Queertrip Blog

Travel Technology

2011-01-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

January 17, 2011

American Airlines may or may not have known it but they launched a battle that goes beyond the pocketbooks of agents and may start a revolution -- for better or more likely, for worse -- in how consumers buy travel products.

The move could shake up travel’s long-standing Global Distribution System (GDS), often referred to as a “quiet giant” because it processes upwards of US$1 billion in travel transactions. In the US, GDS represented more than one-third of all travel supplier revenues and almost two-thirds of all airline passenger revenues in a recent year.

ASTA, or the American Society of Travel Agents, says the confrontation is the beginning of the airline’s campaign to force the travel industry into an expensive computer system change. The potential is to make it much more difficult for travelers and agents to compare airline prices.

The potential is also more costs for the consumer and less choices of booking sites with airlines, inevitably raising prices -- for the simple reason they could have a monopoly on ticket bookings.

Ultimately, that could lead to an end to GDS sales by what is now a wide variety of providers.

The dispute started last month when the Fort Worth-based American Airlines pulled its fares off Orbitz, one of the largest travel web sites. Expedia, another huge travel site, then decided to drop American’s flight information. Next came Sabre.

“The escalating fight may push some travel agents out of the airline-ticketing business altogether, particularly since American and other airlines eliminated travel agency commissions on tickets in 2002,” says the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

American wants to bypass the GDS system entirely and have travel agencies and websites to connect directly to American's own system, ”American Direct.”

In recent weeks, American Airlines asked Orbitz to use American's new computer reservation system that's separate from the system used by most web sites and travel agents to compare flights and fares from all airlines. That would save the airline from paying commission on tickets sold. Orbitz refused, and American stopped supplying it with flight information.

"American Airlines wants to stop paying the global distribution systems fees and instead have people come to them directly," said Charlie Leocha, director of the nonprofit Consumer Travel Alliance in Washington, D.C.

If other airlines follow American, it could alter how travelers book their flights and, ultimately, how much they pay.

While no other airlines yet have gone to American's lengths, Delta Air Lines recently stopped providing its fare listings to more a half-dozen low-fare web sites.

For now, travelers can still find American's fares on its own site, of course, and on meta-search web sites such as Kayak, Bing and others that compare multiple airlines' flights and fares, but link buyers to airlines and other sites for purchase.

For sites such as Expedia and Orbitz, the conflict has compromised one of the major benefits of travel web sites — one-stop shopping.

Agents obviously could be hurt in the pocketbook but how will this impact consumers?

American said the move to direct distribution would benefit travel agents and consumers.

"Our direct connection will help travel agencies help their own customers by giving them access to customized choices and delivering the best value to travelers," said Derek DeCross, American's vice president and general sales manager.

Most travel observers, however, predict less choice will mean higher fares.

A major concern of travel providers is that their agents will be forced to spend a lot more time finding airplane tickets.

But industry analyst Henry Harteveldt of Forrester Research said the current distribution model, in which the airlines pay fees to the GDS companies and the GDS companies share the revenue with travel agents, is not sustainable.

"What is really needed is a new model where the airlines pay less for distribution and the travel agencies pay more, but are compensated in another way, recognizing their benefit,"Harteveldt said.

By David Wilkening

My Recent Trip to New York

2010-08-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a 4 day trip to New York City (NYC). I needed a break - a vacation. It’s been a really busy summer all around, with work and moving and all the fun Pride events I’ve attended. New York was the perfect getaway. Also, my friend Rachel, (Brooklyn), wanted me to visit her, plus I’ve never been to New York, so I thought, why not.

The experience was definitely surreal. The moment I got off my plane, I could feel the energy of the city (and the heat) - the rush was on, I only had four days to take it all in.

My flight got in late evening, so naturally, we started bar hoping. The first night we stayed in Brooklyn, Williamsburg to be exact. It was a very hipster-ish area with many bars to choose from. I started with a place called Public Assembly. You wouldn’t be able to find this place unless you’ve been there before as there was no signage anywhere.
The night ended at what became my favorite bar of the evening, The Luvin’ Cup Café (awesome mini sliders and a hidden dance floor in the back room).

Rachel was a great hostess and tour guide. Thanks to her, I was able to see most of NYC. We traveled to Mid-town, Chelsea, SoHo Park, Time Square, East Village, etc… We ate at places I wouldn’t be able to find here in LA. We had brunch the next day at a wonderful French café called Jacque. BEST BENEDICT IN TOWN!

Another one of my favorite eating places in New York was at Blue Ribbon Sushi. It was so good I can’t even put it into words, so here’s what Zagat had to say about this place,

“This ‘serene’ SoHo Park Slope Japanese twosome from the versatile Bromberg Siblings owes its stellar reputation to ‘exquisite’, ‘like-it-was-caught-that-morning’ fresh fish and appealingly ‘no-fuss’ service.”

Visiting New York would not have been complete without attending a Broadway show. I was fortunate enough to see Chicago at The Ambassador Theater – this was after my martini across the street at Charley O’s of course. Apparently, people don’t dress up for Theater anymore. I felt a bit over-dressed for this event… but it’s ok. The show was AMAZING!!! No wonder it won so many Tony Awards.

The last day of my stay there, we visited the Guggenheim Museum. Currently on view at the museum is a special exhibition, Haunted: Contemporary Photography/ Video/ Performance. The only comment I have for that is if you go see it, you don’t want to miss the “Nail Biter” video. I still have nightmares.

