5 LGBTQ-Friendly Family Vacation Destinations
Family Friendly Inclusiveness
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, we ensure our destinations are inclusive and welcoming. Here are some of the destinations we recommend to our LGBTQ family travelers.
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. 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, 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. Our travel agents suggest 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 we 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.
**Travel insights from Andrea Sedlacek, editor of The Compass**
Families come in all shapes and sizes, including families with two moms or two dads or LGBTQ kids.
Top 10 LGBTQ Travel Hot Spots
New Orleans - Louisiana, U.S.
New Orleans - Louisiana, U.S.
New Orleans - Louisiana, U.S.
Why we like it: Rainbow flags fly year-round down lower Bourbon, but the seasonal festivals “let the good times roll.”
Bora Bora - French Polynesia
New Orleans - Louisiana, U.S.
New Orleans - Louisiana, U.S.
Why we like it: On the “Romantic Island,” love and acceptance of all goes back to pre-colonial times.
Barcelona - Catalonia, Spain
New Orleans - Louisiana, U.S.
Barcelona - Catalonia, Spain
Why we like it: A hot location for hot nightlife; exceptional for adventurers looking for memorable nights out.
Mexico City - Mexico
Athens - Attica, Greece
Barcelona - Catalonia, Spain
Why we like it: A leader in LGBTQ+ rights in Mexico for ages, visitors can BGay BProud at the café of that name with locals.
Athens - Attica, Greece
Athens - Attica, Greece
Athens - Attica, Greece
Why we like it: You don’t have to look hard to find a modern-day Adonis… or Achilles or Sappho in this ancient city.
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Athens - Attica, Greece
Athens - Attica, Greece
Why we like it: Posh nightclubs, swanky hotels, lavish pool parties, iconic musicians and world-class food for all.
Kona - Big Island, Hawaii
Kona - Big Island, Hawaii
Kona - Big Island, Hawaii
Why we like it: Hawaii proves itself to be everyone’s paradise with spectacular landscapes and a tradition of tolerance.
Amsterdam - Netherlands
Kona - Big Island, Hawaii
Kona - Big Island, Hawaii
Why we like it: Take to the canals of Holland’s capital for the most unique pride parade in the world.
Lisbon - Portugal
Kona - Big Island, Hawaii
Toronto - Ontario, Canada
Why we like it: A longtime champion of gender equality, raise a glass to pride in its most exciting bars.
Toronto - Ontario, Canada
Toronto - Ontario, Canada
Toronto - Ontario, Canada
Why we like it: This country’s friendliness combined with that of the LGBTQ+ community is anything but Canada-cold.
5 Perfect Destinations for an LGBTQ Destination Wedding
Say "I Do" stress free
Looking for the best destination wedding location to celebrate your big day but don’t know where to start? Have no fear! LANGFORDTRAVELAGENCY.COM has a collection of the best destination wedding spots for LGBTQ couples around the world. From South American to Europe, these gorgeous hotels will have you counting down the days until you say, “I do.”
1. Puerto Rico
With a well-established gay scene in San Juan’s Condado district, Puerto Rico is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly islands of the Caribbean. Visitors love exploring Puerto Rico for its colorful dining, busy shops and white-sand beaches. While gay couples do live their lives openly in Puerto Rico’s cities and resort areas, things do get more conservative the further you venture to the middle of the island.
If Puerto Rico sounds like the perfect spot for your destination wedding, check out St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, a little slice of paradise with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the famous El Yunque National Forest on the other. Whether you dream of an extravagant indoor wedding or a serene outdoor ceremony, the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort has the goods to make your special day flawless with impeccable service and lovely venues to choose from. As an added bonus, golfers in the group will be happy to learn that the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is home to an expertly designed 18-hole course for them to putt, drive and swing to their heart’s delight.
The bottom line: Gay marriage was legalized in Puerto Rico in 2015 and legal ceremonies can be performed in-destination.
2. Mexico City
Latin America’s most cosmopolitan and trendy destination, Mexico City is well-known as one of the country’s most gay-friendly areas. For some of the best LGBTQ history and nightlife in the world, visit Zona Rosa, the birthplace of Mexico’s LGBTQ rights movement.
For chic wedding accommodations look no further than Mexico City's, W Mexico City. Situated in the stylish Polanco neighborhood, this swanky hotel is nearby hip shops and trendy sights. We like W Mexico City for its authentic on-site culinary offerings at J by JOSE ANDRES where guests can mingle as they enjoy signature cocktails and feast on tapas before they dance the night away to a local DJ’s playlist at THE LIVING ROOM BAR.
The bottom line: Same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City and civil weddings in Mexico are recognized in the U.S.
3. Cusco, Peru
While much of Peru remains strongly Catholic, major cities such as Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Trujillo offer gay-friendly tours and are more tolerant than more conservative areas of the country. LANGFORD Travel & Pierre Travel Solutions recommends couples visit popular sightseeing spots such as Machu Picchu, Chan Chan and Chavin de Huatar. Also nearby is hiking at Lake Titicaca and the world famous Nazca lines. While visiting these iconic sites is considered safe for LGBTQ travelers, it is still advised to keep a low profile while moving between cities.
Those looking to make Cusco their destination wedding spot should consider a JW Marriott Hotel, one of the snazziest boutique hotels in the area. Housed in a reimagined 16th-century convent, this space is truly unique and even features two exhibition halls complete with ancient Peruvian artifacts.
The bottom line: Same-sex marriage is not legal in Peru, however, LGBTQ couples can still celebrate with a symbolic ceremony.
4. Costa Rica
While Costa Rica has still to legalize same-sex marriage, social norms in the area are noticeably shifting and LGBTQ couples do consider the country worth visiting. Notably, the number of gay-friendly excursions and tour companies in the area are expanding, making it easier than ever for those of any sexual orientation to enjoy Costa Rica’s eco-friendly attractions, breathtaking scenery and daring zip lines.
If a wedding in Costa Rica piques your interest consider the Aloft San Jose Hotel for top-notch amenities and a refined atmosphere. As for the celebration, the Aloft San Jose Hotel has three charming event venues that are nearby several spots for perfect wedding photos.
The bottom line: Costa Rica does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions so couples looking to wed here will have a symbolic ceremony.
5. San Diego
A bustling city dripping with Spanish-influence, San Diego is one of the best destinations in the U.S. for gay travelers and for a LGBTQ destination wedding. A place where the weather is nearly always perfect and there’s always something to do, San Diego offers visitors endless fun. As the second-largest city in California, this town welcomes diversity with Hillcrest acting as a favorite neighborhood for members of the LGBTQ community. Those who don’t mind baring it all must visit Black’s Beach, a local nude beach that gay San Diego has claimed as its own.
For a wedding escape just outside all the highlights of the city, consider a destination wedding at San Diego’s Paradise Point, a glamorous island resort complete with bungalow-style guest rooms and on-site tropical gardens that will transport you straight to paradise. Each ceremony at Paradise Point takes place on the property’s beach where palm trees sway and blue waves glisten.
The bottom line: Gay marriage is legal in the United States.
6. Bonus Destination: Niagara Falls, Canada
Alright, We don’t have a hotel recommendation to go with this one, but when we saw Niagara Falls was an approved destination wedding spot we couldn’t leave it out. Located in Ontario, Canada, Niagara Falls makes for some jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery as over 6 million (yes, million) cubic feet of water crash over the falls each minute (!). After the ceremony visit downtown Ontario for amazing nightlife, busy casinos, next-level dining and luxurious spas.
The bottom line: Same-sex marriage is legal and recognized in Canada.