Category: Travel

10 best places to eat in Key West

If you’re looking for places to eat Key West has a huge array of restaurants, cafes and bars all servicing delicious food.

FitzFox / Pixabay

Without a doubt. seafood is the mainstay of Island eating – but there’s a fusion that happens at many of Key West‘s restaurants. There’s a strong Carribean and Latin influence, thanks to the Keys’ geographical location. Boatloads of trawlers ensure daily arrival of fresh fish. Vegetarians, vegans, meat eaters and pizza lovers won’t be disappointed by what’s on offer as well.

There are over 300 restaurants listed for Key West, but here are just 10 of our favourites.

Bagatelle (115 Duval Street, FL 33040)

Go to Bagatelle for the ultimate in people watching and the best mojito on the island. Be sure to book first and ask for a seat on the veranda on the second floor. There you’ll be able to watch the streams of people who are on the strip below as the island’s night scene comes to life. Slip your ice-cold cocktail as live music drifts from a nearby venue. Heaven. https://bagatellekw.com/

Island House (1129 Fleming Street, FL 33040)

Island House is one of the gay-go-tos on Key West. The food is of good quality, but the real reason you’ll stay is for the poolside view, as you chow down on your club sandwich. Island House resort has a clothing optional policy for its guests. Sip a cocktail while checking out the local talent. https://islandhousekeywest.com/

The Flaming Buoy (1100 Packer Street, FL 33040)

If going gay is your policy then The Flaming Buoy should be on your list of places to eat. It opens nightly at 6 PM. This highly rated eatery offers Key specials including the fresh catch, pan seared with banana salsa ($28) or the red Thai curry with grilled Key West pink shrimp.

Hot Tin Roof for Sunday Brunch. ( 1 Duvall Street)

One more absolutely gay thing to do is Sunday brunch at the Hot Tin Roof. This is one of Key Voices Magazine’s must do’s. Author Greg informs us, “my FAVORITE meal there is Sunday brunch. The indoor/outdoor dining venue offers delightful ocean views and unlimited small plates a la carte (no buffet lines for me, thank you!)”.

A word to the wise, arrive hungry and make your reservation a COUPLE OF MONTHS in advance. The set price is $49 and includes a full Bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosas!

Bien (1000 Eaton Street, FL 33040)

Bien is the highest rated restaurant on Key West according to Trip Advisor. It serves a fusion of Latin and Caribbean food with good vegetarian options. Best still it’s well priced. Average prices are between £3 and £12 for a dish.

Duetto Pizza and Gelato (540 Greene Street FL 33040)

According to Trip Advisor, there’s only one place to get pizza in Key West, and that’s over at Duetto Pizza and Gelato on 540 Green Street. It’s a small place and is famed for its pizza, which you can eat in, takeout or even get delivered. At the time of publishing, It has amassed over 2300 reviews with 94 percent of them rated as Excellent or Very Good. It’s cheap too, at $20 for a margarita to share (6 big slices in total) you really can’t go wrong.

Azur Restaurant (425 Grinnell Street, FL 33040)

There’s a special deal at this gay-owned restaurant, get 50 percent off your food if you join them for dinner from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM. Here you can experience Mediterranean specialities in the comfort of the shaded terrace or from the newly renovated dining room. Find out more: https://www.azurkeywest.com/

Nine One Five Restaurant and Bar (915 Duvall Street FL 33040)

If you’re looking for Tapas, there’s only one option 915. It is one of the sister restaurants to Bagatelle, mentioned above. The menu is stuffed with wonderful, well-priced options and you can eat on the typical Key West style veranda. Brendan Orr, the restaurant’s executive chef, has called Key West his home for 20 years and is famous locally for his New Island cuisine, described as “an artful combination of fresh local fare, Caribbean spices, Asian influences and French technique”. Yum!

Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen And Bar (7001 Shrimp Road Drive, FL 33040)

Although technically not on Key West, it’s one Key over; we couldn’t help but include Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar. The food is sensational and the service excellent. Try the Black Grouper one of the restaurant’s specialities and get some Cornbread Mash – it’s to die for. Follow with their sublime and traditional Key Lime Pie. Find out more: https://www.perrykeywest.com/eat-and-drink/matts-stock-island

Better Than Sex (926 Simonton Street, FL 33040)

What is better than sex? Dessert. Always. One reviewer on Google wrote, “Is it really better than sex, though? It had me moaning, groaning, and saying phrases like, “Oh my God”. So, it has got to be close!” With infamous names like The Klimax, The Slip Inside and The Money Shot, we know where we’re retiring after our meal, and it isn’t the bedroom.

