Travel insights from Andrea Sedlacek
Families come in all shapes and sizes, including families with two moms or two dads or with LGBTQ kids. When planning a vacation for an LGBTQ family, you want the destination to be inclusive and welcoming. We asked travel agents the destinations they recommend to their LGBTQ family travelers, and here’s what they shared with us.
The travel agents we surveyed overwhelmingly recommended Puerto Vallarta as a great destination for LGBTQ families. Puerto Vallarta was actually the first city of Mexico to receive the Gay Travel Approved distinction from GayTravel.com, one of the top websites LGBTQ travelers trust when looking for gay-friendly destinations. Zona Romantica, a trendy neighborhood in PVR that’s home to the popular Los Muertos Beach, won the distinction of Gay Travel Awards Gayborhood of the Year in 2016. Overall, Puerto Vallarta is an open, accepting vacation destination for gay travelers, and its convenience, nightlife and variety of activities only add to the benefits for gay travelers.
Cancun has great beaches, but it also has an unbeatable downtown, which is why gay travelers love this Mexican city. El Centro, or downtown Cancun, is where the city’s gay scene is mostly located, but if you’re on a family trip, you may not be looking for nightlife. So in terms of beaches, according to GayTravel.com, Playa Mamitas and Playa Delfines are the most popular beaches for gay travelers. Playa Mamitas has a family area with a kids’ pool and Playa Delfines has a playground for the kiddos.
Another popular tropical destination for gay travelers is Aruba, one of the most welcoming islands in the Caribbean for the LGBTQ community. Arubans are very open-minded and accepting, making Aruba a safe destination for gay travelers and their families, and a newly common one for same-sex destination weddings.
On the domestic side, gay travelers and their families have a lot of choices around the U.S. The travel agents we surveyed suggested many destinations in Florida, the most popular being Orlando. As the theme park capital of the world, Orlando is a great choice for families. But Orlando is also a highly inclusive destination, and even has an annual festival called Gay Days that started in 1991 and is now one of the world’s largest LGBTQ pride celebrations. There is so much to do and there are so many awesome theme parks to experience together, making Orlando an easy choice.
The other LGBTQ-friendly domestic destination agents recommend is also in Florida: Key West. The city’s motto is “One Human Family,” showing the city’s compassion, acceptance and respect for people of all kinds. This acceptance combined with unique outdoor adventures like eco-tours, the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, the Conch Tour Train and the Theater of the Sea create a fun, inclusive atmosphere for LGBTQ families.