My last night in New York I spent it at a Martini Bar, Rue B – in the East Village. I wanted to make sure I mention this place because they have a huge selection of specialty Martini’s. My favorite is the Lychee Martini. I couldn’t get enough of it…

The people of New York were all so friendly, despite the rumors you hear about New Yorkers. I’m glad I chose New York for my getaway trip. There’s so much culture and history all around. Next time I go back, I will definitely plan to stay longer.

-Chris Ekanha

Judge strikes down Prop. 8, allows gay marriage in California

2010-08-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

In a long-awaited ruling, Judge Vaughn Walker says the ban on same-sex marriage violates constitutional rights to equal protection and due process. The decision is expected to reach the Supreme Court.

By Maura Dolan and Carol Williams
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles — The federal judge who overturned Proposition 8 Wednesday said the ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage was based on moral disapproval of gay marriage and ordered the state to stop enforcing the ban.

U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, in a 136-page ruling, said California "has no interest in differentiating between same-sex and opposite-sex unions."

"The evidence shows conclusively that moral and religious views form the only basis for a belief that same-sex couples are different from opposite-sex couples," Walker wrote. The ruling struck down Proposition 8 as a violation of federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process. Supporters of the marriage ban vowed an immediate appeal.

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Walker cited extensive trial evidence to support his finding that there was not even a rational basis for excluding gays and lesbians from marriage. Higher courts defer to trial judges on issues of fact, but still could determine that Walker was wrong on the law.

Austin R. Nimocks, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund who fought to uphold Proposition 8 in Walker's court, said they would appeal. "We're obviously disappointed that the judge did not uphold the will of over 7 million Californians who made a decision in a free and fair democratic process."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the ruling.

"For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves," the governor said. "At the same time, it provides an opportunity for all Californians to consider our history of leading the way to the future, and our growing reputation of treating all people and their relationships with equal respect and dignity."

He said the ruling was "by no means California's first milestone, nor our last, on America's road to equality and freedom for all people."

Proponents of Proposition 8 had asked Walker to block enforcement of his ruling immediately, but Walker declined. The proponents of the ballot measure said they would immediately appeal.

Walker could still put the ruling on hold pending appeal after hearing more arguments, but his ruling today directed city and state officials to stop enforcing the marriage ban.

Walker's historic ruling in Perry vs. Schwarzenegger relied heavily on the testimony he heard at trial. His ruling listed both factual findings and his conclusions about the law.

Supporters of Proposition 8 argued during the trial that same-sex marriage would undermine the institution of marriage and that children fare best with both a mother and a father.

The challengers presented witnesses who cited studies that showed children reared from birth by gay and lesbian couples do as well as children born into opposite-sex families. They also testified that the clamor for marriage in the gay community had given the institution of marriage greater esteem.

The trial appeared to be a lopsided show for the challengers, who called 16 witnesses, including researchers from the nation's top universities, and presented tearful testimony from gays and lesbians about why marriage mattered to them.

The backers of Proposition 8 called only two witnesses, and both made concessions under cross-examination that helped the other side.

The sponsors complained that Walker's pretrial rulings had been unfair and that some of their prospective witnesses decided not to testify out of fear for their safety.

When Walker ruled that he would broadcast portions of the trial on the Internet, Proposition 8 proponents fought him all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won a 5-4 ruling barring cameras in the courtroom.

The trial nevertheless was widely covered, with some groups doing minute-by-minute blogging. Law professors brought their students to watch the top-notch legal theater.

Wednesday's ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed last year by two homosexual couples who argued that the marriage ban violates their federal constitutional rights to equal protection and due process.

Filed in anticipation of a California Supreme Court ruling upholding Proposition 8, the suit was the brainchild of a gay political strategist in Los Angeles who formed a nonprofit to finance the litigation.

The group hired two legal luminaries from opposite sides of the political spectrum to try to overturn the ballot measure. Former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson, a conservative icon, signed on with litigator David Boies, a liberal who squared off against Olson in Bush vs. Gore, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave George W. Bush the presidency in 2000.

Gay-rights groups had opposed the lawsuit, fearful that the U.S. Supreme Court might rule against marriage rights and create a precedent that could take decades to overturn.

But after the suit was filed, gay rights lawyers flocked to support it, filing friend-of-court arguments on why Proposition 8 should be overturned.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown refused to defend the marriage ban, leaving the sponsors of the initiative to fill the vacuum. They hired a team of lawyers experienced in U.S. Supreme Court litigation.

Voters approved Proposition 8 by a 52.3% margin six months after the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was permitted under the state Constitution.

The state high court later upheld Proposition 8 as a valid amendment to the state Constitution.

An estimated 18,000 same-sex couples married in California during the months it was legal, and the state continues to recognize those marriages.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

carol.williams@latimes.com

Copyright © 2010, Los Angeles Times

Southwest Airlines' Plus-Size Passenger Problems Continue

2010-07-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

A Southwest Airlines flight crew is under fire after they removed a 5'4” 110-pound stand-by passenger to make room for an obese ticket-holder who needed a second seat. The airline's normal policy for over-booked flights is to ask for a volunteer among the passengers to deplane.

This is not Southwest's first run-in with plus-size problems. The actor-director Kevin Smith criticized the airline in February after they kicked him off an Oakland-Burbank flight because of his girth. Referred to as “Fatgate” by the Twittering masses, Smith was outspoken about the incident, which he said was emblematic of the embarrassment and prejudices endured by overweight Americans.

A spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, Marilee McInnis told the Sacramento Bee that this recent situation was “awkward” and admitted that the flight crew should have handled it better.

One reason she gave for breaking the rules: the late-coming obese passenger was only fourteen years old and already quite embarrassed. The flight crew didn't want to prolong the conflict and tried to act quickly.

As more and more Americans reach for the seat belt extenders, airlines are caught in a touchy position. Who get's priority in the battle over those 17.2 inches of navy-blue cushion? While airlines around the country struggle to set fair policies, Smith continues to find humor in the humiliation:

About Southwest's recent snafu, Smith tweeted: “Now me AND my [skinny] wife can get booted off Southwest... TOGETHER!”

-- MEREDITH MELNICK

Beaches and Boys of Brazil - from OutTraveler

2010-07-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Take a headlong dive into the surf, sand, and soul of Brazil's obsessively sexy beach culture. With 5,000 miles of coastline, there's a lot to choose from.

By Mack Friedman

Brazil is guilty of a torrid love affair with the sun. When it's raining in Rio, locals hurry by with umbrellas cloaking expressionless faces like shocked victims of sudden infidelity. But when it's sunny, especially in the summer months (our winter), it seems the entire population can be found basking on the sand. Spanning the equator and nearly 5,000 miles long, the shimmering Brazilian coastline is host to regions as diverse as the arid northeastern flatlands of Salvador, the misty Atlantic rain forest of the Discovery Coast near Porto Seguro, and the mountainous tropical zone of Rio de Janeiro. So there's a perfect beach for everybody: lovers, divers, hang gliders, snorkelers, surfers, nudists, or dime-store mystery readers. Most big urban beaches, like Ipanema and Copacabana in Rio, and even some smaller beaches have sections primarily for gays and lesbians. New Year's Eve and carnival (the infamous four-day midsummer celebration during late February) are siren calls for travelers all over the world to drop their anchors and let the tide wash them onto Brazil's shores.

It was raining when I arrived in Rio last September, so I escaped driving north to Búzios, where cariocas (citizens of Rio de Janeiro) go to really cut loose. Búzios was a lazy fishing village until it was made famous by Brigitte Bardot, who spent a summer there in 1964 with her Brazilian boyfriend. Bardot's legacy has transformed Búzios into a resort town: Top-tier guesthouses and pampering hotels nestle in its hills.

As much as I liked my sunga (bikini), I couldn't wait to take it off and let the sun envelop me. I'd parked close to Praia Olho de Boi, a naturist beach on the eastern tip of the Búzios peninsula, at an adjacent fishermen's beach, Praia Brava. From here a red dirt path meanders up and over the mountain separating Brava from Olho de Boi. Along the way I met three proud fishermen carrying the morning's catch (this evening's dinner), a burnished mare grazing on hillside vegetation, and a small crab skittering down the basalt that frames the beach. The morning sun smiled on me as I windmilled down the steep path, tore off my sunga, and raced across shell fragments worn smooth by the waves to float in the warm tidal pools that make this cozy cove a bather's paradise. Though not specifically a gay beach, Olho de Boi is popular with gay men and straight couples, resulting in a relaxed mix of blissed-out nudists.

If Ipanema is where Brazilians go to cruise, and Búzios is where they go to relax, then Porto Seguro is where they go on honeymoon. Here in the Bahia, 600 miles north of Rio, Brazil was born. Pedro Cabral, a Portuguese explorer, discovered this coastline in 1500, and it retains a rustic, historic authenticity. Small pousadas (guesthouses) are the rule in the neighboring beach town of Arraial d'Ajuda. The beaches here are narrow and tranquil, the waters clear and green. The surf is calm, tempered by a long offshore reef system, and when you wade into the waves the sand is so soft that your ankles sink into the seabed. You literally become one with the beach as the water cascades ashore in a cool, gentle froth.

Just south of Porto Seguro is the Atlantic rain forest, large parts of which are still protected. I wanted to see the savage coast and booked a trip through Selvagem Adventure, a gay-friendly company that specializes in taking visitors to the remote cliff towns that date to the earliest Portuguese missions. Eduardo, Selvagem's owner, put his Land Rover into four-wheel drive, and we chugged through arroyos cut deep into dirt roads from the recent rains. A swath of blue appeared to the east. As we approached the last hill before the coastal town of Espelho, the Atlantic wind pushed the southern clouds behind us into the forest. We trekked down a wild oceanside bluff and found ourselves facing a lashing steely sea. To our right was infamous Praia do Amores.

"How did it get the name?" I asked.

"In the 1950s, before TV," explained Eduardo, "Teenagers used to come down here at night. Now away from their families, they would light bonfires, talk, and have sex for the first time. And even now"--his eyes lit up--"it is very private."

Bordered by sharp coral formations that were left behind when the seas last receded, Praia do Amores was uninhabited this cloudy morning. But our presence there triggered the sun to fight its white cover and cast it away. I pretended I was a castaway as we wound north down the flat white virgin sands to Praia Espelho. I stood on the veranda of a gracious guesthouse and watched the sun advance from the sea. A great band of vibrant green striped the cobalt cloud shadows one cresting wave at a time, until what came crashing to the shore was not just meringue foam--or salt or wind or sand--but the very soul of Brazil, the equatorial inferno of the bright spring sun.