Where to stay?

The Equator Resort offers the perfect gay away and offers rooms from as little as $159 per night.

5th October 2018
6 things that make a great gay holiday

So what really makes a great gay holiday?

CREDIT: bigstock / Rawpixel.com

The idea of Melmoth Travel came out of a number of conversations with our great friend David Melmoth, a lively and thoughtful older gay man and an experienced traveller.

We asked David to summarise his views about gay holidays for this article and we have invited him to join us on our Krakow tour in December to access how well we’ve acted on his advice.

So here are his top tips…

1 Places that are about people

I like people. They are what most interests me when I travel. Even when I am looking at ancient ruins, it is the people who lived in them that stir my imagination. I also love stories – especially new ones. So when I got on holiday it’s a plus for me if I don’t know the historical background to the place I’m visiting.

Destinations in Eastern Europe have a strong appeal. Now that we have Estonians and Slovaks living in the UK you frequently hear their countries mentioned but what are these places like? I only have vague, fairytale impressions: forests, castles, handsome heroes and beautiful flaxen-haired maidens. All wrong, I’m sure, but tantalising …

One place I would love to visit is Transylvania. I find the Dracula legend so compelling but, to be honest, I am not sure the famous castle even exists. How amazing it would be to find out!

Sun and sand holidays, on the other hand, are not really my style. I’ve done the Costa del Sol and the Greek islands in August. Now it’s the Mediterranean in winter that speaks to me. I’d like to climb Mount Etna when the temperature isn’t in the nineties, find out whether the Greeks eat hot puddings in winter, look at some serious archaeological sights and museums. These are the sort of holidays I would go for now, holidays with magic where new stories are always beginning.

2 Going in a group

©-yanlev-Depositphotos

I’m single at present and a gay group holiday would be far preferable to holidaying on my own. There’s less of a gay scene in my area these days so I don’t socialise too much. I tend either to go on dates or I trek to London for an evening in a pub where I’m mostly mixing with strangers. A holiday in the company of other gay people would be just up my street.

The dynamics of a group on holiday allow you to get to know people better than a string of one-to-ones. You see them in different situations interacting with each other. That’s certainly what I found when I used to go abroad with friends from Uni. And everyone is different. Some people are good to talk over experiences with while others will buck you up if you need encouragement. When I’m in countries where English isn’t spoken, I sometimes have to swallow hard before going into a bar or cafe on my own. Those sort of nerves don’t even happen when you’re in a group.

I think some people might prefer a holiday where the destination is a backdrop for the group: that would apply to stag weekends for example. But it’s not quite me. I would prefer to be in a place that’s fascinating in its own right with the group making it a shared experience. That would strike a better balance.

3 Guide

A guide on a group holiday is a necessity. Particularly on a short break. Particularly in unfamiliar places. The main reasons are practical. We’ve all been on tours where the guides have been charming and obliging. However, that is not the essential thing about guides. It’s the time and stress they save you. Of course, you know that you could actually do most of their work for yourself but who wants to spend a holiday navigating a strange city, working everything out by trial and error? I once spent a whole weekend in São Paulo without realising it had a Metro. That’s the sort of thing that can’t happen when you have a guide.

By the way, when I say a guide I’m not just talking about a knowledgeable person who shows you around ancient monuments. I mean someone who is part of the group and can resolve any difficulties almost before they happen. That’s especially important when the group members are gay men. There may be information they need and are shy about asking for: where to buy things, where to cruise, local sensitivities or whatever. The guide needs to be well-informed, discreet and ready to help with any of these issues.

4 Financial security

Boring I know, but if I’m splashing out on an all-inclusive package then I want the confidence that I’m getting what I’ve paid for. That means an ATOL certificate and the necessary bonding arrangements to ensure that if the operator goes bust I’ll get a similar holiday or my money back. This isn’t negotiable for me. I haven’t heard of cowboys in the gay tourism sector but it’s a rapidly developing market so you can be sure there are a few out there. I like adventures and I like the unexpected but some risks I don’t take. For me, financial security is a red line.

