"Embracing Connection: A Comprehensive Guide for LGBTQ Women to Thrive in Los Angeles"

Los Angeles, often hailed as the entertainment capital of the world, is not only a vibrant and diverse city but also a haven for the LGBTQ community, specifically for queer women seeking connections and community. In this growing metropolis, there are numerous opportunities for LGBTQ women to forge meaningful connections, find supportive spaces, and embrace their identities. Here's a guide to navigating the City of Angels for LGBTQ women.

1. LGBTQIA+ Events and Festivals:

Los Angeles hosts a myriad of LGBTQ events and festivals throughout the year. From the iconic LA Pride Parade to the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, these gatherings celebrate diversity and provide an excellent platform for women to connect with like-minded individuals. These events offer a sense of community and inclusion, fostering connections that go beyond the surface level.

2. LGBTQ+ Bars and Nightlife:

The city boasts a lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene, with bars and clubs catering specifically to queer women. West Hollywood, in particular, is home to a variety of LGBTQ-friendly establishments. The Abbey & Chapel, a renowned gay bar, often attracts a diverse crowd. Then there are parties like Grlz Only, Preciosa Latin Night, Social Events, Summer Lesbian Booze Cruise and others provide spaces for women to socialize, dance, and build connections in a fun and vibrant environment. Check out @beingqueerinla on Instagram for upcoming events.

Preciosa Night Party in LA @preciosanight

3. LGBTQ Centers and Support Groups:

Los Angeles is home to several LGBTQ centers and support groups that offer a range of services, from counseling to social events. The Los Angeles LGBT Center, for instance, provides a safe space for women to connect, access resources, and engage in community-building activities. Additionally, joining support groups can be a powerful way to form bonds with others who share similar experiences and challenges. @lalgbtcenter on IG

The Center in LA @lalgbtcenter

4. Community Organizations:

Various community organizations in Los Angeles focus on empowering LGBTQ women. The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC) and Lesbians Who Tech are examples of groups that bring together LGBTQ professionals, fostering networking opportunities and connections. Getting involved with such organizations can lead to both personal and professional relationships.

5. Outdoor Activities:

Los Angeles's beautiful weather and diverse landscapes make it an ideal city for outdoor activities. LGBTQ women can connect through hiking groups, sports leagues, or outdoor events. Runyon Canyon, with its stunning views of the city, often hosts LGBTQ-friendly hiking groups in the Spring and Summer, providing an excellent opportunity to meet new women while enjoying the outdoors.

6. LGBTQ Bookstores and Cafes:

Bookstores and cafes catering to the LGBTQ community are scattered across Los Angeles. Places like the women-focused bookstore The Salt Eaters in Inglewood or the Latina Queer-owned Little Barn Coffee provide welcoming spaces for women to connect over shared interests in literature or a cup of coffee. These types of establishments may often host events that facilitate socializing and networking.

7. Social Media and Dating Apps:

In the digital age, social media and dating apps play a significant role in connecting people. Platforms like Meetup, HER, and LGBTQ Facebook groups specific to Los Angeles offer virtual spaces for women to find events, meetups, and connect with others in the community. I met my fiancé on HER so you just never know, be open!

HER App @hersocialapp

Los Angeles stands as a beacon of acceptance and celebration of diversity, providing LGBTQ women with a plethora of opportunities to connect and build lasting relationships. Whether it's through vibrant events, supportive organizations, or casual social gatherings, the city offers a rich tapestry of experiences for queer women seeking connections in the heart of Southern California.

Embracing Diversity: Top 5 LGBTQ+ Women-Friendly Travel Destinations in 2024

As the world evolves towards inclusivity and acceptance, travel has become an empowering and enriching experience for LGBTQ+ women seeking destinations that celebrate diversity. Whether it's vibrant city life, serene natural landscapes, or culturally rich settings, here are the top five destinations welcoming LGBTQ+ women to explore in 2024.

Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA:

Known as one of America's most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations, Provincetown, or P-Town, nestled on the tip of Cape Cod, offers a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. This coastal town celebrates diversity with open arms, hosting an array of LGBTQ+ events, art galleries, and women-centric gatherings. From beautiful beaches to colorful streets filled with LGBTQ+ owned businesses, Provincetown is a haven for queer women seeking a relaxed yet lively getaway.

PHOTO CREDIT: LESBIAN NIGHTLIFE

Berlin, Germany:

Berlin has long been recognized as a progressive city, embracing diversity and LGBTQ+ rights. For queer women, Berlin offers a diverse and inclusive atmosphere with a thriving LGBTQ+ scene. The city hosts numerous women-focused events, parties, and cultural happenings. With its rich history, avant-garde art, and vibrant nightlife, Berlin provides a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ women to explore and express themselves freely.

Cape Town, South Africa:

Cape Town, with its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture, has emerged as a top LGBTQ+ friendly destination in Africa and a Ladies Touch Travel favorite. The city boasts breathtaking scenery, including Table Mountain and beautiful beaches, offering a diverse range of experiences. LGBTQ+ women can immerse themselves in the inclusive atmosphere of Cape Town, enjoying its eclectic culinary scene, diverse nightlife, and embracing the city's queer-friendly spirit. Register to be on the waiting list for our Cape Town February 2025 group trip at https://forms.gle/HjPRHWLXwgEBh9ny6

PHOTO CREDIT: LADIES TOUCH TRAVEL

Montreal, Canada:

Montreal, known for its blend of European charm and North American vibes, is a city that celebrates diversity and LGBTQ+ rights. For queer women, Montreal offers a welcoming environment with an array of LGBTQ+ bars, festivals, and cultural events. The Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood is a hub for LGBTQ+ community gatherings, offering a mix of artsy cafes, boutiques, and a thriving queer nightlife scene.

Buenos Aires, Argentina:

Buenos Aires, often referred to as the "Paris of South America," embraces LGBTQ+ culture and has a vibrant queer scene. The city's openness and diversity make it an ideal destination for LGBTQ+ women. With its tango culture, historic architecture, and inclusive neighborhoods like San Telmo and Palermo, Buenos Aires offers an enriching experience for LGBTQ+ travelers seeking a blend of cultural exploration and vibrant nightlife.

PHOTO CREDIT: TANGO QUEER

In conclusion, these five destinations exemplify the spirit of inclusivity and acceptance, providing LGBTQ+ women with spaces to explore, connect, and celebrate their identities freely. Whether it's the cultural richness of Buenos Aires or the seaside charm of Provincetown, each destination offers a unique and welcoming experience for LGBTQ+ women travelers in 2024. Embrace diversity, immerse yourself in new cultures, and create unforgettable memories in these LGBTQ+ women-friendly destinations.

