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Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips.

 

 

Alysse Dalessandro Santiago is a plus-size fashion and travel blogger, designer, LGBTQIA influencer, and professional speaker based in Cleveland, Ohio. This post originally appeared on her blog, Ready to Stare.

Finding the best in LGBTQIA inclusive travel just got easier. Online travel booking site Orbitz has been leading the way for LGTBTQIA-friendly travel.  l’m always on the lookout for safe spaces for more than just cis gay white men, and Orbitz makes sure all people in the LGBTQIA communities are welcome and supported. Their commitment to the LGBTQIA community is not just a trend they’re hopping on; they’ve actually been actively supporting the community for nearly two decades.

Orbitz launched its first LGBTQIA-inclusive ad, “See the world on your terms,” in 2001, and the following year launched GayOrbitz.com, becoming the first online travel agency to launch a website dedicated to the LGBTQIA travel space. Over the years, Orbitz has continued its commitment to the LGBTQIA community and the greater community as a whole by highlighting important movements in the community like World Pride and showing their support after the tragic Pulse shootings in Orlando.

Travel Safe with Orbitz - Best LGBTQ+ Inclusive Travel Destinations

Orbitz just launched a brand new microsite specifically aimed at helping you find LGBTQIA-friendly and safe accommodations all over the world and travel with pride. The new site hosts a wealth of information. Not only do they list the best LGBTQIA cities and places to stay, they also have recommendations from locals in the community, and influencers and celebrities, like my friends Gabi and Shanna from 27 Travels and Ravi from Ravi Round the World. As these recommendations are straight from the source, you can rest assured that you will be safe and accepted at these LGBTQIA hot spots.

New York City Pride - Stonewall Inn - World Pride - Best LGBT Travel

There are so many notable cities on the microsite like New York City, L.A., San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., that are known hubs of LGBTQIA fashion, nightlife, and style. Orbitz thoroughly combed the United States and the world for all the best locations where you can just relax and be yourself. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many of these destinations, and here are some of my favorites.

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Travel | Be Proud Mural Fort Lauderdale | Rainbow Mural

SOUTH FLORIDA

South Florida is a huge destination for LGBTQIA travelers. It’s so welcoming, you can hold hands with your partner and feel like you are in a safe space. Fort Lauderdale is known specifically for being welcoming for transgender travelers. Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Key West all offer a trip rich in arts, culture, and relaxation.

Find great Fort Lauderdale hotels right here. 

Rainbow Butterfly Mural Fort Lauderdale | Best LGBTQ+ Travel Destinations

CALIFORNIA

California boasts beautiful Palm Springs, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as LGBTQIA top destinations. Each city offers a different flavor befitting of any type of traveler and a thriving LGBTQIA community.

Best LGBTQ+ Inclusive Travel Destinations

I went to San Francisco in college and have been dying to go back ever since. Even though I wasn’t out at the time, I appreciated San Francisco’s rich LGBTQIA history. Plus, there’s just so much to see and explore.

Best LGBTQ+ Travel Destinations | Palm Springs Queer Travel

Los Angeles is a mecca for film, Hollywood glamour, and the best beaches. About a two hour drive away, Palm Springs offers a chance to let your hair down and rest and recharge in the desert while taking in mid-century architecture and mountain views.

Find a cool place to stay in California here.

LAS VEGAS

Best LGBTQ+ Travel Destinations

Las Vegas is not necessarily known as an LGBTQIA destination, but I didn’t feel excluded in any way. I went for my bachelorette party and made it known I was an LGBTQIA bride. Vegas is famous for its entertainment and it didn’t disappoint! I went to brunch at Señor Frog’s where you can catch drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race and it was a blast.

Queer Bride | Lesbian Bride in Las Vegas

I was out and proud in Vegas, and I felt totally safe. Plus, I can’t imagine the city who hosted the most iconic divas of all time to not be an LGBTQIA-friendly city, right?

Find a winning Las Vegas hotel here.

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans travel guide - Best LGBT Inclusive Travel Destinations

I have only been to New Orleans once, with my husband. New Orleans was the first long trip we had been on together and we felt perfectly comfortable.