In an open-air café that night in Arraial d'Ajuda, a bossa nova singer swaggered to my table and handed me a gourd to shake in rhythm to his fingerpicking. "Tall and tan and dark and lovely," he sang gently, "The girl from Ipanema goes walking / And when she passes, each one she passes goes, ‘Ah.' " I understood then the true nature of saudade, my longing deep as ocean blue for Rio de Janeiro. For if you could bring together the finest aspects of every urban beach you'd ever been to, you'd wind up on Praia Ipanema in Rio, a mile-long strip of soft natural sand blessed with tropical weather virtually year-round. It has the surf of Waikiki--and its surfer mentality--with the diversity and tolerance that comes from big-city life and centuries of cultural blending.

Ipanema shares with Waikiki a glorious vista of natural beauty (Rio has Sugarloaf, Honolulu has Diamond Head) and a promenade of luxurious hotels ringing the ocean. Yet Ipanema--and its more famous neighbor, the curvaceous Copacabana--also contains the playground athleticism, contented faces, and gleaming hard bodies of Mediterranean beach towns. There's the happy backbeat of lapping surf, soccer balls smacking off thighs, the slap of paddleballs on wood. Silent capoeira dancers leap to these rhythms and to the laughter that accompanies another Brazilian invention, futevole, which resembles beach volleyball (only it's played with a soccer ball, and you can't use your hands).

Rio's beaches are a wonderful mix of locals and tourists, as in Barcelona or on Venice Beach in Los Angeles, with room on the sand for necessities like jungle gyms and free weights. Brazil promotes a culture of the body, and the most beautifully honed muscles in the world are here. Ipanema has inherited the drumming counterculture of Holland's Zandvoort, and like the Caribbean beaches of Montego Bay, Jamaica, it is fragrant with bonfires, incense, and marijuana without Montego's homophobia or violent hustling. It has the open gay life of parts of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Sitges, Spain, with an entire section dedicated to gays and lesbians. Cariocas practice the "any excuse for a party" joie de vivre of boozy Midwestern lakefronts, giving it a cruisy down-home feel with plenty of beer and boom boxes, even steamed corn on the cob. This close to the equator, the Atlantic is warm and welcoming year-round, and if the surf's high, it only means it's happy to see you and wants to take you for a ride.

My friend Rostand, cofounder of Rio G, a gay and lesbian travel center just off the beach, was not impressed.

"There's nobody here," he protested. I looked around. There were at least 200 people on the gay beach: coupled barbies (gay yuppies) lounging with friends and small children, single buffies (muscular machos) strutting from parasol to parasol, a happy threesome of two guys and a girl toweling each other off. "Today it is completely empty. It is like having sex without an orgasm. You must return in the summer when there are 2,000 of us."

I didn't agree with him then, but now that I'm back in the States I know he's right about one thing. I have to go back--and the sooner the better.

Lesbian cruising with Olivia: Top 9 tips for cruise virgins

2010-07-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Vanasco ,
07.23.2010 11:03am EDT

My partner Jenny and I didn’t know what to expect on our first cruise. Would we get seasick? Would we get along? Would we get the Norwalk Virus?

Our ship- The Ryndam!

In our first year and a half together we had done only a little traveling – to Chicago, to DC for the Inauguration, and to North Carolina to visit relatives. We have pretty different styles: Jenny is more social and does more advance destination research; I’m more spontaneous, bring a lot of reading material along and am more prone to napping.

Neither of us were sure we were “cruise people.” Jenny worried about feeling trapped or getting sick. I worried about hating everyone and seeing only Disneyfied versions of the countries we were visiting.

It turns out that we I had a great time on Olivia’s 20th anniversary cruise to the Western Caribbean (we were their guests) – still, there are things we wish we had known before stepping on board.

Here are the nine things you need to know before you go off cruising into the sunset.

Jenny and Jay monkey around on an excursion to a Honduras zoo.

1. Know thyself. There is a lot to do on a cruise ship. Maybe too much. Every hour or so on our ship, there would be an announcement about some incredibly fun activity happening somewhere else.

There are BBQs. Pool games. Informative seminars. Comedians. Dessert extravaganzas with chocolate fountains and bread baked in the shape of mice. Before you go, talk to your partner (or have a long conversation with yourself) about what you actually need.

- Are you looking for serious R&R? Then limit yourself to one activity a day, sleep in, and don’t get off at every port.

- Trying to immerse yourself in the lesbian community you don’t get at home? Go to the social hours, sit with new people during meals and dance into the night.

- Looking for adventure? Get off the ship early at your port of call and have your excursions lined up in advance. Use your at sea days to relax.

- Just know what you want before you get there, so you don’t stumble off the ship needing a vacation from your vacation.

We did not do this. Instead, we tried to do everything possible (you’ll get a hint of what “everything possible” is by watching the video we made of Jenny. And no, she wasn’t really drinking a beer on the treadmill.) We took a dance class. We swam in the pool. We went to mixers. We went to the shows. We met the Indigo Girls.

We were so tired that we got off the ship and slept for two days straight.

One of the many social events onboard - a lesbian dance.

2. Bring a sweater. In my imagination, cruises are all bikinis and fruity drinks on the outside Lido Deck.

In reality, when the boat is moving, it can be windy and cold. Also, ships keep the air conditioning up high in the inside public areas. So have a light jacket – and have warm clothes for dinner, socializing at the bar, gambling, and other indoor activities. You see the same people over and over. Don’t let them see you in the same sweatshirt every night.

