It’s probably been over five years since Sharon and I got on a plane and went on holiday together. Five years since we felt tropical sun on our skin, or sat by the poolside drinking cocktails at 10:00am 11:00am. I remember looking at hotels online and then eagerly waiting to exchange our cash at the post office. It was so exciting.
Of course all of that changed once we started trying for children, and then once they arrived it was no different. Nowadays, we enjoy more local holidays, and although it’s nice having the convenience of the UK, I do miss the blue seas and hot sand.
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Family- LGBTQ+ friendly
As expected, having children can determine where you go on holiday, which is one of the reasons we haven’t been on a ‘proper’ holiday abroad for a long time. It can be expensive, and the thought of taking a toddler on a flight longer than 2 hours sends a chill through my spine.
But for an LGBTQ+ family, there are also other things that we take into consideration when choosing where to holiday, not just expense. Things such as cultural and religious differences, the law, even what rights the other parent has if one were to fall ill. The rights you have in one country may not be reflected in the next country you visit. For us, these factors are more important.
This year, one of our big plans is to get T his very own passport so we can get him on a plane before he goes to school. It would be an added bonus if we can get him out of the UK and somewhere completely different! But when it comes to picking a holiday in a different country, we will definitely be searching for ‘LGBTQ+ Holidays’ for our own peace of mind as a family.
James Villa Holidays have recently released a list of LGBTQ-friendly destinations, as well as a list of events throughout the year. LGBTQ-friendly locations and villas include Cyprus, Crete, Tuscany, Lanzarote, Menorca, and Algarve, and several other locations also boast secluded villas for privacy! The thought of a private pool sounds like heaven, not to mention the thought of exploring new places.
Here are a few of my favourite events from their list of LGBTQ+ events…
Carnaval de Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (Jan/Feb)
We’ve actually been to Gran Canaria and cannot say a bad word about it. The hotel we stayed at was friendly to Sharon and I as a couple, but we saw several families there too. The nightlife in the local area is so much fun, what with drag shows and cabaret events throughout the night, and the food in local restaurants caters for all.
Maspalomas Gay Pride, Gran Canaria (May)
Just down the road from Las Palmas, Maspalomas celebrates its Gay Pride in May. As part of the 10 day festival, you’ll see carnivals on the street, and hear the sound of music from bars, clubs, and restaurants. There’s a reason Gran Canaria is one of the top gay-friendly holiday locations.
Other Prides throughout the year can be found in Cyprus (May), Ibiza (June), Barcelona (July), and Malta (September).
Circuit Festival, Barcelona (Aug)
The circuit festival is a 10-day event full of fun, games, and dancing. It’s also one of the biggest LGBTQ+ parties in the world, with links dating back to the ’70s and ’80s where the parties were a place for the underground, and once illegal, LGBTQ+ community to feel safe and have fun. Nowadays, it’s a huge disco and even takes over the main water park during the day.
This one might not be one for the family, but then who says you can’t go on holiday without the kids once in a while?
If you’re a Rainbow Family, where do you go on holiday? What do you look for when choosing the perfect holiday?