Best LGBT Inclusive Travel Destinations

The city is famous for Bourbon Street and its buzzing nightlife, jazz, and delicious Cajun and Creole eats, but at the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann streets, you’ll find the hub of all things LGBTQIA in New Orleans.

Book your NOLA hotel right here. 

 NEW YORK CITY

New York City is an obvious addition to this list. This is where the Stonewall riots happened, this is where we celebrated 2019 World Pride, and this is where pretty much everything happens in terms of LGBTQIA culture, nightlife, and fashion.

New York City Pride | LGBT Pride | Rainbow Mural

There’s so much happening in New York. Orbitz features NYC guides from local influencers that hit local haunts beyond what the touristy travel guides will tell you.

Find your beautiful Big Apple hotel right here.

ATLANTA

Inclusive Travel Destinations - Queer Atlanta

Atlanta, I love it. I lived in Atlanta for 14 months and spent a lot of time in Midtown. Midtown is the LGBTQIA district of downtown and there is so much art, culture, music, and film all right there. Even though I lived there, I’d love to go back and explore more as an out, proud, queer woman.

Find a great place to stay in Atlanta right here. 

CHICAGO

Finally, our last U.S. city is my favorite, Chicago. I know Chicago has the best having lived there for seven years. It’s the city where I first realized I was fluid, where I went to my first Pride and waved my flag as a proud member of the community and not just an ally.

Chicago Pride - Best LGBTQ+ Destinations

I lived in Boystown, which is Chicago’s gayborhood, and we used to ride our bikes or walk to Berlin to dance and SideTrack to get slushies, and go to other places like Andersonville that have LGBTQIA shops and spaces. There’s so much to do and Chicago will always have my heart!

Find your Chi Town hotel here.

Boystown Chicago - Best LGBT Gayborhoods

LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Orbitz also lists several great international LGBTQIA destinations like Buenos Aires, Ibiza, Tulum, Lisbon, and Bangkok. I haven’t been to those cities personally, but I have been to a few of their other featured listings.

Rome LGBT Travel

Rome is the most inclusive place to be LGBTQIA in Italy and I felt the safest being out there. I lived there for four months while traveling abroad!

London Travel - Best LGBT Travel Destinations

London is basically a lot like New York, only with different accents and not as good french fries. It’s an inclusive city with lots of people where no one really looks at you twice if you’re holding hands with your partner. London is definitely a place you can be yourself.

LGBT Travel in Paris

Paris was one of my honeymoon destinations. No one stared at me and Gio for being an interracial couple. There is no real issue with Paris being safe. It’s a big city and fashion mecca, and so great to visit as an LGBTQIA traveler.

Prague I visited when I was younger and I feel like I didn’t really get to have the full LGBTQIA experience. There are so many places in Prague that I would love to go back and visit.

Best LGBT Travel Destinations

Toronto is one of Gio’s absolute favorite cities. We’ve explored a lot of the shopping, but I’d love to go back and check out some of Toronto’s nightlife.

Toronto - Best LGBT Cities

These are just a handful of the amazing LGBTQIA inclusive travel destinations you can find and book on Orbitz. The brand’s LGBTQIA travel hub is an amazing resource full of information for your travels. I know traveling doesn’t look the same right now, and we’re not necessarily traveling to big cities or internationally, but it’s always good to know there are resources out there when the time comes.

Travel with Pride | How to Book LGBT Inclusive Travel

You can also use Orbitz to plan for the future! They are booking for 2021 and there are so many articles on the best LGBTQIA points of interest in each state like the Matthew Shepard memorial in Laramie, WY and Provincetown, MA!

Matthew Shepard Memorial - LGBT Travel Wyoming

Orbitz is constantly expanding their content to make sure you have everything you need to travel safely and with pride!

Best LGBTQ+ Travel Destinations

 

Tagged: argentina, Asia, Atlanta, California, Canada, Chicago, Chicago, Europe, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Italy, Key West, Las Vegas, Latin America, LGBTQIA, Miami, Midwest, New Orleans, New York, Paris, Thailand, Top 10 Lists, Toronto

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

Alysse Dalessandro Santiago
Alysse is a plus size fashion blogger, designer, LGBTQ influencer, and professional speaker based in Cleveland.
Alysse Dalessandro Santiago

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