3. Carry business cards. Maybe not those stodgy ones from the corporate office. But a lot of women made
up special couple cards from places like Vistaprint.com that had both their names, their home contact info and their cabin number.

Then carry them. Business cards do you no good if they’re hiding in the top drawer of the dresser in your cabin.

Also, if you’re floating away on Olivia, decorate your door. That way people can find you – and they will leave you messages if you put up a wipe-off board. It’s like college! But no homework. And, unless you went to a women’s college (I did!) a lot more ladies.

The Indigo Girls were on board!

4. Do your research. Sure, you can let the cruise line do everything for you, including selling you port excursions. But you’ll spend a lot less money – and likely have more fun – if you plan your excursions yourself.

TripAdvisor and CruiseCritic have advice in each port of call; sometimes you can get actual footage of excursions on YouTube. Olivia has a great bulletin board where you can meet women before you sail and invite others to join you on excursions you plan yourself.

Jenny and I went swimming with dolphins in Cozumel, inner-tubed down a river running through a cave in Belize and made friends with locals in Honduras. We did our sightseeing with smaller groups than if we had gone with the cruise line’s choices, saw more areas that were not specifically geared toward tourists and saved about $350.

5. Watch your alcohol. You will be offered Bloody Marys with breakfast, beers with lunch, cocktails with dinner – and specialty drinks anytime you step out of your stateroom. All that drinking is expensive (even soda adds up), so know before you go how much you can afford and keep track of your libations. Some who have posted on cruise bulletin boards say that they have come home to several thousand dollars worth of drink charges. Yikes.

If you know that you need your nightly – and afternoon and morning – cocktail, then most ships have drink cards you can buy in advance at a discount. It’s likely only worth it for really big drinkers, though – most women on our cruise were giving their drinks away by the end.

6. It’s fun to be single. Olivia has special meet and greets and excursions for solo travelers. On our cruise, they traveled in packs and always seemed to be having a great time.

We found it tough to make friends with other couples (women seemed to be looking for a romantic vacation for two, or already were sailing with many other friends) so if you’re cruising for the first time – weirdly – going single might be best. Or hey, just go to the single social hours. No one will stop you.

One of the ship's pools was outdoor when docked and indoor while seabound!

7. Sanitize. The Norwalk Virus, H1N1 and the common cold are all hanging out around a ship’s handrails, doorknobs and public bathrooms. Try not to shake hands. Cough into your elbow. Wash your hands whenever you pass a sink. And use all that hand sanitizer that is everywhere.

If you get sick – you’ll be quarantined in your room. Jenny caught a bad cough the last day, but otherwise we were illness-free.

8. Lesbian cruises: they’re not for cruising. Sure, there are women who met their partners on an Olivia cruise. But unlike cruises for gay men, there’s not much of a hookup vibe. Most people come with their partners or in tight groups. If you want some action, you should go looking on land.

9. Prepare for re-entry. I didn’t get seasick on the ship – but I sure did get landsick when I got home. My kitchen floor was rolling for days (this is not uncommon for people on week-long cruises). Happily, we also had messages from people on Facebook we had met on the cruise, great stories to tell our friends and silly pictures of us playing with dolphins. (We also had a great 12 hours in Tampa after wards.)

Women who’ve been on one Olivia cruise tend to take another – and we can see why. By the second day, Jenny and I were making lists of what we would bring next time and how we would plan differently.

Once you know what to expect and how to plan, you can lay back and let the cruise ship do the rest.

Guests were greeted everyday with a new towel animal.

Upcoming Olivia Vacations

Click Here to Book Your Olivia Cruise!

Provence to Burgundy Riverboat Cruise

July 20-27, 2010

Cruising the Greek Isles & Turkish Coast

Oct 3-10, 2010

Palm Springs Spa Escape

Oct 13-17, 2010

African Safari Adventure

Oct 15-22, 2010

Club Olivia, Columbus Isle Resort
Oct 16-23, 2011

Caribbean Sun Cruise

Oct 30-Nov 6, 2010

Costa Rica Cruise

Jan 22-29, 2011

Mexican Riviera Cruise
Mar 26-Apr 2, 2011

AA.com/Rainbow Salutes Rainbow Team Founder Rick Cirillo

2010-06-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

FORT WORTH, Texas – This June in celebration of LGBT history and pride, American Airlines’ Rainbow Team today released an exclusive first-person interview with former American Airlines sales manager and Rainbow Team founder Rick Cirillo. For the first time in public, Cirillo tells of his chance 1973 encounter with the late gay civil rights pioneer Harvey Milk – a once-in-a-lifetime friendship that simply began when Milk asked Cirillo, “Do you want to help?”

The Cirillo interview about his own times with Harvey Milk recites memories of the early days of gay civil rights organizing and their intersection with other early figures and leaders including the late journalist Randy Shilts and then San Francisco politician Diane Feinstein.

In 1994, Cirillo founded American Airlines’ innovative LGBT marketing strategy and launched the Rainbow Team, almost 20 years after first working alongside Harvey Milk in his Castro Street camera shop and serving as a dedicated campaign organizer for the next several years in San Francisco. Rick Cirillo at the age of 62 and following his retirement from American Airlines, works now in Spokane, Washington for People to People Ambassador Programs. He is also an openly gay father and grandfather with his husband of the past 12 years, Curtis Southworth.

