture in Rotorua can also be explore via the 3-hour experience at ‘Te Puia’ which includes a cultural show and a ‘hāngi’ (earth-cooked banquet).
For gay nightlife Auckland has a small scene, with hangouts like Eagle, GAY Auckland, Caluzzi Cabaret, and Family.
Be sure to check out The Nomadic Boys gay travel book, Out in the World: The Gay Guide to Travelling with Pride.