5 Freedom

After everything I’ve said about groups and guides and financial security, it may sound a bit rich saying I want to be free on holiday. But I do. Although I’m pretty gregarious but I also like to get away from time to time. I can see myself spending a few hours with just one or two other members of the group or maybe just going off to explore on my own. I’m quite typical of many gay men in that I know how to enjoy my own company. I’ll be frank too. If I’m going to visit a sauna or somewhere like that I don’t necessarily want to be surrounded by people I know.

From the tour operator’s point of view, giving people freedom means making some excursions optional but it’s also a question of approach. Right from the start, in the marketing, it should be clear that the tours are for people who don’t want to socialise a lot as well as those who do. The attitude of the guide should reinforce this. It’s imperative to avoid people being pressured into more involvement than they want.

6 Gay means gay

If a holiday is sold as “gay” then that’s what it should be. “Gay-friendly” doesn’t pass muster. I realise that most of the barriers between gay and straight have come down in recent times, but that makes me more, not less, interested in services that are specifically designed for gay people. Virtually all hotels, restaurants and bars welcome gay customers now but that doesn’t make them particularly gay. It just sends out the reassuring message that they’re homophobia-free which is great but doesn’t make for a gay experience in any positive sense.

What I would really like to do on holiday is meet other gay people socially. That is not going to happen in a gay-friendly hotel if there don’t happen to be any gay people in it! I’m not saying I want to time-travel back to a 1970s ghetto where everyone’s a friend of Dorothy and speaks Polari. But I would like to experience things with other gay people so that we can talk about them over dinner in the evening. That sort of relaxed approach increases the possibility of making friends, perhaps even long-term friends. Of course, no tour operator can guarantee that but it ought to be possible to make it a bit more likely. It’s certainly worth a try.

David Melmoth

Melmoth Travel

15th September 2018
HOTEL REVIEW | VidaMar Resort Madeira

★★★★★ | VidaMar Resort Madeira

Get yourself onto a sun-lounger, because the VidaMar Resort in Madeira is a sun seeker’s dream. This exclusive resort features a large sea platform and direct ocean access, and is surrounded by gardens with tropical plants and palm trees to shade you while you take breakfast on the veranda.

The hotel has a contemporary style with elegant décor throughout and spacious modern rooms with balconies overlooking the ocean and panoramic views over the bay of Funchal.

The Location

VidaMar Resort Hotel is nestled in the heart of Funchal, and is surrounded by several other high end resorts. However, the area doesn’t come across as crowded or touristy. I mean it is touristy, but feels more relaxed and welcoming than anything else.

Located right on the ocean, VidaMar is idyllic for sunbathers, swimmers, or those that want to stroll along the seaside. The Lido Promenade is a walking trail that stretches along the coastline, giving you easy access to restaurants, cafés, and leisure areas such as parks and public swimming pools.

The Room

I don’t know about you, but when I get into a hotel room I like to sprawl. I’m talking clothes on every surface and shoes all over the place. It makes a hotel room feel like home. With a separate lounge area, I could scatter my crap to my heart’s content and still have room to swan around without tripping over my things. The spacious Ocean View Room I was staying in included a king-size bed, sofa, dining table, Plasma TV and free Wi Fi.

Image source: VidaMar Resorts

I love a room with a view, and the VidaMar Resort totally delivered, with full-length French windows opening up to your own private balcony that overlooks the gardens, pool, and that piercing blue ocean. As an early-riser, it was a rare treat to sit out on the balcony with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise over the ocean.

Image source: VidaMar Resorts

Perfect!

The Gay Scene

Sorry guys, there isn’t really much of a gay scene. However, switch on your Grindr and you’ll find locals and other tourists all within reach. The island is fairly small and the collection of resorts means you’ll find plenty of other travellers just a few scant metres away.

Our Verdict

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! The big selling point of the VidaMar has to be its swimming pools and sun lounge area, which, even in the middle of summer, was never crowded. There were always plenty of spots, and NO CHILDREN! Even those that are of the ginger persuasion (myself included) can enjoy a gloriously relaxing escape to the sun here. I can’t wait to go back.

Check out room rates on Booking.com

29th August 2018
This ferry company is flying the Rainbow flag for Pride this week

Ferry operator, DFDS is flying the Rainbow Flag to celebrate Pride taking place in Holland this week.

Dated: 29/07/2018
The Pride rainbow flag being flown on board the DFDS King Seaways in North Shields, North Tyneside

In support of Gay Pride celebrations taking place in Holland this week, award-winning ferry operator DFDS joined in with festivities by flying the rainbow flag on its sailing from Newcastle to Amsterdam, yesterday afternoon.

