Born in Istanbul, I would say it is not best place in the world for gays but it deserves to be in th

New Yorkers seeking a respite from the city's chilly temperatures will get their shot at a virtual holiday Jan. 19, with a special seminar emphasizing the hottest destinations for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers worldwide.
"What's New in LGBT Travel: Hot Destinations, london uk hotels Cool Events and Surprising Destinations and Vacations" is just one component of The New York Times' 10th annual Travel Show , held at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York. The three-day-long london uk hotels event, which opens its doors to the general public over the weekend, will also feature special seminars on luxury train travel and extreme adventures, as well as location-specific discussions on China, Africa and Cuba, among others.
Covering hot new LGBT destinations, events and tours are Curve Magazine 's Merryn Jones, Out 's Jerry Portwood, "Frommer's Buenos Aires" author Mike Luongo and Passport Magazine 's Joe Pedro, along with Ed Salvato of ManAboutWorld .
HuffPost Gay Voices asked Jones, Portwood, Luongo, Pedro and Salvato to share their picks for 10 hot LGBT-friendly destinations for 2013, and their responses may surprise you. Check out what they came up with below -- and happy travels!
The city is growing in sophistication as Turkey becomes a wealthy, financially stable country, says Mike Luongo. Hotels like the waterside Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, or for their gay Pride or for unusual gay events like Istanbear Spring Festival, london uk hotels the Turkish Gay Bear Spring Party, held in early April of this year, coinciding with other Istanbul spring festivals.
Mike Luongo: As the country becomes safer, more popular, it is an underexplored part of South America london uk hotels becoming better london uk hotels known, and the capital offers cuisine and art galleries. Last year's November gay pride attracted a lot of international attention. The Colombian carnival is also in Barranquilla, Shakira's hometown. Partly driving this trend is gay Latino Americans seeking new places to visit. (Carnivals as a whole are fabulously gay events, even beyond Rio.) These South American events give travelers an extra summer, too.
Jerry Portwood: This Mediterranean city continues to stun with its level of gay-inclusiveness as well as its mix of sophisticated cultural offerings and thriving nightlife. Brown Hotel is a great boutique hotel near restaurants and nightlife. Stockholm, Sweden
One of the most open and welcoming Scandinavian cities with a thriving arts and gastronomy scene year-round. The Abba Wine Tasting at at Stockholm's Spritmuseum is a quirky experience, says Jerry Portwood. Austin, Texas
Asks Joe Pedro, How many times have you heard I do not want to go to Texas, but I would love to go to Austin? Live music capital of the world with SXSW, food revolution (top chef, farm-to-table, food trucks), new hotels (W), liberal attitude (nude watering holes), active city parks and gay nightlife. The city has nearly doubled its hotel capacity to make way for a new wave of young tourists london uk hotels who are ready to experience the Texas capital. Auckland, New Zealand
With direct flights from LA and Dallas, Auckland New Zealand has it all for the gay traveler, notes Joe Pedro. World-class cuisine, a rare co-exisitng culture, modern and traditional london uk hotels five-star hotels, picturesque waterfront, and several gay bars—but it's not just an urban getaway. A ferry ride or sailboat away, visitors can experience the endless, Tolken-esque beauty of the North Island.
This long-time resort destination has seen its ups and downs but today it is being rediscovered london uk hotels by younger london uk hotels people, notes Ed Salvato. london uk hotels It is more sophisticated than it has been in recent london uk hotels years with sophisticated lodging options, restaurants, wine bars and cocktail lounges. Gay men should check out Island house Key West for a frisky london uk hotels experience in a high end setting. Alexander's is a smart choice for a gay and lesbian london uk hotels friendly experience that also welcomes open-minded straight travelers. Los Angeles, California
Silverlake has always been a gay-popular neighborhood, home to the city's leather bars, rough around the edges, and not very inviting for tourists, Ed Salvato says. But the area has been a beneficiary london uk hotels of the rising prices of West LA real estate. The leather bars are still here though they've been joined by cute and interesting restaurants and stores. Downtown LA has seen the biggest change, with sufficient residential development to finally support a supermarket, along with extensive restaurant and nightlife options. For Women: Events And Driving Destination Choices
Women's events are driving choices, like Aquagirl Miami, possibly the resurgence of smaller destinations and tour operators like Michigan london uk hotels for Mich Womyn's Fest, Wild Women Expeditions, Wild Rainbow African Safaris, says Merryn Johns.