“Rick Cirillo has always been a trailblazer,” said George Carrancho, present day manager of the Rainbow Team, and former colleague of Cirillo. “While serving here at American, he dedicated his professional career to building bridges and to taking our first steps as an inclusive and respectful partner for the LGBT community. To the best of our knowledge, just by starting the Rainbow Team, he began the very first dedicated LGBT marketing group at a major American corporation. We all stand on his shoulders today.”

In addition to the Team’s dedicated community website, www.aa.com/rainbow -- Carrancho connects with thousands of LGBT customers, friends and allies through a monthly Rainbow Newsletter to share special events, promotions and travel tips. For this month’s issue of Rainbow News, Rick Cirillo agreed, for the first time, to tell his entire story and to recount his friendship with Harvey Milk that began nearly 40 years ago.

Hyatt Signs On as Top-Level Partner of IGLTA

2010-04-15T19:23:00.001-07:00

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (April 8, 2010)–Hyatt recently upped its commitment to global gay tourism, becoming a Platinum Level Partner of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. The hotel company is a longtime sponsor of the gay travel association's annual convention, and this new top-tier partnership further demonstrates Hyatt’s dedication to IGLTA and the LGBT community.

"Hyatt values our long tenured partnership with IGLTA and is proud to support its efforts with an increased level of sponsorship in 2010," said Salvador Mendoza, vice president of diversity and inclusion for Hyatt. "We look forward to having the opportunity to connect directly with the LGBT travelers we welcome every day."

IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said that the agreement clearly sends the message to gay travelers that they can feel comfortable staying in a Hyatt hotel. "Hyatt keeps raising the bar when it comes to support of gay tourism," Tanzella said. "Very few hotel brands have shown this level of commitment."

IGLTA, which has staff and representatives in 17 countries, is the leading global organization dedicated to connecting businesses in the LGBT tourism industry. The association spans 70+ countries and consists of accommodations, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, destinations, media and other key players in the tourism industry.

Popular Gay Las Vegas Nightclub Krave Files for Bankruptcy

2010-02-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

According to the Las Vegas Sun, the owner of Las Vegas’ favorite gay nightclub Krave has filed for bankruptcy reorganization. The report further notes that Krave is currently behind on rent and tax payments, but hopes that things will improve now that the massive new City Center development has opened and brought new life to the area surrounding the once happening nightspot.

In court papers Krave Entertainment LLC President Sia Amiri said that the businesses at the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood resort on the Las Vegas Strip suffered last year because of the recession and construction on Harmon Avenue and CityCenter.

Amiri is now hanging his hopes on last month's opening of MGM Mirage's CityCenter complex.

"CityCenter revitalized the entire area, and debtor’s operations are now located at a prime site on the Las Vegas Strip. The new road route is expected to facilitate customer access," Amiri said in the filing. "With respect to the nightclub operations, the Krave brand name is popular with its clientele, and debtor plans to revamp its marketing plan and add new events."

Krave is the first gay/lesbian/alternate lifestyle club to make a home on the Strip.

Check it Out!

2009-08-31T22:32:00.001-07:00

Hot Five: Auckland, New Zealand | Exclusives | OutTraveler.com

2009-07-17T10:07:00.001-07:00

Hot Five: Auckland, New Zealand | Exclusives | OutTraveler.com

En route to interview the organizers of Gay Ski Week NZ in Queenstown, OutTraveler's Dennis Hensley spent three action-packed days in the City of Sails, Auckland, New Zealand. Here, in his own words, are his top recommendations.

1. MOLLIES

This 5-star luxury B & B overlooking the Harbor Bridge is the most fabulous place I've ever stayed. The owners, Frances Wilson and Stephen Fitzgerald, have poured lots of TLC into every detail, creating a sumptuous, homey atmosphere that reflects their passions for antiques, opera and contemporary design. There was a baby grand piano in my room. Seriously. You know, in case Josh Groban happened to stop by. There was also a romantic fireplace that roared to life with just the flip of a light switch, again in case Josh Groban happened to stop by.

Though I was tempted to never leave Mollies, a short stroll took me to the eclectic shopping district of Ponsonby Road, where I dined at the Spanish-influenced Rocco, indulged in a raspberry bar at the Earlybird Bakery and Cafe, and had the tastiest chai latte of my life at Dorothy's Sister, a cozy neighborhood hangout that's as old-school camp-tastic as its name would lead you to believe.

2. POTIKI ADVENTURES

My second day, I headed to the funky shopping area of Kingsland with Melissa Crockett, one of two lesbian owners of Potiki Adventures, a company that specializes in contemporary Maori culture tours. After turning me onto mincemeat pies at The Fridge, Melissa led me next door to Native Agent where we perused their wide array of handmade, Maori-inspired crafts and clothing. My favorite item was a kiwi bird-shaped wall hanging made from an old record album, specifically the Village People's "Macho Man." Gay enough for you yet? I thought so.

Then it was off to One Tree Hill, a gorgeous, grassy hillside park with a breathtaking 360-degree view of the entire area and a rich and complicated history as a much-prized Maori battleground. We ended our day with a drive through the rain forest to Piha Beach near where director Jane Campion shot her film The Piano. After snapping the requisite Facebook photos, Melissa and I savored the rich colors of the sunset reflecting on the black sand beach. It's an image I won't soon forget.