Cape Town Lesbian Pride Vacation

It’s been a few weeks and I’m still on a high from our Cape Town group vacation! We had a week and a few days of adventure, culture, comradery, and fun! Our week started with a welcome dinner at Gold Restaurant, a must experience while in Cape Town. Let’s just say you haven’t been to Cape Town if you haven’t had the Gold Restaurant experience and our group had a blast! We started drumming and we were all in rhythm with a couple of people dancing to the beat of the drums. After our drumming session we had a 14 dish food tasting from different parts of Africa which was a unique experience. Many of the girls tried all the food from Lamb, Chicken, to Ostrich, a popular meat in South Africa. After we got some food in our belly we then danced it off to the popular African tune Jerusalem and of course, our girls showed out dancing and showed the crowd a move or two. It was a memorable night!

Gold Restaurant Group Pic

Our following day was a beautiful day to see the city, we made our way around the Bo-Kaap neighborhood to take some pictures, visit their artisan gallery, and learn the history of the community. Afterwards we went up to Table Mountain to catch the beautiful views of the city which is stunning. There was not a cloud in the sky and the weather was perfect to enjoy the scenery. From Table Mountain we headed over to NAC Helicopters to take a ride and see the view of the city from up above. Our pilot took us to see aerial views of Robben Island, Camps Bay, and across the 12 Apostles to name a few. An experience to say the least, one not to miss on your next visit to the Cape. After our helicopter ride, many of us freshened up and went to a local meet up with the Cape Town Lesbian Group from FB. Our group met a lot of the locals, made some new friends, and deeper connections. We definitely felt the South African hospitality!

Cape Town Lesbians FB Meet Up

A popular experience with the group we had while in Cape Town was the Food Jam. In the middle of the Woodstock neighborhood is this super cute experience called Soute Food Jam as it’s in the Soute Studios. Our girls were super excited and ready to get their cook on. We had about 40 women in attendance and we all got recipes for traditional South African dishes to cook with support from the head chef Shahieda. We danced, we cooked, and stuffed our faces! Food really does bring people together as it was yet another great night!

Soute Food Jam

It seemed like the weather was on our side the whole week as we headed over to Camps Bay to Sandy B Beachclub for a private event, just us and the beautiful beach in front of us. We had DJ Kixi a local lesbian DJ play South African & American tunes which kept the girls on their dancing feet all afternoon. Many of the girls called Camps Bay the Miami of South Africa and it certainly feels like it from the beautiful palm trees, beach, and homes in the area but this is Africa, a wildly diverse country with so many neighborhoods, cities, vibes that a week is not enough to see it all! In the evening we checked out Beefcakes a Drag Cabaret Club. We saw several performances many of which were comedy/stand up but made us laugh throughout the night.

After some good rest we got our adrenaline on and separated into three groups to go- paragliding, ziplining, and ATV riding. Everyone had a blast from all the stories we got on the way back to the hotel and the footage of some of the glides off of Lion’s Head. I personally went with the group to ATV ride in the Atlantic Sand Dunes and what a beauty…fine white sand where I felt like I was in a different country all together. I must admit I was a bit cautious as the hills had me a little bit nervous especially coming down but it was a ton of fun!

As if our trip wasn’t a ton of fun already we freshened up and headed out to the marina behind the Radisson Red hotel at the V&A Waterfront our host hotel and got on a Sunset Cruise! We were accompanied by DJ Kixi again, open bar, appetizers so it was about to be a bunch of fun. My favorite part of the cruise was the school of dolphins alongside playing around our catamaran as if joining us in the fun. It was a beautiful evening with a great sunset, tunes, and vibe!

On our final night in Cape Town, there was no other way to do it but to leave with a BANG! Ladies Touch Events was offered the opportunity to host the Official Lesbian Pride Party in Cape Town and we showed out. We got local talent, 300+ women of all different backgrounds, and danced the night away in celebration of who we are in a safe space that we are super thankful for and look forward to hosting again in the future!

Cape Town Lesbian Pride Party

After a long but fun week several of the girls headed back to the U.S. and the rest of us went to Aquila Game Reserve to RELAX! We got a few game drives in, saw 4 of the Big 5, pampered in the spa, and caught up with some rest which we all needed. You can’t beat finding a game reserve so close to Cape Town and so enjoyable. A must especially if it’s your first game reserve experience.

Aquila Game Drive with a cute ostrich photo session

We were all deeply touched with Cape Town and the memories will last a lifetime. Everything from our host hotel, tours, parties, we couldn’t have asked for a better We had such a blast that many want to come back, bring their friends, and explore more of Africa. Cape Town South Africa you won our hearts and we’ll be back soon!

Top 5 Lesbian Friendly Countries to Visit in 2023

Many single and coupled lesbians like to know how lesbian-friendly a country or city is before they travel. Knowing LGBTQ+ laws, how locals feel and if there are welcoming gayborhoods can sometimes be as important as knowing the top tourist attractions or restaurants. Have you been dreaming of countries that will welcome you as a lesbian? There’s never been a better time to grab your partner’s hand and hop on a plane!

Keep reading to find out our picks for the Top 5 Lesbian Countries to Visit in 2023

1. Mexico

Mexico is a vast country with something for every traveler. It has gorgeous beaches, breathtaking sea life, mountains with stunning waterfalls, volcanoes, cenotes, pyramids, magical towns, and more. Mexican culture’s deep religious roots sometimes make it difficult for rural lesbians to be out but larger cities like Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City and tourist areas offer safe spaces as well as are welcoming toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Lesbian couple showing their love in CDMX’s Pride Parade.

The larger cities like Mexico City have popular gay areas- Zona Rosa (Pink Zone), Condesa, and Roma. These neighborhoods are rich in gastronomy, queer nightlife, and cultural experiences. On the western coast you find Puerto Vallarta which has been known as the lgbtq+ friendliest city in Mexico with stunning beaches, pumping nightlife, gastronomy, and activities. The lesbian community has been growing there and you’ll find various lesbian businesses from a coffee shop, lounge bar, food tour, secret dinners, and more.

2. Taiwan

Many lesbians may be surprised to see Taiwan on our list but Taiwan is one of the very few places in Asia that has anti-discrimination laws based on orientation. Even more, in 2019, on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize gay marriage.

Female president, Tsai Ing-wen tweeted:

Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, is famous for its Japanese heritage and architecture and the quaint streets of the old Danshui fishing village. In the evening, find the wharf to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in Taipei. Ximending is Taipei’s gayborhood, for years lesbians have gravitated to the area around the Shida night market. And since 2018, Wonder Bar and Lounge has been on the quieter side of the Xinyi District. It is almost imperceptibly hidden beneath a sign with only a “W” which subtly seduces lesbians into their women-friendly space. Inside, the all-female bartenders stand amid walls covered with instant photos of women kissing.