Coinciding with the first weekend of Amsterdam’s Gay Pride, the flag which is measured at 5ft by 3ft was yesterday flown on the ferry operator’s King Seaways ship as it departed Newcastle for Amsterdam.

Princess Seaways mirrored celebrations on its sailing from Amsterdam to Newcastle and both flags will remain in place throughout the week, during which Amsterdam’s Gay Pride will continue until Sunday 5 August.

Tuen-Wim Leene, Newcastle-Amsterdam Route Director said: “Flying the rainbow flag is our way of showing support for the LGBTQ communities both in Amsterdam and of course here in the UK.

“With the peak summer travel season kicking off this weekend, we felt this was the perfect opportunity to encourage our passengers visiting Amsterdam, to join us in wishing those celebrating, a very happy Pride!”

DFDS operates daily sailings between Newcastle-Amsterdam from £72 per person each way for a car and two people, including an en suite cabin.

Dated: 29/07/2018
The Pride rainbow flag being flown on board the DFDS King Seaways in North Shields, North Tyneside by Kim Justesen F&B BL (left) and Captain Flemmimg Langballe (right)

During the crossing, passengers can enjoy new film screenings in one of the two on board cinemas, explore the extensive shopping facilities, relax in one of the four bars and enjoy live entertainment in the evenings. Children can enjoy the Kids Club and for older children there’s a games room.

DFDS recently refreshed its dining options on the route, with two new restaurants to choose from, including the Explorer’s Kitchen for international cuisine and the North Sea Bistro for à-la-carte fine dining and sommelier-trained waiters to help pick the perfect wine to accompany any meal.

For more information or to book a crossing visit: www.dfds.co.uk

31st July 2018
6 things you need to pack to stay fit while travelling

The quest for the beach body doesn’t need to stop once you actually get to the beach.

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Once you’ve worked your butt off to get trim and sexy(er) for your beach body holiday, it can be tempting to ditch your workout routine the second you clear customs. I’m on holiday, forget the diet.

And while I wholeheartedly support that (you’ve worked hard, you deserve a break), should you wish to keep up even a small part of your regime whilst away, there are a few things you should pack that can help you.

1. Trainers

Duh, I hear you say. But let’s cover the obvious one first. Don’t assume you can do a worthwhile workout in flip-flops, or barefoot. Take a good pair of gym shoes with you for your workouts that could even double up for those long walks around through the city or mountain hikes that you may or may not be inclined to do while away. Pack them in a shoe locker to protect the rest of your bag from dirt and workout odour.

2. Extra headphones

I don’t think anyone goes anywhere these days without headphones (well apart from my mother who likes to eavesdrop on the plane). But if you’re looking to workout while abroad, pack an extra set specifically for working out. That way you always have a backup and don’t have to get your travelling headphones sweaty when you’re working out.

I like to take my Brainwavz Delta Noise Isolating earphones for the plane and my Avanca D1 Bluetooth headphones for working out.

3. Fitness tracker

A fitness tracker is a great idea in order to assuage any holiday laziness guilt by keeping track of just how active you are while away. If you’re on a city break or any kind of excursion you could be racking up the steps and burning calories you wouldn’t normally burn sitting at your desk.

I love my Fitbit Flex 2 as the battery lasts for days and it’s fairly inconspicuous, or if you want something a little more detailed you could grab a Ticwatch S for just £177.99 and download maps and walking tours directly to your watch. Two birds, one stone. Check out our full review of the TicWatch S.

4. Resistance bands

Image source: Amazon.co.uk

Resistance bands are the ultimate on-the-go training tool, extremely portable and endlessly versatile, you can keep up your strength and flexibility training wherever you are in the world.

5. Therapy balls

Image source: Amazon.co.uk

Giggle, balls. Joking aside, a good pair of balls could be a lifesaver on your next trip, even if you don’t plan of working out. A compact alternative to a foam roller, therapy balls can help release tight shoulders, sore feet, or anything else that aches. They nix tightness and keep our muscles feeling good wherever we go.

6. Packable yoga mat

Image source: Amazon.co.uk

These are great even if you have no intention of doing a single sun salutation. The simple act of laying out your mat creates a specific workout space in your hotel room, and the constant visual will remind you that you could spend a few minutes working out or stretching or planking.