3. SAIL NZ

My interactive sailing adventure with SailNZ aboard an America's Cup yacht from 1995 started out as a mellow, fun-in-the-sun type proposition. But then the weather started getting rough and our tiny ship was tossed. For a few minutes there, it was like being in The Perfect Storm except George Clooney wasn't there to tell you everything was going to be okay. At times during the downpour, it felt like our vessel was almost perpendicular to the sea but my shipmates and I kept our cool and prevailed, grinding and steering our asses off, then we sailed back to the downtown Auckland pier under a big hot sun and a welcoming gay rainbow.

4. K'ROAD THE GAY ROAD

With assured guidance by my local gay liaison, Nate, I embarked on a big gay club crawl down Karangahape Road or K' Road, is it's more commonly known. We started out with the friendly neighborhood pub Naval and Family then dashed across the street to the bustling, high-energy Family Auckland's preeminent gay dance club.

My favorite stop though was Caluzzi Bar and Cabaret where sassy drag divas serve dinner, clear plates and then put on a hell of a show. The kicker: at least once in each number, the performer or performers leave through the front door and continue to lip-sync for their lives through the front windows from the sidewalk outside, like their in a drag queen aquarium. This leads to some hilarious cameos from unwitting passersby who hadn't planned on appearing in a drag show that night. Sometimes, if the music moves them, a diva will venture beyond the sidewalk right out into street. It's traffic stopping fun…in more ways than one.

5. SKYJUMPING FROM SKYTOWER

Seeing Zachary Quinto on Letterman made me jump off a building. I'll explain: When the Heroes actor was on Late Night to promote his role in the new Star Trek film, Quinto boasted to Dave that he just did the Skyjump, a controlled bunjy-style jump from the SkyTower in Auckland. I figured if Spock can do it, I can do it.

So after getting outfitted in a nifty blue and yellow jumpsuit, I was taken by elevator up to the platform where I enjoyed the amazing view of the city as well as some classic rock songs as I waited for my turn. I was hoping to hear "Freefalling" or "Eye of the Tiger" but I got "Breakdown," which doesn't exactly make one feel invincible. What really unnerved me though was the sound of the cable uncoiling as the jumpers before me took their leap. It's loud and metallic and it gets faster and faster as the person descends. It's the sound of a death splatter, frankly, but I blocked it out and got harnessed up by a guy with a hot accent named Andy.

"Are you nervous?" he asked me.

"Yes," I replied, "but I decided I'm going to stay in the moment and trust the experts."

"Too bad I don't know where they are," he said.

And then I jumped off the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere (630 feet). And I did it with as much grace as I could muster. If I was going to plummet to my death, then I was going to tap into my dance background and do it with good form.

Once I was actually falling, I went from feeling terrified to exhilarated in about a split second. In fact, I got so into my arched-back superhero fantasy that I didn't get my feet under me in time and I sort of botched my landing. The East German judge was particularly harsh but I didn't care. I was having too much fun. I giggled through my landing and for a few minutes or so after. In fact, I'm still giggling.

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Top 5 Surprisingly Gay Small Towns

2009-06-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by Out Traveler

If you're up for downsizing when it comes to planning your next vacation destination, consider these diminutive gems. Keep clicking to find who’s number 1!

5. PORTLAND, MAINE

Home to one of the biggest per capita LGBT populations on the east coast and now host of the entirely enticing Frostbite ME weekend (early March, dates TBA), a LGBT winter celebration with an alluring array of homo hijinks, activities, and events that launched in 2008, Portland is Maine's captivating largest city (population 65,000). Portland has a venerable gay bar, Blackstones, and Styxx Video Club (3 Spring Street), where the dance floor and pool tables are popular with women on Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information on the city's gay goings on, contact Visit Portland.

4. EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSA

A pint-sized piece of perfection, Arkansas' Eureka Springs (population 2,350) is a charming tiny town with Victorian architecture, twisting streets, and easy going, laissez fair attitude that has lured a diverse community. "Diversity Weekends" run four times a year and gay-owned businesses, including bars, hotels, and guesthouses have proliferated in the town. Check in to gay-owned, fabulously kitschy Tradewinds Motel or lesbian-owned Pond Mountain Lodge and Resort to stay gay. The resort spa town nestled in the Ozarks has gained quite a reputation over the years and answers to nicknames such as "Haven for the State's eccentrics," "The place where the misfits fit," "The hole in the Bible Belt where the buckle goes through," and "America's largest open-air asylum."

3. ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

An upbeat college town, the home of Edmund White's alma mater, the University of Michigan, is a haven of tolerance, just 35 miles west of Detroit (population 115,000). Women drink, play pool, and have dinner at the miniscule, two-level, lesbian-adored Aut Bar. Thrilling restaurants abound and once you're ready to up the ante, head to gay-friendly club Necto. Ann Arbor is also home to a slew of LGBT groups, from Ann Arbor Queer Aquatics to the Lesbian Moms Network.

2. ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Set in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Asheville (population 73,000) is home to an excellent choice of gay and lesbian-owned inns and guesthouses, such as gay-owned 1899 Whitegate Inn and Cottage. For more choices, contact Explore Asheville. There's also a smorgasbord of thrilling, locally owned restaurants, gay bar Smokey Tavern (18 Broadway Street), hot LGBT dance spot Club Hairspray, lesbian-owned bookstore Malaprops, and a constellation of galleries.

1. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

This accepting, forward-thinking, progressive college town (population 70,000) is home to Indiana University and the famed Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction (itself home to one of the world's largest porn collections). Filled with hip cafés and funky stores, Bloomington markets its many merits to lesbian and gay travelers. For more information on Bloomington, visit www.visitgaybloomington.com.