3. Iceland

For being such a cold country, Iceland is HOT these days! Singer Björk put Iceland on the map in the 1990s. Now the land of fire and ice is well-known for its openness towards the lesbian and LGBTQ+ community. In Reykjavík, the country’s capital, hundreds of women have flown to its “free church in Reykjavík” (Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík) to be married. In Iceland, being queer is celebrated! Lesbians and those in the LGBTQ+ community can hold hands and express themselves in larger cities and small villages. Today, Iceland attracts lesbian tourists who eagerly bathe in its deep blue lagoons, explore some of its 1000+ waterfalls, and stargaze up at the rainbow swirls of the northern lights. It’s no wonder that alongside the growing lesbian tourism, the local lesbian and LGBTQ+ culture has grown, offering: art, boutique hotels, bars and lesbian and LGBTQ+ guided tours.

Lezseetheworld.com lagoon love in Iceland!

4. Thailand

Similar to Iceland, you’ll have no problem holding hands, cuddling, or kissing on Thailand's streets. In the “land of smiles,” lesbians can genuinely be themselves. Thailand offers history, nightlife and nature from its capital city to its islands.

The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is beautiful with its winding waterways and golden temples. And, as a busy city, it can also be dirty and overcrowded. But after a day of sightseeing at Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Lumphini Park, and the many markets, a substantial LQBTQ+ scene awaits you. While most of Bangkok’s gayborhood, Silom, caters to men, women are welcome at most of the gay bars. Since most lesbian bars in Bangkok were closed years ago, local women now host lesbian parties! Checkout the Facebook pages of Go Grrrls and Lesla Party otherwise you can pay a nominal entrance fee at Silom Soi 2 alley and find a mix scene at the bars with lesbians as well.

Two other big cities that are popular in Thailand that is very welcoming to lesbians is Chiang Mai and Phuket. Both locations have nature- beaches, forest, wildlife, gastronomy, lgbtq+ owned businesses keeping you busy and connected to the community. Phuket has a gayborhood called Paradise Complex where you can mix with the lgbtq+ community for a good dance and drag show.

Ladies Touch Travel & Madison the Promoters Phuket Group Trip all smiles!

5. Spain

Spain contains one of the largest and proudest lesbian and LGBTQ+ communities in Europe. Since 1995 Spain has put into place laws to ensure the rights and freedom of all its citizens. This includes laws against hate speech and violence towards lesbians and the LGBTQ+ community. And in 2005, lesbian and LGBTQ+ marriage was legalized.

Spain’s capital, Madrid, is also its lesbian and LGBTQ+ capital, where it hosts epic LGBTQ+ parties, festivals and cultural events. Madrid’s historical gayborhood, Chueca, contains the highest concentration of lesbian bars and is located in one of the most hip areas, with many restaurants, bars and shops displaying Pride flags. Today, Madrid’s gayborhood has expanded into the areas of Malasaña, La Latina, and Lavapies. Lesbian bars in Madrid are central to the lesbian culture. Many open early in the day and stay open until 6 am. In addition to dance parties, they also serve tapas, host sporting events, performances, protests, host cultural events. Try Escape and Club 33.

Chueca the gayborhood in Madrid, flying its pride flag proud!

Spain’s second largest city, Barcelona, may not have bars strictly for women like Madrid but Eixample is in the center and trendiest area with many mixed venues and welcoming to queer women. That said, Carita Bonita promotes queer women events, while Candy Darling Bar has a lgbtq+ mixed crowd.

Lastly, hippie and party island Ibiza, hosts Velvet Ibiza, a lesbian and women-only event every summer. It’s five days of adventures with your new lesbian and women-loving friends and offers kayaking, hiking, yoga, and a dance party every night! Outside of Velvet, Ibiza is a lgbtq+ friendly destination with it’s popular Ibiza Town filled with lgbtq+ venues and activities.

The world has become a more welcoming place for female travelers – especially lesbians. We can hold hands, walk arm in arm and cuddle freely in more and more countries across the globe. Don’t you think it’s time to explore this new world?

Written by Jane Malone

Originally from the Bahamas, Jane now travels often, writing mostly lesbian/wlw blogs and travel blogs for others. She has published a collection of love poetry, i am not lost, and is the creator and host of the Monday morning mindset podcast, Live Curious Die Wild. When she’s not playing with words, she enjoys biking, the beach and exploring. You can find her on Instagram @janemaloneauthor , @livecuriousdiewildpodcast and on all listening platforms.

Lesbian Pride Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta, the top LGBTQ+ vacation destination in Mexico, hosts Pride yearly in May the week leading up to Memorial Day Weekend in the U.S. That week Puerto Vallarta welcomes travelers from all over the world making it an international event to look forward to. Although for many years there’s been more presence for men during Vallarta Pride the women have been increasing their visibility. The question every year has been where are the women? Here we are!

Puerto Vallarta Lesbian Pride actually started in 2014 and expanded this year to add vacation packages, national and international Djs as well as talent. Our intention is to continue to create more visibility for LGBTQ+ women during PV Pride through excursions and events. Our main host hotel is the Oceanfront All Inclusive Hilton Riviera Puerto Vallarta in Hotel Zone South which has a beautiful beach, ocean view rooms, multiple pools and restaurants, gym, spa, plus much more! For more details on our vacation packages which include events and airport transfers visit our travel page: Puerto Vallarta Lesbian Pride Hotel Packages

Our events will be taking place across Old Town Vallarta by the gayborhood Zona Romantica from May 22-29, 2023. The agenda is filled with activities and events so there’s something for everyone! We have ziplining through Canopy River, Volleyball leisure games in Playa Camarones, Pride After Parties, a Mexican cooking class, speed dating etc. The best part is that majority of the excursions are led by lesbian businesses in Puerto Vallarta so we are giving back to the community! Elixir Mixology Bar, Vallarta Local Food Tours , and Oculto all lesbian owned venues, bars, and tour operator will be part of our Puerto Vallarta Lesbian Pride this upcoming year! For more details around our agenda and ticket sales go to: Puerto Vallarta Lesbian Pride Event Tickets!

Simultaneously, as we host our LGBTQ+ women’s events for pride which will be the best parties for women in Vallarta, Vallarta Pride will have a parade that we will be a part of which will be taking place tentatively on May 25, 2023. It starts in front of the Sheraton Buganvilias in the evening around 6PM and ends in Romantic Zone where people spread out and go to all the different nightclubs and bars to keep celebrating. Don’t forget to meet us at CJ BBQ the old El Torito in Romantic Zone for our parade after party!

