Author: Lauren Mulvey

September has always been a popular month to escape high season travel, but as more and more tourists ditch the dog days of July and August vacations to save money on September bookings, the month has also become victim to hoards of tourists in airports, resorts, and destination cities.  September has long offered a reprieve from other travel months for many reasons: less holiday and vacation travel, cooler temps, and it’s convenient timing with the start of back-to-school season. In the past, it has been the perfect month to take a trip to a popular destination that sees tens of…

Over-Tourism has many famous destinations around the world in a chokehold, and it comes as no surprise that Greece’s famous Santorini is subject to some of the worst crowds of the summer season. Tourists know and love the idea of Santorini’s white-washed and blue-domed structures, sunny days and striking seas, so much so that the island attracts around 3.4 million visitors a year. Santorini’s population stands at around 20,000, and according to CNN around 17,000 cruise ship passengers peruse the island each day during seasonal peaks.  Santorini is a visual paradise with stunning views, incredible sunsets, and quaint cobblestoned streets,…

Year-round, Key West hosts many LGBTQ-friendly events, including a sensational and renowned Pride celebration each June. However, there is still more more fun to be found at special events this summer and fall.  BrewFest is taking place August 29 – September 2. Hosted by Southernmost Beach Resort, this multi-day festival includes beer pairing dinners, pool parties, tap takeovers and a signature tasting event with over 150 beers to try. Events during the festival will take place at restaurants, hotels and bars around town giving visitors a great opportunity to explore the area.  Key West Favorite Son Celebration. This year from…

Though there are many volcanoes around the world, did you know can visit some of the most beautiful peaks that remain active today? Whether you’re cruising through Italy, hiking through Bali, or visiting Iceland (The Land of Fire and Ice), you’ll find an active volcano that can provide beautiful, inspiring views. Mount Etna – Catania, Sicily One of the world’s most remarkable active stratovolcanoes looms over Sicily’s eastern coast, creating a gorgeous backdrop in cities like Catania, Taormina, and Messina. When we say Etna is active, we mean it erupted just last year (August 2023), forcing closures at the nearby…

Protests against over-tourism continue in destinations around the world, but in Spain the conflict is coming to a head. Earlier this month, Barcelona residents protested over-tourism on the city streets by spraying water at tourists with water pistols and marching through the streets chanting “tourists go home.” Reports from CNN indicate that thousands of locals gathered for a march through the streets of Palma de Mallorca, calling on lawmakers to provide an “alternative tourism model” and to increase access to housing, improve public services and increase conservation and regeneration of natural areas.  Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported that around 110 groups…

The 46th annual Provincetown Carnival Week is rolling into the famous LGBTQ+ friendly Cape Cod town this August. One of P-town’s largest queer celebrations is back with a record number of carnival events and an amazing theme: Renaissance x Revolution.  Running August 17-24, attendees can expect a jam-packed week of festivities including, a Carnival Parade down Commercial Street on Aug. 22 and a performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 runner-up and classically trained opera singer Sapphira Cristál, at Renaissance Ball. The 46th annual Provincetown Carnival Week, August 17-24, is presented by the Provincetown Business Guild (PBG) and is one of…

One of the most attractive aspects of moving abroad is the potential to save money on daily living costs. All around the world, expats are enjoying affordable rent, groceries, goods and services, but there are a few places where you’ll have to pay more if you want to live there. According to Mercer’s 2024 cost-of-living data, the most expensive places for expats to live are Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich, with Hong Kong topping the list. To render these results, Mercer evaluated key factors affecting the world’s economy in recent years, including inflation and exchange-rate fluctuations, heightened economic and geopolitical…

A new app called “Everywhere is Queer” is connecting travelers with LGBTQ-owned and Queer-friendly businesses around the world. Them interviewed founder and creator Charlie Sprinkman on how they hatched the idea and how the app works.  The idea hit Charlie Sprinkman, when they were working for an organic beverage company, which required traveling across the country. But as they hopped from state to state, Charlie found it difficult to find LGBTQ+ friendly spots to hangout. The solution? A digital map or queer-owned businesses, and an official database for queer folks to use while they travel. Sprinkman launched their website in…

Maybe you’re a master of finding the perfect centrally located apartment on Airbnb or Vrbo, but the short-term rental industry has more options than these two giants. Though you can book your stay almost anywhere in the world with Airbnb and Vrbo, some countries have their own popular versions of short-term booking applications where you can find more options. Agoda  Though Agoda supports listings in locations around the world, it specializes in Southeast Asia rentals. So if you’re looking to book your trip to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, or Cambodia with Agoda, you’ll probably find yourself surprised at how affordable accommodations…