The eKO SuperLite Travel Mat from Manduka is lightweight, has great grip, and is designed to be folded, not rolled.

31st July 2018
You should check yourself for these symptoms after coming back from your holidays

Summer holidays often lead to an increase in unprotected sex and STIs. New experiences and copious amounts of alcohol can often lead to unwise choices.

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Take proper precautions and always get properly checked when you get back home. To ask for more information on STIs, we spoke to the team at the STI Clinic.

Symptoms of an STI

Pain while urinating

A burning sensation or pain whilst urinating could be a possible sign of an STI. If you notice this, make an appointment to rule out infections such as chlamydia or urethritis.

Penis discharge

Any discharge from the tip of the penis could be a symptom of an STI. Cloudy, white, yellow, or green discharge is a possible sign that something is wrong. If you experience any unusual discharge, visit a doctor to get checked as soon as possible – it could be a symptom of chlamydia, gonorrhea, or urethritis.

Pain in testicles

Pain of any kind is usually an indicator of a problem in the body. Pain in the testicles can be a sign of an STI. You might experience the pain whilst urinating, during sex, or just throughout your daily life. Book an appointment to get checked if you experience pain, as it can be a sign of either gonorrhoea or chlamydia.

No symptoms at all

Alarmingly, many STIs do not show their symptoms for a very long time. It can take weeks, months, or years for any signs of infection to show up – so, just because you don’t have symptoms it doesn’t mean you’re not infected. Take proper precautions and get regular check-ups.

Chlamydia has been termed the “silent epidemic” because of its lack of obvious symptoms. Around 70% of women and 50% of men experience no symptoms at all when they are infected with the disease. HIV is even more elusive – often not showing signs for years, and sometimes not showing signs at all.

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Getting tested

Never hesitate to get tested if you think there’s a chance you have an STI. Even if it’s unlikely, it’s best to get tested as soon as possible. Don’t risk waiting for your symptoms to appear.

Most tests can be done in a doctor’s surgery, at a local GUM clinic, and some can be done through the post. Most are done through providing a urine sample or a urethral swab.

Getting treated

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Don’t panic if you find out that you have an STI because most can be completely cured or controlled with medical attention.

Gonorrhoea

There are now only a few antibiotics left that still treat gonorrhoea, as it has developed a resistance to the drugs that were first used to treat it. An intra-muscular injection is the most common form of treatment.

The symptoms of gonorrhoea usually take around 2-3 days to disappear after treatment. Make sure you are tested again 2 weeks after treatment and avoid having sex for at least a week afterwards.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is treated with a course of antibiotics. Both you and your partner should take the antibiotics at the same time, and refrain from intercourse throughout your treatment (even with a condom).

Someone who has been infected multiple times is much more likely to suffer from long-term complications. If you contract chlamydia, be extra careful not to get it again.

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If you are in any doubt, it’s best to get tested. It’s never been easier to get tested for STIs, and the sooner an STI is caught, the easier it is to control and treat.

Advice given by Dr Elizabeth Kershaw-Yates, GP and one of the medical team at The STI Clinic: https://www.thesticlinic.com/

22nd July 2018
5 Reasons Gays Should Visit Madeira

While the majority of passengers on our flight did look like the cast of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, there’s more to Madeira than comfortable walking shoes and early bird dinner specials.

steinchen / Pixabay

So here are 5 reasons the gays should put Madeira on their list of places to see:

1. It’s gay-friendly

Oldies aside, Portugal as a whole is very gay-friendly, and Madeira is no different. On a rainbow flag scale of gayness, I’d give Madeira a green. Gay-friendly but not especially gay-fun. So if you’re only interested in going to gay bars, staying in gay hotels, and “hanging out” with gay locals, then Madeira may not be for you.

There are plenty of gays there, just not in overwhelming numbers or in any concentrated areas. There aren’t any gay bars or even gay nights, but you’ll find a sprinkling of gays in some of the popular gay-friendly venues such as: Venda Velha, 23 Vintage Bar, Mini Eco Bar, Cafe do Teatro, Trap Music Bar, Copacabana Disco, & Escondidinho!

The word the locals I spoke to used a lot was “discreet”. The ageing population and traditionally Catholic background has meant gay life in Madeira isn’t overly loud. They do, however, have their own Pride which is celebrating its second year.