We’re expecting women from all over the globe including you, so what are you waiting for?! Book the vacation package to have us handle everything for you or get the event tickets! Alaska, Delta, and United have direct flights to Puerto Vallarta and if you sign up with the Hopper App you can track flight deals to get your tickets. If you want extra perks at the parties book the VIP event tickets for open bar and seating. We’re excited to have another year of connection and fun under the sun! See you soon in Paraiso!

Curacao a LGBTQ+ Women’s Paradise

It’s been a few busy weeks but I had the wonderful chance to do some site inspections in Curacao a few weeks ago and I’m so glad that I went! I was pleasantly surprised that there was so much diversity and inclusion on the island that it gave me peace of mind on my visit. Curacao has been on my radar for a while now because I have seen and heard that Curacao is a queer friendly Caribbean Island so I had check it out! Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a native that felt like my big brother. He then took me over to the Dreams Curacao Resort for my check in. Driving over to the hotel, I felt this sense of familiarity, like a place I have already visited. It reminded me of my roots, Dominican Republic. Once I settled into my room, I opened the balcony door to welcome the sunset, and the view was incredible.

Dreams Resort Curacao Sunset View

The next day I did a walk-through of both AMR Resort properties in Curacao, Dreams and Zoetry. Zoetry Curacao won my heart. I’m a fan of Zoetry properties because of their top-class hospitality but to see this new property made me feel utterly Zen. After talking business and such I knew I had to keep Zoetry as an option. One thing that I liked about both properties is that they are all-inclusive. Zoetry is more a la carte which means you can eat whenever but its freshly made which is a plus.

Zoetry Curacao Tropical Suite

The following day I made it over to Renaissance Willemstad in the heart of downtown and another great hotel making my choice even harder of where to pick for our 2023 group trip. Renaissance is perfectly positioned to get to shops, restaurants and bars. Literally, everything is walking distance and because they don’t have a beach, they made a beach by their infinity pool which has great views of the ocean and cruise ships that come by. Meals are excellent at the Renaissance and carefully created for those with food sensitivities as well as allergies. Their rooms have cute hues of blue with balconies so you can see the people walking by and shopping.

Renaissance Willemstad Pool/Beachclub

Decisions, decisions! After my stay with Renaissance my last stop was at Avila Beach Resort. Avila has been going through some renovations but as soon as you pass the lobby and are out by the beachfront restaurants you get this sense that you are in paradise. Avila has several areas with different style rooms, it has a private beach with beautiful waters, and a couple of restaurants with delicious meals. I definitely enjoyed my stay and food there even though my time was limited. I also liked that Avila was close to the downtown area making it convenient if you wanted to walk into town. In between my days in Curacao of site inspections, I also did a couple of excursions and checked out a few beaches. I loved everything about Curacao and look forward to bringing a queer women’s group there as I know everyone will love it. Curacao is truly paradise and to add that they are super welcoming and accepting of everyone is the icing on the cake especially for these three properties! Stay in touch for our group trip details as well as the top things to do while you are in town on our next blog!

It’s PRIDE Season!

Haaaaappy Pride! It’s been an amazing few weeks celebrating Pride in different cities and it’s just the beginning with still so many cities that have upcoming Pride celebrations. We kicked things off at Puerto Vallarta Lesbian Pride over Memorial Day Weekend and it was a blast! Puerto Vallarta is one of the most gay friendly cities in Mexico but it’s always been more dominated by gay men. This year we collaborated with the local lgbtq women’s businesses in Vallarta to bring a womxn’s week!

Puerto Vallarta Pride Parade

We started the week with the Pride Parade and the streets were filled with people in the community and supporters! I was impressed with the turnout and expect the parade will grow over the next few years for sure. From that we kicked off with Lesbian Owned Elixir Mixology Bar for the welcome party, then a Taco Tour with Vallarta Local Tours ( I even learned some new things about the food history in Vallarta which was fascinating), lastly our weekend parties. It was beautiful to see many women from all different backgrounds- Mexicans, Americans, Canadians, Europeans, even Asian just enjoying the music and vibe. I watched everyone with delight as I know the importance of having a safe space and that we had all week, it was worth all the work!

Sapphire Beach Club Party

Why is this important? It’s important because as mentioned for years gay men have dominated the Pride celebrations in PV. Don’t get me wrong I love the boys but truthfully it’s just a different energy when there’s more of them than us so we are hopeful to keep growing year after year and have more “L” visibility for Pride in Vallarta. Even the parade only had one float representing womxn so we hope to change that soon. Pride in Vallarta is typically the last week of May so mark your calendar to be in town next year. Vallarta has so much to offer- culture, beaches, nightlife, gastronomy, and more so make sure you don’t miss out next year as it will be a week to remember!

Details to book your Puerto Vallarta Pride Vacation will be available in the next few weeks so stay in TOUCH…

Get Travel Ready!

Many times in getting ready for a cruise, trip, etc travelers struggle with what documents to have in place to travel or knowing that there are opportunities to have a smoother trip. Because of that I decided to put together a quick list of items to get you travel ready!

1-      Passport- You’d be surprised but many people want to travel but don’t have a passport and unless you are going to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, US Virgin Island to name a few, guess what? you’ll need a passport to go everywhere else! Recently passport fees have increased a bit but if you do international travel especially by air you want to have a passport in place. You can get your passport at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/ Don’t forget that if anything changes with your status, for example, you were married now you are single, change your passport information too as it can cause issues with your boarding pass and immigration. If you do a lot of travel from US to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean you can look into a passport card especially if its through land borders and ports of entry.

2-      Global Entry- When traveling nothing makes me happier than breezing through the security lines after I checked in and through the customs line when arriving after a long flight. I’ve literally have seen both lines take so long especially at LAX airport with all the renovations going on. Imagine if you can cut your wait time by an hour? Many major city airports have a lot of congestion getting in and out that’s why a Global Entry Card is a great investment. The great thing is that the investment is small in comparison to the time you spent on lines at the airport. For $100 you will have the benefit for 5 years to travel by air, land, and sea as well as TSA PreCheck is included. If you only want to fly domestic, then you can set up TSA PreCheck for travel by air at a cost of $85. It's truly worth it if you travel a couple times a year. For both options start the application here: https://ttp.dhs.gov/

3-      Alternative for TSA PreCheck- You may have been at a major city airport and seen a big white kiosk and wondered, what’s that? That is a competitive travel private company membership to TSA PreCheck called CLEAR. Clear is a bit pricier but it may or may not benefit you. One time I was on a business trip in San Francisco and with all the shuffle getting to the airport and through security I was running late! The airport was packed that even with my global entry card I would miss my flight but thankfully I had CLEAR too and I jumped in that super short line and eased by security and caught my flight. If you don’t travel often domestically it may not be worth the $179 to sign up. The other limitation is that not every airport has CLEAR so if you are traveling from small airport chances are it may not help. If you are a big sports fan and go to watch events at stadiums regularly then maybe it could be a good investment as CLEAR Sports lets you breeze through lines at stadiums making it a smoother experience and its part of your clear membership. You can start your membership with Clear at www.clearme.com

4-      Vaccination Card or Negative Covid Exam Result- Travel indeed is different now so much so that passport holders come with a pocket for your vaccine card. You always want to double check what requirements the country you are visiting has to make sure that if you are vaccinated you have a copy of your vaccination card, QR code, or negative result of a covid exam- PCR or Antigen. Not having these particulars could cause a delay and frustration on your travels. Don’t leave home without it!