Though a United States passport can get you to a lot of places in the world without a visa, there are some destinations where all U.S. citizens must obtain one.  United States passports are some of the most powerful travel passes in the world. They can get you anywhere in Europe for up to three months under the automatic Schengen Visa. They can also get you to parts of the Middle East and Asia, and many places in South and North America. Additionally, U.S. travelers can head to the U.K. for up to six months or countries like Georgia for…

It’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and what better way to beat the heat than to enjoy a refreshing swim. Sure, you could vacation at nearly any beach on any continent, but there’s something magical about discovering a new watering hole, hot spring, or swimming spot to cool down in. Here are some great places around the world to swim and enjoy the wonders of H₂O. Copenhagen City Canals – Denmark  What’s unique about Copenhagen is you don’t even have to leave the city to find a place to swim. Swimming spots are built seamlessly into the city with so…

Travelers from the United States looking to continue their worldly adventures can now renew their passports online. Last week the State Department announced they would begin testing an online passport renewal program. However, there is a catch, according to Travel and Leisure, only travelers who live in the United States at present and have passports that were issued between 2009 and 2015 will be able to renew online. Those who hope to change identification details such as name or date of birth will also not be able to use the online renewal system.  So what do you need to do…

If you’re a digital nomad who has set their sights on the Mediterranean you’re in luck because Italy and Turkey now offer digital nomad visas. In Turkey, the new digital nomad visa is available to citizens between the ages of 21 and 55 in 36 countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and France. Applicants for visas must earn a minimum of $3,000 a month or $36,000 a year. All required documents for this visa can be filed online.  To prove you can make it in Turkey on your own, you must have a college degree, be employed with…

All over the world, athletes, viewers, and journalists are gearing up for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris (July 26 – Aug 11). This year around 10,500 athletes will compete in the games, and that’s a lot of ground to cover for reporters who are working the events.  Recently, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) released the newest edition of the Portrayal Guidelines, which act as a general guide for journalistic conduct and language when reporting on the games.  The Portrayal Guidelines opens by stating: “Sports coverage plays an important role in shaping gender norms and stereotypes and promoting new positive,…

Though many of us love a good globetrot, it can be nice to break up our worldly adventures by exploring some of the unique destination in the USA. From the Florida Keys to the shores of Cape Cod, these beautiful places offer visitors one-of-a-kind experiences, art and culture, natural wonders, and delectable cuisine. Key West, Florida The perfect seaside getaway for LGBTQ+ travelers awaits in Key West. All year round this destination hosts festivals, special event weekends, and parties for LGBTQ+ tourists, including Key West Pride, Womenfest, Tropical Heat, and more. If you’re looking for a fun, relaxed destination…

Hostels have long acquired a reputation for catering to day trippers, backpackers, penny pinchers, and above all, young people. However, hostels are not exclusively for traveling youth. In fact, they can often be a safe, affordable, accommodating and fun place to stay for travelers of all ages. So you don’t have to be a twenty-something on a six month stint abroad to book a bed. You can also be a tourist staying for a week, a few days, or passing through and still enjoy your stay. On the whole, hostels get a bad rap, so we’re debunking some myths about these…

Since the first Pride march in 1970, Pride celebrations around the world have seen incredible displays of color, love, and light. Some of the biggest displays span miles and take thousands of people to unveil.  You may see Pride displays in your towns and cities in shop windows, on front porches, doorsteps, or even on billboards along busy streets and intersections in your city center. But some pride displays around the world take the cake for grandeur, style and impact.  One of the biggest Pride displays to date was first donned at Key West Pride in 2003. A 1.25 mile…

Traveling to the most famous cities in the world can wreak havoc on your budget, but smaller, tight knit, historic cities offer respite from the tourist crowds as well as plenty of sites to see, incredible food, and all the charm of Europe’s finest metropolitan areas. Here are five of our favorite affordable cities in the E.U. Go to Lyon, instead of Paris This summer, prices in Paris are expected to skyrocket due to the summer Olympic games. Even year round, prices are higher in Paris than in many places around France. Just a few hours away by train there…

If you’re a traveler looking to save on trips, points earned with travel credit cards can be redeemed toward travel-related expenses, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. Here are some of the best travel cards that will earn you the most savings on your travel adventures, according to Nerd Wallet and The Points Guy. As you peruse your options, be sure to compare each card’s annual fee and intro offer. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card With Chase Sapphire Preferred, making the list for both Nerd Wallet and The Points Guy, consumers get 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 within the first…

Liechtenstein, one of Europe’s smallest countries, has legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the EU’s 22nd country to do so in a nearly unanimous vote. Liechtenstein’s parliament, Landtag, voted in favor of this historic bill with 24 of 25 members in support, according to the Liechtensteiner Vaterland. The country, which only has a population of almost 40,000, is the last German speaking country to legalize marriage equality. The bill will go into effect starting in 2025 throughout the 62 square mile territory. Prior to achieving marriage equality, Liechtenstein offered registered partnerships for same-sex couples for over a decade. Now, a simple administrative…