Planning a Safe and Inclusive Romantic Retreat

Travel is for everyone, no matter who they love. LGBTQ+ travelers are interested in romantic vacations, not just destination weddings and honeymoons. We asked travel agents to share how to plan romantic vacations for LGBTQ+ clientele, including safety, inclusivity and desired experiences. Nick Rogers of Youtique Experiences summed up the desires of LGBTQ+ travelers perfectly: “We want to celebrate our relationships. Our community isn’t only about parties and parades. Having moments to unwind and celebrate love with someone you care for is an essential part of life.”

While same-sex relationships are illegal in at least 70 countries, the travel industry is making strides to be more inclusive of queer travelers. “Historically, romance travel for the LGBTQ+ community has been limited to cruising. Today as more corporations are introducing inclusivity training to their employees, we’re seeing an ever-increasing number of resort options for a romantic LGBTQ+ vacation,” says Scott Wismont, president of Rainbow Getaways.

How to Vet a Destination for LGBTQ+ Travelers

Travel advisors must go beyond the typical considerations when vetting a destination for LGBTQ+ clients because hosting Pride events once a year doesn’t guarantee a destination is safe for queer travelers. QBIPOC people need additional considerations as they travel to foreign countries as well.

There are several checklist items to ensure a quality destination, such as:

• Research gay legislation in countries around the world — Equaldex and ILGA are great resources.
• Research the culture’s acceptance of BIPOC people.
• Get a pulse on society’s acceptance of queer people at the planned destination.
• Browse the destination marketing organization (DMO) website to look for LGBTQ+ travel resources beyond Pride celebrations.
• Ask destination travel partners if queer clients will be safe, what the client needs to know and do to stay safe while visiting and what extra precautions are taken to ensure safety.

“Destinations are spending time and money on LGBTQ+ training and advertising,” Rogers says. “It’s important the destination isn’t just wanting LGBTQ+ money or calling themselves an LGBTQ+ destination. I need to know via my own experience or by talking to travelers who felt comfortable and that the rainbow flag wasn’t just for show.”

LGBTQ+ Romantic Travel Destinations

According to Katina Williams of Chasing Down Daydreams Travel, Mexico is a popular destination for the LGBTQ+ travelers she works with. “The demand has been high for adventure travel in particular,” she says. Some of the most popular locales she sees include Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Riviera Maya, Zipolite and Holbox.

In the United States, Disney World is always a popular trip for LGBTQ+ clients. “Disney World is the place where you can act like a kid and not worry about anything. The annual ‘Gay Days’ are always a favorite — it’s just filled with so much love,” Williams adds.

Dr. Terika L. Haynes, founder of Dynamite Travel, has seen interest from her LGBTQ+ clients in attending major pride events including Sydney World Pride in 2023. She suggests Puerto Rico, St. Martin/St. Maarten, St. Barth's and Curaçao. “These destinations are appealing because they’re more LGBTQ+ friendly than other destinations in the Caribbean,” she says.

In Europe, Rogers sends his LGBTQ+ clients to Barcelona and the Greek Isles because they’re places where they’ll be respected and treated the same as non-LGBTQ+ couples. Wismont adds Paris to the list, saying, “Paris is the most popular romance destination for global travelers, and our community is fully welcomed.” For more options in Europe, Nelson suggests Italy, Malta, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia and the United Kingdom. “They all have a rich romantic history, are architecturally interesting, boast amazing culinary experiences and are LGBTQ+ friendly.”

How to Vet a Resort for LGBTQ+ Travelers

To vet a resort for LGBTQ+ travelers, Wismont looks for the property’s support for the overall community throughout the year. Agents should be sure to:

• Ask about inclusivity training for employees and if they welcome members of the community as employees — this can reveal if a resort is actively practicing an inclusive culture.
• Seek out LGBTQ+-owned resorts.
• Look for resorts that have held LGBTQ+ weddings or offer same-sex couples’ massages.
• Examine the resort’s marketing materials and social media accounts. Does the content reflect same-sex couples?

“A resort that rainbow-washes its logo once a year isn't ideal, but one actively working to make our community better is worth supporting,” Wismont says.

Rogers seeks LGBTQ+-owned resorts and often visits resorts before recommending them to clients. “There are resorts I wouldn’t send clients to based on my personal experiences. Sometimes it's not just the resort, it’s the clientele they attract,” he says.

Resorts for LGBTQ+ Romance Travel

Rogers loves Karisma Resorts as they’ve always treated his clients with respect. “The Karisma properties are filled with a welcoming spirit that invites travelers to be themselves. Their properties are romantic and have great service,” he says.

Wismont notes that Marriott and Hilton make inclusivity part of daily operations and have corporate training to ensure all travelers are treated equally. Marriott has several properties near Disneyland, including the new Westin Anaheim Resort. His all-inclusive brand of choice is AMResorts. “These resorts are fantastic for romantic travelers because of their efforts to ensure inclusiveness. At a Secrets resort, an LGBTQ+ couple can have a romantic candle-lit dinner without feeling like they're being scorned,” he explains.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico, is popular for LGBTQ+ travelers. Williams recommends the Xcaret properties, including La Casa de la Playa, and Wismont’s choice is Palmaïa, The House of AïA. Rogers’ Mexico favorite is Almar Resort in Puerto Vallarta. “It’s an upscale LGBTQ+ experience,” he says. “A hidden gem in Puerto Vallarta is Garlands del Rio with unique rooms and indoor/outdoor showers.”

Originally appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of The Compass magazine.