Many people have said it was the best $100 spent to get Global Entry and I agree but first make sure you have a valid passport as you always need your passport to have 6 months validity from your date of travel to not have issues with immigration in other countries and to set up Global Entry. Also, don’t forget your vaccination card or negative covid results! From there make the investment to get through security and customs as quickly as possible, you can thank me later. Check out your credit cards and frequent flyer miles as they may have discounts to sign up for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, Clear and sometimes they offer it complimentary. Lastly once you have everything, take a picture of it and store it in your cloud while traveling so you have your important documents backed up. If you have these things in place, you are travel ready! Now you must book one of our group trips at www.ladiestouchent.com/travel to start filling up your passport with stamps from around the world!

Being a Queer Traveler in Maldives

I recently got back from a birthday trip to Movenpick Maldives and had an amazing time with my partner. I got a lack of slack from many about my travels there and posting that a venue was lesbian friendly, but the fact is it was. Let’s back track a bit…back in 2020 when the pandemic first hit the travel industry got slammed and deals were often posted so I took advantage of one to Maldives. As some may know, I am a part of IGLTA which is a global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism. I was surprised at our convention last year to hear that Maldives is a popular honeymoon destination for LGBT travelers and I thought how is that possible when it’s a Muslim country and anti-gay? Although this is true because “In the Maldives, homosexual acts, and intercourse, as well as same-sex marriage, earn eight years in prison or 100 lashes, these laws are currently enforced more in the local cities, and largely ignored in private islands with international brand hotels.

When my partner and I arrived in Maldives we were aware of what we were stepping into. Staying at Movenpick, because its on a private island, though was an exclusive experience. As soon as we passed immigration and got outside our concierge met us and got us on our way to our seaplane dock for our departure. What I noticed was that there were all sorts of people heading to different resorts Middle Eastern, Europeans mostly and us but it seemed that everyone had their own agenda. Once we pulled up to the resort, we had our island host welcome us and direct us to our villa and everyone else scattered across the property some that we never saw again the whole week we were there.

Most of the time we spent at our villa because of course the views were beautiful, and our space was comfortable but when we ventured out on the property, we didn’t have a problem, we even bumped into another lesbian couple (the pride face mask gave it away). Our island host as well went above and beyond to make sure our time was spent well with no issues. In our island hosts own words she said that Movenpick’s hotel value is to give the best vacation to their guests which I took as they don’t care who or what you are just have a great time here! My partner and I scheduled private romantic dinners for each other, and the staff took part of the festivities with lots of love and respect, we even got enGAYed, she said YES! That’s to show that when you are on a private resort on an international brand hotel, they are not really interested in any other politic other than love and respect one another.

So, if you are considering traveling to Maldives alone or with your partner, respect their culture and don’t PDA in their cities with locals as it can have consequences. To be on the safe side stay at an international brand hotel that you are familiar with like a Movenpick, Hilton, Marriott, etc. You can even reach out to these hotels and ask them honestly. If you don’t feel comfortable or don’t want to contribute to a country that doesn’t support the LGBT community then look into the French Polynesian Islands like Moorea and Bora Bora. Similarly, the international hotels are safe, and laws are more accepting for us LGBTQ people as well as the beaches are equally stunning like Maldives. I wanted with my own eyes and ears to see if it was true what I heard through our industry and got a great deal so jumped on the opportunity. Do what you what you feel is best for you but know that international hotels do welcome your business in Maldives.

Southern Mexico’s Lesbian Vacation

When it comes to Mexico, people often think about Cancun, Tulum, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta but Mexico has so many more gems in its big country, and we found one of them- Costa Maya! Honestly, I never heard of Costa Maya but have heard about Bacalar and was curious to check it out.

Costa Maya is in Quintana Roo between Tulum and Chetumal which are the nearby more popular towns by the coast. It’s a small port town with a growing population. What I love about Mahahual, the town in Costa Maya, is that the beach is super pretty (Maldives like) with clear warm waters and white sand. Outside of the beautiful beach, there aren’t many tourists like Cancun and Tulum making it more relaxing as well as enjoyable. The other thing I just thought about is that I never felt unsafe while being there because it’s a small town where a lot of the locals all know each other so you get that family feel.

Some of the popular excursions in Costa Maya are snorkeling, diving, Bacalar lagoon, visiting the Mayan pyramids, cenotes, and rapid river. It is said that Xcalak just south of Mahahual has some of the most beautiful reefs in the world to go snorkeling and diving. In Mahahual there are many reefs close to the beach so you can get some beautiful views there too. If you love snorkeling or diving, these places are a must! Bacalar lagoon or the 7 Colors Lagoon as they call it is spectacular. You literally see multiple colors in the water the further south you go on the lagoon. The town of Bacalar is super cute and boho but a little on the pricier side but you can certainly make it a day trip from Mahahual. Bacalar is also considered a “Pueblo Magico” a “Magical Town” which means that the government does as much as possible to preserve its beauty and nature. When vising Costa Maya, you can’t miss Bacalar and its Blue Cenote which is quite large and outdoors unlike many underground cenotes. In Bacalar I got the chance to go kayaking at sunrise and it was such a beautiful experience to be out in the lake with the sounds of wildlife around and the sun creeping up above the water.  The Rapids is also a quite unique beauty as you can float along the river, kayak, etc and see the multiple colors of the water as well as wildlife. One of the last popular excursions in Costa Maya is visiting the Mayan pyramids. Mayans were so ahead of their time and if you notice how big their civilization was, it extends from Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras so you will find many pyramids in the Costa Maya area, some that are covered and others that have been excavated. Learning their culture and understanding what they built is a humbling experience. You see? It’s hard not to not enjoy Costa Maya and its surrounding towns when there is so much to do and see.

Costa Maya is gay friendly like most of Quintana Roo and there’s a chill vibe that you get in the south where no one is trying to be more than they are. It’s just fun beach bars on the Malecon, delicious seafood, boho style hotels, and excursions that fill up your vacation if you visit. With all that said, what are you waiting for? Start booking your tickets! If you feel shy going by yourself to Costa Maya, join our group trip this Spring March 25- Apr 1st, 2022 as we’ll be exploring the area with other like minded travel lovers! Trip details are available at https://tri.ps/6jo8g What ever you decide just make sure that you don’t miss out on this hidden gem in southern Mexico!

