In the lineup is the Gay International Film Festival. For film buffs, there are two dates to put in your calendar: June 11-17 and September 10-16. At two films per night for only 8 Euros, how could you be anywhere else at 9 and 11 pm every night of the festival week?

Flms include newish, award-winning “Milk,” to “Velvet Goldmine” which won an award for artistic contribution to Cannes Film Festival in 1998.

The lineup of other films also looks interesting with gay aspects and actors, including the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and the gold standard of HIV themed movies, “Philadelphia.”

For tickets & accommodation on Mykonos send e-mail to gay-film-festival@mykonos-accommodation.com.

Gay Greece stories

Vienna Pride Parade 16 June

Since its first edition in 1996, the Rainbow Parade not only is the most important event of the lesbian, gay and transgender movement, but also an important symbol for a culture of solidarity, tolerance and equality.

The 17th Rainbow Parade as part of Vienna Pride is organized by the Vienna HOSI. The Pride Village at Town Hall Square in the four days before the parade and the Pride show following the parade will again be a special place to celebrate pride month.

Unique to Austria’s celebration is the Pride Pair in the Parade. The idea of a Pride Pair with body painting in rainbow colours was born in 2006 and became a resounding success – the Pride Pairs are among the most coveted and most popular motifs.

The Pride Girls and Boys at Pride Rainbow Parade will march at the head of Paradenzugs and be photographed by the press people, participants and spectators as a work of art.

International comedian/air hostess shares her hilariously glamorous take on travel

Multi award-winning comedienne Pam Ann is a legend of the airways. She has toured the world with her hilarious shows, guiding guests through the conundrums of air travel, skewering the quirks of some of the biggest international airlines and mixing a stiff cocktail of camp humour and glamour.

Pam Ann is returning to London with her new world tour show, appearing at the Bloomsbury Theatre from April 17 to 29, 2012.

She is truly an international air hostess to the stars – she has crewed private jets for Elton John – and here is her unashamedly glamorous take on the world of travel.  (Full interview on Wanderlust Magazine.)

Mountain/desert/jungle/ocean which are you?
Ocean.

Top five places worldwide?
New York, Paris, London, Sydney, Mykonos.

If you could combine three cities to make your perfect metropolis, what would they be?
Paris, New York, Marrakech.

Passport stamp you’re proudest of?
New York City, USA.

Passport stamp most like to have?
Beirut, Lebanon.

Who is your ideal travelling companion?
A gay man.

Pam Ann Website

On 5 June 2012, the Earth will witness the transit of Venus which will pass exactly between the earth and sun, an event that will not take place again until 2117.

The best visibility viewpoints will be in the Pacific, between Tahiti and Japan. Visitors are being encouraged the view this event from the island of
Tahiti or Moorea.

One unique way to view this event is from the deck of a yacht. You can rent a private, stocked charter or go for a short sail on one of the many boats operated by Rainbow Tourism Accredited Dream Yacht Charters based in Moorea.

In conjunction, Air Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Tourism are offering spectacular vacation specials Moorea and Bora Bora.

• French Polynesia Accommodation
• Sailing holiday
• Gay Friendly Tahiti and her Islands

Gay Pride Amsterdam is one of the best times to visit, not to mention it being one of the most fun pride events in the world. This year the main Amsterdam Gay Pride weekend runs from 28 July to 5 August.

Amsterdam will have street parties all weekend long, the best club circuit parties, and of course the famous Canal Parade.

Gay pride is one of the most busy weekends of the year in Amsterdam. Make sure you book your hotel and pre and post tours early!

More information: Amsterdam Gay Pride.

Since it started 16 years ago, Dining Out has raised more than $3 million for vital services in Vancouver and surrounding communities. One quarter of all sales that day at participating restaurants go to groups helping people living with HIV/AIDS.

For diners, it’s a chance to enjoy a great meal for a great cause. Go ahead and reserve your table now! Participating restaurants run the gamut from high-end to family- and budget-friendly, and represent a huge diversity of cuisine, from the fashionable comfort food at North Vancouver’s Beachside Forno to the amazing mussels at Gastown’s Chambar Belgian Restaurant to Kitsilano’s casual Mexican cantina Las Margaritas.