More information @ http://www.outtraveler.com

N.H. legalizes same-sex marriage

2009-06-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

By Valerie Richardson (Contact) | Thursday, June 4, 2009

New Hampshire became the sixth state to recognize same-sex marriage Wednesday after the state legislature agreed to include changes protecting religious institutions from being forced to marry gay couples.

Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, signed the bill just hours after the state House voted 198-176 and the Senate voted 14-10 to legalize gay marriage.

"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities and respect under New Hampshire law," Mr. Lynch said.

Mr. Lynch, who has stated he believes personally that marriage should be between a man and a woman, had said that he would veto the bill unless protections for religious groups were added.

New Hampshire joined Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine in legalizing same-sex marriage, and is the fourth to do so this year. The Vermont and Maine legislatures approved bills recognizing same-sex marriage earlier this year, while the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in March that not performing such unions is unconstitutional.

The only surprise surrounding the New Hampshire action was its timing.

Both state houses approved a same-sex marriage bill earlier this year, but the governor sent it back in May, asking the legislature to include language making it clear that religious organizations and their employees have the right to refuse to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Lawmakers expected the governor's amendment to sail through the legislature easily, and thus were stunned when the House rejected it in a May 20 vote by a margin of 188-186.

New Hampshire political analyst Dean Spiliotes chalked up the vote to a large number of absences the legislature meets year-round and pays only a pittance, thus many lawmakers miss votes due to their jobs and to qualms over the speed at which the bill was moving.

Legislative leaders met Friday in conference committee to tweak the governor's language. Meanwhile, Democrats rallied support for the bill while stressing the importance of high attendance.

"What played out last week is that they decided to do a do-over," Mr. Spiliotes said. "There was no huge sea-change; they just needed to get their ducks in a row."

Gay-rights advocates hailed the New Hampshire action as another important step in securing equal rights for same-sex couples.

"I think that ever since the legislature began grappling with this issue earlier this year, we've been hopeful that they would move past civil unions and go for the real thing," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry.

Kevin Smith, executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research Action in Manchester, N.H., which opposes gay marriage, said the governor and some legislators would likely pay a political price for the move in the 2010 election.

"The governor said as recently as April that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman," Mr. Smith said. "This is a stark departure from everything he's said in the past. I wouldn't call it squishy I'd call it completely misleading the voters."

He said conservatives would attempt to repeal the same-sex marriage law, while acknowledging that it wouldn't be easy. Even getting a referendum onto the ballot requires a two-thirds vote in both the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.

Opening Statement

2009-02-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I am Jeremy Bryant, CEO of Queertrip.com. Queertrip.com was created to provide the LGBT community with gay and lesbian travel information in an easy to use web site. Queertrip.com comprises of a dedicated staff of family and friends, and is gay owned and operated. At Queertrip.com we recognize the need to give back to the community. That is why we donate a portion of every booking made on Queertrip.com to charities within the LGBT community. It's the way you travel!

Jermy Bryant
CEO
Queertrip.com

Welcome to Queertrip.com!

2009-02-24T00:30:00.000-08:00

Who we are:

Queertrip.com is the newest way to book gay and lesbian travel. Established in June 2008, Queertrip.com consists of dedicated LGBT travel specialists teamed up to bring you the best gay and lesbian travel worldwide. Queertrip.com is gay owned and operated. Our goal is to make travel better and easier for the gay and lesbian traveler. At Queertrip.com, we believe in giving back to the LGBT community, so that’s why we are giving back a portion of the proceeds to LGBT charities.

Why we’re different:

What sets Queertrip.com apart from other gay and lesbian travel sites? Our technology, service, and user friendly web site allows users to search every airfare, hotel, car, and cruise company available.

Best of all, you’ll find all the gay and lesbian travel information on destinations including gay owned and operated hotels, bars and clubs, attractions, shopping, restaurants, and more all in one conveniently located site.

What we can do:

Queertrip.com searches for fares listed in the GDS’s (Global Distribution Systems), negotiated contracted rates, sale fares, as well as web fares on the internet. Our search engine finds them all in one easy to use system delivering you all the fares.

At Queertrip.com, we believe it’s the way you travel!

Thanks for visiting!

Share Your Queertrip

2009-02-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

At Queertrip.com, we welcome our guests to share and comment on your travel experiences. Review hotels and bed and breakfasts’ to clubs and bars and everything in between. We recommend keeping a travel journal or jotting down memorable notes from your trip to share your experiences with your friends, family, and the world. Your notes can be of great help to others considering LGBT travel.

Share your Queertrip is the best way to share your trip with everyone by helping other travelers with real reviews, pictures, and advice from real people who’ve experienced it. At Queertrip.com, we hope everyone can share their trip with the world. It's the way you travel!

Please feel free to send us any comments, reviews, pictures, stories, tips or advice in en effort to help the gay and lesbian travel community.

You can also share comments directly on our website by clicking here.

Giving Back

2009-02-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

Gay travel, lesbian travel and LGBT Family travel account for over 65 billion dollars in revenue a year. We here at Queertrip.com believe that some of that revenue should be given back to the LGBT community. No matter if you are booking a gay travel vacation or just booking that flight or hotel for work, Queertrip will give a percentage of the proceeds to quality LGBT organizations working to better our community. (Click Here)