Lesbian Friendly Mykonos

Without a doubt Greece is one of those countries that everyone has on their bucket list. From the beautiful white houses and deep blue sea its no wonder why it is! Ladies Touch Travel had its first lesbian vacation to Greece in 2019 around Memorial Day Weekend and we had an amazing time! We first stopped in Athens and stayed overnight to then make it down to Mykonos. Once we arrived at our destination it was love at first sight! After our week in LGBTQ friendly Mykonos, it’s easy to say what are some of the top lesbian friendly things to do while in town.

#1- Visit Elia Beach- Elia Beach, a quiet beach cove in Mykonos is super gay friendly with pride flags standing tall towards the west side of the beach. On our first group trip we stayed at the beachfront Elia Beach Resort which gave us the convenience of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea right at our footsteps. Elia is a lot calmer than some of your other beaches, but many people appreciate that so if that’s the vibe you want, get a chair, relax, and enjoy!

#2- Spend the day at Jackie O Beach club- Jackie O Beach Club is nestled in the hills of Super Paradise Beach. Super Paradise Beach is another top LGBTQ spot to hang out and very gay friendly. This beach cove is a lot livelier with EDM music loudly playing all across the beach at various venues. There are several beach clubs options, but Jackie O has drag shows and LGBTQ events to keep you entertained. There are also water sports so if you like tubing, jet skiing, etc.

#3- Sail across the Mediterranean with some friends- One of the best experiences in Mykonos is to sail in an authentic Greek sailboat. These sailboats are big, with wood, and beautiful sails and the only way to truly appreciate it is by enjoying the day out in the sea. With all the great beach coves around Mykonos Island, you can spend a full day sailing. Usually, sailing tours have drinks and lunch provided so grab your friends and delight in the experience.

#4- Go shopping in Mykonos Town- Chora/Mykonos Town is the main town in Mykonos that has a lot of shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The town is gay friendly and beautiful to walk through. White house’s holding business establishments with blue or red outlining around them, the windmills, and several Catholic churches keep tourists busy in this area. These streets are truly dreamy and full of history which makes it that much more unforgettable. We spent a good amount of time shopping in Chora and had some yummy Greek food afterwards.

#5- Go Gay Club Hopping- Mykonos Town as mentioned is where there are many restaurants and clubs including some fun gay clubs. On our group trip we got to go to 54 Cocktail Bar, Babylon, and Lola Bar. We danced and battled the gay bois, created a soul train line, and danced til we dropped. 54 Cocktail Bar had yummy cocktails, Babylon had a fun drag show, and Lola had a great DJ that kept us on the dancefloor so definitely check out those spots when you are on the island.

Overall, Mykonos is very lesbian friendly, although you may find more boiis on vacation there, it doesn’t mean that there’s no space for us women because there is! We were welcomed everywhere and loved the Greek hospitality! If you have Greece on your bucket list, get out there soon as its not as crowed as it usually is. Typically, Mykonos in the summer is very packed with people visiting from all over the world so it’s best to go in the shoulder season which is right before or after the summer. You’ll also get some deals on pricing as the summer is way more expensive. Ladies Touch Travel has a Baecation in Mykonos at the end of September so if you want to take your special someone for a Mediterranean getaway sign up as we have limited rooms and will sell out. Trip details are available at: https://tri.ps/Mpx7S People always think of Mykonos as the party island which is true in comparison to other Greek Islands, but Mykonos offers so much more so join us to see all the beauties that the island has to offer. See you soon in Mykonos!

Crazy for Cartagena!

Just a few weeks ago our lesbian travel vacation was redirected to Cartagena due to some of the requirements and changes in our original plans to Thailand. With all the last-minute planning I’m so grateful that the trip fell into place because we had an absolute blast! I had two months to put it together but with one of my partners from Out in Colombia, a LBGT tour company in Colombia, we recreated a similar experience in Cartagena than we were supposed to have in Phuket which was basically a fun and energetic trip!

We had a long trip flying over to Cartagena as we were coming from the west coast, Los Angeles to be exact. Midway in Miami thankfully we went to American Airlines Admirals Club to rest, eat, and wait for our next flight. Upon arrival in Cartagena, our driver was there to pick us up and take us to Ivy House in Walled City in Old Cartagena. As soon as we entered the Walled City, we all already started to fall in love with its charm and quickly we arrived to check in. After our welcome drinks and appetizers, we all showered to get ready for dinner, it had been a long day. As we headed up to the rooftop, we smelled the yummy dinner being prepared by Nelsy who was our private chef for the week. We ate and got ready to head out. There’s so much that goes on in the Walled City that it can be overwhelming at first. People trying to sell you stuff, others performing as you pass by, women working…tons of beautiful women! We navigated around town and checked out several places including Townhouse Rooftop which was a totally cute vibe with mixed music and yummy cocktails. From there we checked out some other bars but I think we were all jet lagged still so eventually got back to the villa to rest.

The next day Belkin met us at the villa for a cultural tour. She’s a lesbian tour guide and I was so excited to have her go out with us for the day. We headed over to the San Felipe Fortress, Monastery of La Popa, and enjoyed the typical street food of Cartagena. Belkin gave us deep insight to the history of Cartagena which was like other Caribbean history. It humbled us as we have it so much better than many had in the past. The following day we took a catamaran out to Playa Blanca and its nearby beaches. It was a beautiful day to soak up the sun and water considering we were there in the winter while everyone else had been experiencing cold weather. The views of the high rises as we left the city and headed to the islands were beautiful. It was definitely worth the trip. On our 3rd day of the trip, we had the day open to rest as the water is always exhausting but headed out in the evening for our dance tour. This tour was so much fun! I don’t know if it was all the music or that we had a couple of drinks before we headed out but maybe it was both! March our tour guide picked us up at the villa and we walked over to Café del Mar for some live Vallenato a traditional Colombian genre of music. From there we met May our other tour guide and we danced in the streets to cumbia which was so much fun as we were in our own world enjoying it all! From there we stopped at Parque Fernandez Madrid for a show we weren’t expecting with folkloric music as well as traditional cumbia. If that wasn’t enough, we walked over to Getsmani to the Caponera Café Bar for some salsa dancing and Champeta, an African inspired dance in Colombia! Did I mention that at every stop we had shots which was part of the tour?? Aguardiente, rum, coffee, and more rum!! By this time, we were all super giddy dancing in the middle of Getsmani and wrapped up at the last bar with some more dancing before heading back. I must say this night was a special one and the group made it even more fun!