• Inside Vancouver Food & Drink Event
• Rail Tour to get to the restaurants and hotels in Whistler
• Vancouver City Tour By Bike
• Rainbow Tourism Places to Stay in Vancouver

If you’re tired of tame rafting in a boat with six others vying for a toe hold and piece of the side rope, then negotiating a whitewater river in an inflatable kayak with an experienced guide steering from the rear might feed your adrenaline addiction just fine.

When in Bali go to the to the source of the Agung River high in the central mountains and paddle towards the sea – but exit in Ubud for a hot shower and cold beer before unwinding in an air-conditioned transport back to your base accommodation.

The Kayak Attack tour is not a city adventure for the faint of heart. But it is a safe-yet -thrilling run down a frothy river with 33 rapids keeping your boat and head spinning.

Two of us – both former rafting guides – lucked out with a sunny day in which to tackle the Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids. Because it was the tail end of the wet season, the river and rapids were fast and fun, and we completed the run in under two hours.

We did take breaks to splash the rafters and competitor boats around the spectacular waterfall. Later we stopped to take photos of stone carvings along the shore. Looking up, we saw monkeys and lizards, and some stunning rice terraces high above the gorge.

More experienced, Scotty took the kayak downstream alone, while Dee was happy to ride shotgun with Ketu at the helm. He expertly negotiated every boulder and suck hole, and she took all the water in her face and front of the boat. Bail! Stroke forward! Stroke backwards! Bail!

Scotty loved taking the chutes more than once, He’d go over, paddle back, and do it all over again. His head-mounted action camera kept steaming up, so he only has my testimonial about the truth of this.

Near the end and close to civilization again, I marvelled at the hotels sitting atop the gorge and saw guests watching from their terraces. (BTW, I vowed to go back and find those grandview hotels and photograph the river from there. When I did, I was tickled pink to meet the gay sales manager of Taman Bebek, an IGLTA member!)

I highly recommend this day trip for those wanting an adventure first, massage second, and memory for ever! – Rainbow Tourism Concierge Dee Farrell. Ask me about Gay Bali, the Adventure Island.

• Rainbow Tourism Bali Adventures
• Rainbow Tourism Approved Accreditation on Bali
• Birds of a Feather Flock to Bali

Why does worldOutgames love Love? Because we believe it brings out the best in us and that it unites us. We support the right of any man or woman to be with the love of his or her life. Hence we are offering you a gift to share with your loved one (partner, friend, colleague).

If you register for the worldOutgames Antwerp 2013 between February 9th and February 19th 2012 and use the promotion code VALENTINE you’ll get an appealing reduction of € 9,00 on the registration fee.

Go ahead and share the news with your loved one and register now for the worldOutgames, so you can lend the scent of Valentine to the prospect of visiting the romantic city of Antwerp (3-11 August 2013).

Register here and get your discount. Happy Valentine’s Day!

The following hotels (and more) have availability for the Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Party weekend as follows:

3 Nights (Friday 2nd to Monday 5th March)
(based on two people price for 3 nights including GST)

Grace Hotel – From A$870
77 York St, Sydney
(Near Pitt St Mall and the centre of town, short walk to Hyde Park and Oxford St)

Quest World Square Serviced Apartments – From $A870
2 Cunningham St, Sydney
(Short 5 minute walk to Oxford St, in Chinatown)

Metro Hotel on Pitt St – From A$600
300 Pitt St, Sydney
(In the city short walk to Hyde park)
Standard Rooms to Superior Rooms

The Macleay Serviced Apartments Potts Point – From A$550
28 Macleay St, Potts Point
(10 to 15 minute walk to Oxford St)
Standard Rooms to Harbour View Rooms available

Y Hyde Park – Standard Room with Shared Facilities – A$550
(Right next to Oxford St and Hyde Park)

The above prices are subject to availability – please contact us asap to confirm your booking. If you have a particular hotel or budget please tell us in your email.

The above are some examples – you can view more hotel options here or here.

Contact us for the best price on hotels this Mardi Gras season.

Read more about Mardi Gras 2012 here.

Sydney’s famous performer Vicki Vegas returns to Turtle Cove and transforms herself into Bette Midler, Cher, Tina Turner, Liza Minnelli, Shirley Bassey, Dolly Parton, Joan Rivers and others.

Dress up as your favorite Vegas star to win great prizes including a weekend for 2 at Turtle Cove during 2012.

Dinner & show available to outside guests and 2-night accommodation packages are available.