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Guranacase Province in Northwestern Costa Rica should be on the list not only because of the exception beaches, the variety of accomodations, the great hiking and the proximity to the US and Canada thanks to a new International london uk hotels Airport, but because no one really cares if you're gay or straight. But that is generally true about areas in which there are a lot of Canadian ex-pats.
Born in Istanbul, I would say it is not best place in the world for gays but it deserves to be in the list if you really want to taste orient and intercultural mixture along with gay life. Living in Kansas is painful when I remember the days in Istanbul. I assure you that you will never regret visiting such a stunning, historical city with lots of fun. Don't forget going to Turkish bath :))
One of my dearest friends london uk hotels lived in Austin back in the late '70s and early '80s. He told me about Austin's vibrant london uk hotels gay culture, Austin's progressive culture, the many festivals and block-parties that truly made Austin the 'go-to' spot for Gay folk.
Unfortunately, all of that ended when the AIDS pandemic hit like a ton of bricks. He told me (often with tears in his eyes) of the disease practically annihilated the Gay community - and the festivals, london uk hotels the block-parties, the 'go-to' aspect of Austin vanished as well. He told me he went back to Austin in the mid-90's, and it was practically a wasteland when it came to events and attractions that once drew Gayfolk there. Heartbroken, he left and has never returned - 'too many ghosts', he told me. 'Too many empty streets.' The haunted look in his eyes was heartbreaking.
Hey, FYI, you're being manipulated by a commenter (BacSi) who bizarrely london uk hotels parades around the comment board creating the false impression that he's gay. He's an old married heterosexual man who, when pressed, spews anti-gay bigotry. london uk hotels It's very strange.
It's more a matter of how welcoming the culture would be to gay visitors. In some countries, you're putting your freedom london uk hotels at risk (gays can be jailed in some countries) and perhaps even your life at risk, too.
Istanbul? Really? Sorry, but as an American transplant in Europe, you guys are WAY off the mark. Stockholm london uk hotels is wonderful, but not exactly the best weather, sadly. What about Gran Canaria? Or the Peloponnese peninsula--absolutely breathtaking. What about the Rhein/wine region of Germany--incredibly beautiful, gay friendly and a hop skip and a jump away from Cologne. Not to mention Swizterland and Austria... I mean, there are so many other places than Silverlake and Austin (no offense, use to live in Silver Lake). I've been to Istanbul several times and honestly, london uk hotels it's not exactly the safest place to be an "out" man. You have to be REALLY careful--and my gay Turkish friends would 100% agree with me!
I was surprised how gay friendly Switzerland and Austria have become. Rainbow flags fly freely in Zurich, perhaps the most conservative city in Switzerland, and gay couples walk hand in hand and occasionally grab a kiss while walking along the main pedestrian walkway in Vienna (I think it's the Kärntner Strasse if I recall correctly). No one notices or pays any attention.
I agree! Austin is OK, but as a "destination", I'd take the Rhein country any day. Zurich has a LOT of rich expats from all over the world because of the tax situation. So, I think that is the reason for the change in attitude towards gay people. But it is an absolutely gorgeous area. I also wondered why parts of the UK were not mentioned--Wales, Brighton Beach for example. I get the idea that the people who wrote this article really haven't traveled enough to form any useful informative opinions. Also--I would take the Greek Isles over Key West any day fo the week. Heck I would take the Atlantic coast of the Netherlands (zandsvoort for example) over Key West. Just much more interesting places.
You haven't london uk hotels *really* been to Pride until you've spent it in Stockholm, at beautiful Tantolunden Park by day to see the QX Gala Pridefest london uk hotels concert with Lena Philipsson (the thinking gay man's diva) and you've spent an evening on board the permanently docked boat/night club Patricia. Just my 2 kronor worth...
When did Colombia legalize gay marriage? I was tracking the bill's progress there, and that last I heard it had passed its first of 4 votes in the Colombian legislature back in December. london uk hotels Was it signed london uk hotels into law?