At that point, our trip had been amazing, we had lesbian tour guides, Cartagena was gay friendly, and we never felt disrespected. On top of that, the towns colors, charm, history was a great experience. After all the dancing the night before our next excursion was to Bora Bora Beach Club in the Rosario Islands and what a great spot that we highly recommend! Of course, we had VIP service because that’s how we roll at Ladies Touch Travel but we just enjoyed our plush day beds, meals, drinks, and beautiful beach all day.

On our second to last day, we had some down time to go shopping as we were right in the middle of everything. Souvenir shops, apparel, you name it and super inexpensive. We literally shopped til we dropped! After all the shopping we got our covid tests done and had dinner before our last excursion of the week. For our last night we went out on a traditional Chiva bus ride. Chiva buses were designed to transport goods in the past but gained popularity as a “party bus” experience. We rolled around the city in the Chiva and of course DANCED for a couple of hours literally! We realized with all these tours Colombians love music and to dance, we experienced that all week no matter where we went. We didn’t mind all the energy, we fit right in! To wrap up the tour we got dropped off at City Club in Cartagena the local LGBT club and continued to dance til the weeee hours of the night. The night was filled with fun memories, and we made new friends in the process. So many beautiful people and good music!

So, what do we think about Cartagena? We are crazy about Cartagena!! If you love culture, dancing, beaches, and high energy then Cartagena has your name all over it. We loved it so much that we plan to take another group to Cartagena this Summer 2022 so stay tuned! Check in with us in a few weeks on our site for trip details. Our group trips are about creating new friendships and having unforgettable memories as we did on our trip so join us to have a one-of-a-kind experience!

Lesbian Spring Travel In Rio de Janeiro!

With how travel has been in this last year and a half, who doesn’t have the travel bug these days! There are still opportunities to travel with minimal to no restrictions and safely. It’s also a great time now to plan for the rest of the new year. While the United States is feeling the cold in January the southern hemisphere is just starting to heat up! One of our favorite places to travel to with Ladies Touch Travel is Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro around late February.

One of the largest events in Brazil is Carnival, but a little inside info, there are so many great festivals, block, and beach parties around Rio two weeks before the actual Carnival that are free or super low cost that it doesn't make much sense to go during Carnival to spend double the price on everything! Currently, Carnival is on schedule for February 25- March 5, 2022, so if you go right before make sure you don't miss out on these spots:

1. Ipanema Beach- Between Posto 8 and 9 is the infamous Farme Gay strip. You will see the pride flags and many gay and lesbian folks enjoying the scenery and music. This area is a ton of fun especially if you are with cool people. We have literally partied to sundown with the Ladies Touch Travel group not even realizing everyone had left the beach!! Good times indeed! Keep in mind in Brazil women typically wear thongs or Brazilian cut bikinis and men wear speedo-type bathing suits so don't be alarmed, go with the flow and enjoy the beauty!

2- Bloco Ceu na Terra- One of our favorite block parties in Rio de Janeiro happens in Santa Teresa at guess what time? 7AM!! You would think who wants to party at 7AM but thousands fill up the narrow cobble stone old town streets of Santa Teresa for an energetic party. You'll see sheroes, villains, drag queens, clowns, you name it but after all the craziness you can't help to say "that was an amazing experience"!

3- Samba School Rehearsals- There is something about the drums beating live that make the hairs on your body stand at attention and even if you don't know how to dance, you just start pumping your hips...welcome to a samba school rehearsal! Carnival is when all the samba schools in Rio get together to compete on music, dancers, and costumes so experiencing a rehearsal beforehand is a one of a kind party. We had the pleasure of visiting Comuna Que Pariu in the Lapa District and it was a blast and not to miss!

4- Lapa District- Lapa is filled with bars, clubs, and parties that go til the wee hours so drink a redbull and experience the nightlife! Rio de Janeiro is very mixed as far as the patrons. You'll find that many parties have queer and straight people all in the same room having a ball and nobody cares! There are definitely gay clubs but for the most part in Lapa everyone parties together.

These are just a few things to do while in Rio de Janeiro especially right before the actual Carnival. Make sure you have a Caipirinha and Pao de Queijo when out and about in Rio. The Cariocas (Brazilian Natives) are warm people, love to have fun, and offer great hospitality. As with most places you travel to, always travel safely! If you want to learn more about our lesbian women’s travel group and upcoming destinations email us at ladiestouchtravelevents@gmail.com or go to our travel section for more details. 

2022 LGBT Women’s Travel Bucket List

There’s no denying that the pandemic has turned the travel industry upside down on its head. Even through all the uncertainties there are still some travel hotspots for lgbtq women. Check out the top 5 on our Ladies Touch Travel list with little to no restrictions and who knows maybe we’ll see you at one of these locations!

1-     Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- Known as the top LGBT destination in all of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has been the top location for tourism during the pandemic. With old school charm, culture, and upbeat energy its no doubt why PV is on the top of many travelers list. The LGBT women’s community has been also growing in Puerto Vallarta making this little big city their top option.

2-     Key West, Florida- Looking for beautiful beaches, small town feel, and queer energy? Look no further as Key West has been a top destination for the LGBT community for many years. September every year hosts the top lesbian event- Womenfest.  Key West, in particular Downtown Key West is filled with gay businesses including lodging so you will feel safe and busy with lots to do.

3-     Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica- If you haven’t been to Costa Rica, now is your chance! Our favorite area in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio as it is the most LGBT friendly area in all the country. Wake up to howler monkeys or watch sloths hang out in the trees, nature will be all around you, and its why we love it! There are other areas to check out but first try Manuel Antonio and make your way to their beautiful national park to be connected to the area’s beauty.

4-     Palm Springs, California- One of the top LGBT destinations on the west coast is Palm Springs in California. Filled with natural hot springs, spas, and wellness hotels, Palm Springs has become the top place for some of the largest queer events including our favorite Dinah Shore Weekend when thousands of women flee over to the town to escape the rat race and connect with other queer women. Palm Springs has many gay businesses and pretty much all are gay friendly establishments. Outside of Dinah Shore Weekend, Palm Springs is a great place to take your hunny or group of friends to hang out for the weekend.

5-     Bogota, Colombia- Love the city life and culture? Head on over to Bogota, Colombia’s capital for one of the biggest LGBT communities in South America. Bogota offers historical sites, nightlife, and a booming gastronomy scene if you love Latin food. If you get out to Bogota, check out the Chapinero Gayborhood for an experience of the gay bars and businesses for a time to remember.

Don’t get deterred to travel!  Even though travel is a bit more complicated, it’s doable. If you feel nervous to travel alone but love to travel join our travel group for one of our upcoming trips at linktr.ee/ladiestoucheventsntravel There are beautiful countries waiting for you!

