6 Gay-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations





Same-sex couples have a disadvantage when it comes to choosing a honeymoon destination. 

 Straight married couples don’t worry about their relationship offending someone or whether a simple romantic gesture like holding hands will draw abuse.

 Homosexuality is illegal in 70 UN member states.  According to CNN, six have imposed the death penalty for consensual same-sex sexual acts.

 Okay, so it’s unlikely that places like Yemen and Saudi Arabia will be pinned to your Pinterest board but Brunei might be. In Brunei, same-sex relationships are now punishable by death.

 Gay sex in Tanzania can land you in prison.  What about a trip to St Petersburg or a safari in Kenya?  You might like a shopping trip to Dubai or a tour of India’s Golden Triangle.  Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos don’t have any specific laws against homosexuality, but they’re generally very intolerant to LGBTQ travellers.

 Of course, plenty of LGBTQ travellers will go to these places and experience no trouble at all. They’ll have fantastic trips. People will probably be very kind to them but if there’s one thing that gay people have had to learn the hard way it’s that discretion is the best way to protect yourself.

 Two men checking into a double hotel room?

 It draws suspicion. 

 The point isn’t to scare people but to show how careful you might have to be travelling in some areas of the world.

 Of course, you can face prejudice here in the UK but think about the kind of holiday that you and your partner want because you may not be able to be open about your marital status and that can be hard when you’ve only just got married.

 The list below is by no means exhaustive.  Think of it as a starting off point.  Remember, too, that some LGBTQ-friendly destinations aren’t in countries where same-sex marriage is legal.  Do your research before you go.  Ask friends and other gay travellers.  Look at the FCO website, too, and see if there’s any advice or warnings for same-sex couples travelling abroad.
globe of planet earth against a black background

Iceland

 Iceland’s population is around 325,000 people but the island’s annual pride festival brings around 100,000 people to the capital.  That’s pretty inclusive.  Iceland is a gorgeous place to visit.  Stunning, actually.  Whether you go in the summer or in the winter the scenery is going spectacular.  Even better, it’s only a few hours flight time from the UK.  The Church of Iceland announced in 2015 that it would allow gay couples to get married in its churches.  Imagine the Church of England announcing something like that!

 Thailand

 Thailand doesn’t have same-sex marriage laws but same-sex relationships are legal and in the main tourist and urban areas Thailand is far more tolerant of LGBTQ couples than in neighbouring countries.  There are gay-friendly hotels and clubs in a number of popular resorts and big cites.  Phuket is a gorgeous honeymoon destination and one popular with both straight and gay couples.  In 2018,  Thailand pledged to become a top LGBTQ destination and given that the pink pound (or pink dollar or pink euro…) is good for business and the economy it’s a good decision both for the country and for the people it’ll attract.

 Sitges, Spain

 To the south of Barcelona, Sitges has a great beach (17 of them), good shopping, superb nightlife and the Mediterranean sunshine.  Proof, too, that you don’t need to fly long-haul to find a gay-friendly sunshine holiday.  Visit in June to see the Gay Pride and it’s easy to add a few days in Barcelona, too.

 Costa Rica

 If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, then Costa Rica makes for a good LGBTQ destination, particularly when compared to its neighbours.  According to Lonely Planet, some areas of the country -- Quepos and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio -- have been LGBTQ destinations for decades.

 Canada

 Canada is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly destinations in the world.  Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are three of the most gay-friendly cities and all are superb bases to explore some of this gorgeous country.  Canada and New Zealand (the last stop on our list) actually share the top-spot in Lonely Planet’s 10 best honeymoon destinations.

 New Zealand

 New Zealand has the kind of scenery that takes your breath away.  It’s also one of the most LGBTQ-inclusive countries on earth.  What’s not to love?  Head to Auckland in January for Pride.  New Zealand was the first place to have a network of approved gay lesbian-friendly tourism business.

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