Mexico’s LGBTQ Haven - Puerto Vallarta

 If you haven’t heard by now, Mexico has been the most dominant country in tourism, pandemic and all. There have been no restrictions to enter Mexico and they don’t plan on getting strict or close borders. What has happened in the last year depending on the city or town is curfews. Many of the bigger cities may have seen businesses close anywhere from 10PM to Midnight worse case. Because of the minimal to no requirements and proximity to the United States, Puerto Vallarta, has been one of the top cities to travel to in Mexico during this pandemic.

Puerto Vallarta typically gets lost when people talk about Mexico. Most people when talking about Mexican vacations mention Cancun and Los Cabos first before mentioning Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta though is a gem with a lot of old town and authentic Mexican charm! On top of all that charm, Puerto Vallarta is the most LGBT friendly city in Mexico with its own gayberhood, Zona Romantica, filled with queer owned businesses, the popular Los Muertos Beach which has a gay section between Mantamar Beach Club and Blue Chairs Resort and bars/nightclubs galore off Lazaro Cardenas and Ignacio Vallarta Ave. 

The LGBT women scene is growing in Puerto Vallarta with several lesbian owned businesses you must check out and support! Elixir Mixology Bar makes the yummiest drinks and a great starter spot before you turn up the rest of the night. Another great spot is Café Versalles in the Versalles neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. The owners are super cool and love to give back to the community. Then there’s Oculto, a dining experience for those that love gastronomy, connection, and conversation. The ladies at Oculto put together amazing dishes to make your tastebuds happy and if you are looking for a different experience, you don’t want to miss this! Lastly there’s Nosh Turkish Bites if you’re in the Romantic Zone and in the mood for some Mediterranean yumminess.

Outside of the lesbian businesses and places to visit in town, there is so much to do in Vallarta from popular tours like Rhythm of the Night, Whale Watching, lounging beachside at Mixto Beachclub in Quimixto, or snorkeling by Los Arcos and more. You can easily turn around and wonder how a couple weeks went by with all to do in town. Not to mention north of old town there’s Marina, Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerias so make time to paint the town rainbows. If you want to come down and join other like-minded women, contact us to participate in Tropicale, a Lesbian Vacation in Puerto Vallarta May 31- June 5, 2022 and you’ll get to visit several of these places mentioned.  If you plan to be in town another time connect and say hi!

Jungle Fever! Traveling in Costa Rica

We are definitely in unprecedented times and even with all that is going on in the world, people are still thinking about travel. A recent article on CNBC news said that travelers are “trip stacking” meaning they are booking many trips in a year instead of just one. Mental and spiritual health has been two of the biggest reasons people have been taking off and a country that we love at Ladies Touch Travel is Costa Rica just for that! Costa Rica which is nestled in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama currently has no restrictions to enter their country in comparison to recently where you needed to fill out a health form and carry traveler insurance in addition to showing a negative covid test result. What we love is that Costa Rica has different towns and vibes. If you want to really clear your head and be lost in the jungle, Dominical in the south Pacific is a great place. If you want to connect with the LGBT community Manuel Antonio is your place. Big Resorts and all-inclusive hotels you’ll find in the Guanacaste area. For hot springs and low-key vibes head up to La Fortuna. Lastly Limon/Puerto Viejo for Caribbean local Tico’s vibe!

There’s truly something for everyone and a great reason to check out Costa Rica considering the limited requirements. Our favorite town in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio because it has a gay beach section, Playa Espadilla, gay accommodations, gay bars, and LGBT friendly restaurants! Although its predominately bois, women are always welcome for the fun too! Manuel Antonio also has its National Park so you’ll frequently see and hear howler and cappuccino monkeys, macaws, woodpeckers, sloths in the area which is my favorite experience especially when traveling with a new group. Since Manuel Antonio is in the south Pacific there are so many other areas nearby that take you to waterfalls, mountains, and the beach all within an hour drive.

Whatever your heart desires, make sure that you check out Costa Rica! A country with “Pura Vida” meaning “pure life” as their mantra can only welcome you with great energy! That’s exactly what you will experience no matter what side of the country you are visiting. Grab yourself an Imperial local beer, Gallo Pinto dish, sunset and indeed you will enjoy that Costa Rican pure life!

Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Do Group Travel

Many times, you’ll find yourself booking on Expedia, Booking.com, or any of the other online travel shopping company but outside of individual travel there’s group travel which hits your soul a little different. People think that traveling in groups can be messy and conflicting, but it takes a certain type of person to travel in a pack. It takes an open, adventurous, lighthearted individual and why it works when in the right energy. Even if one is off energy, they will rise up to match the rest of the group otherwise it won’t be the best trip for them. We’ve had some of our best life experiences at Ladies Touch Travel with our group travel. Our trips have been filled with laughter, good times, and unforgettable memories but the beauty that makes us utterly happy to watch is the bonds, friendships, and even the love connections that have happened on our trips so this is why we say these are the top 3 reasons why you should do group travel.

1-     You won’t have to worry as much about planning or costs. The top reason is that you can just worry about the clothes you need to pack. As if planning a trip isn’t already a headache, now you have less to worry about because you will be dealing with a travel coordinator with years’ experience that will handle it all for you as well as the group and you can just meet everyone at the airport gate to start the travel journey.

2-     You meet new friends. Another great reason to do a group trip is that you instantly meet new travel buddies. Ever get frustrated that you want to travel but your friends can’t take the time off or have the money to go on a trip? Now you don’t have to worry about that because you have like minded women on the same mission and in this case lesbian/lgbtq womxn/even straight allies that also love to travel. I have seen it time and time again, bonds, and new friends made on every single trip we have had. I’ve seen after a trip that their friendships extend past that initial trip they went on to weddings, birthday parties, or just getting together to catch up. So, if you want to surround yourself around other lgbtq women couples, singles, and everything in between, group travel, especially group travel with Ladies Touch Travel is a MUST!

3-     Unforgettable memories. When you don’t have to worry about planning, just met new friends, now you can really enjoy your moments and create lasting memories. There’s a synergy when a group of us are out anywhere around the world. The venue and people around us know we are there because that’s what groups bring to the experience. Think of anytime that you are with a group of friends, and you are having fun, how much better does it feel when it’s a big group with high energy. That’s why at Ladies Touch Travel we love a group experience.

I always say don’t knock it ‘til you try it because group travel is an experience and at Ladies Touch Travel we strive for good vibes, good times, and unforgettable memories. If you try it but think its not for you we understand but I promise you’ll enjoy the experience and will leave with at least a few new friends. Give it a try and join our newsletter to learn about upcoming trips in 2022 and 2023 at linktr.ee/ladiestoucheventsntravel  We look forward to you joining us on the next travel experience!