2. Perpetual sunshine

One reason the oldies love this place is its consistently constant weather. Though your guides will mention several times that there are multiple micro-climates on the island, you can be fairly confident to grab yourself some sunshine at any time of the year.

Whether it’s June or January, you’ll still be able to wear short shorts and get a nice tan (unless you’re of the ginger persuasion like myself, in which case you can get a nice sunburn). You’re looking at a range of temperatures from 12 to 19 degrees. So it’s sunny and warm, but you won’t burst into flames (again, unless you’re ginger like moi).

3. Food & wine

Any location that boasts a Mediterranean climate will come accompanied by luscious Mediterranean food. If you like seafood then book your flights and pack your elasticated waistbands. Tuna steaks the size of your head and the horribly ugly yet incredibly tasty Black Scabbard are local delicacies.

Image source: Wikipedia

4. Mountain hikes

If you’re not the beach resort type, or even if you are and you’ve had enough of lounging around the pool, Madeira’s volcanic nature means there are plenty of stunning mountain trails that you could follow for days.

When you get up above the clouds, the island has a confusingly Swiss feel about it, with some incredibly cute fluffy cows likely to block your path at some point.

5. Dolphins!

Even the hardest heart would have a hard time remaining cool at the sight of these amazingly intelligent and friendly creatures swimming alongside your boat. You’ve probably been on dolphin/whale-watching tours before where they warm you there’s a chance you might not see any when you get out there. And while we didn’t get to see any whales, our trip out in June meant that we were met by both local and migrating pods of dolphins. We were surrounded by roughly 200 of these amazing creatures, all of whom were curious and wanted to find out what we were about.

Guided by marine biologists who were incredibly respectful of the dolphins, limiting the time we spent with them to just 10 minutes at a time and always careful to keep our distance from mamas with their newborns. There are even excursions where you can hop in and swim with them in their natural environment.

That right there is reason enough for me to visit again!

Looking for accommodation deals for Madeira? Check out the latest deals with Hotels.com and Booking.com

Visit www.visitportugal.com and www.visitmadeira.pt for more information.

17th July 2018
What’s the best way to get from Heathrow into central London?

If you’re flying into Heathrow and travelling into central London there are several options for you ranging in price and convenience.

The cheapest option

The cheapest option to travel from Heathrow to central London is by what the locals affectionately call The Tube. Heathrow is right at the end (or start depending on how you look at it) of the Piccadilly Line (the dark blue line). It serves all the terminals at London’s Heathrow airport.

What’s brilliant about the Piccadilly Line is that it also serves most of London’s touristic areas, such as Leicester Square (one of the closest stations to London’s gay scene), Covent Garden and Knightsbridge.

The trains run frequently and within the operating hours of Heathrow. The travel time from Heathrow Terminal 5 to say Leicester Square is around 54 minutes. You don’t need to make any changes and because Heathrow is at the beginning of the line you are almost certainly guaranteed a seat.

Make sure you get an end seat so you can store your luggage in the little space provided at the end of the row. Don’t bring your luggage further into the carriage. The aisles are not big and your baggage will cause an obstruction.

Getting on and off London’s Tube is super easy, especially if you have a contactless debit or credit card or you can buy an Oyster Card and top it up and pay as you go. Travelling with an Oyster or Contactless payment card means you’ll always pay the right fee and it has a daily cap, so you’ll never spend more than a traditional travel card.

This journey will cost you £5.10 (PEAK) and £3.10 (OFF PEAK) with an Oyster or Contactless card. With cash it will cost you £6.00.

The quickest option

The quickest way to get from Heathrow into central London is by the Heathrow Express which terminates at Paddington. Paddington offers great connections to all areas of London via the Tube.

Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes and the journey time takes just 15 minutes.

A one-way ticket costs £25 ($33, €28) during peak hours ( 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM and 4 PM – 7 PM) or £22 ($29, €25) off-peak. Returns are charged at £37 ($49, €42). You can buy tickets as cheap as £5.50 if you book online, for the weekend, and in advance.

Tickets can be bought online, at the station, at a ticket machine or via the Heathrow Express app. If you buy your ticket on board the train you will be charged more £30 (Peak) or £27 (off-peak) a return is charged at £42.

The most comfortable

Uber, Minicab, London’s Black Cabs

The most comfortable way to travel from Heathrow with no stops or changes will be by private hire car, but watch out for the prices. You could end up with an expensive bill. The most expensive option is the iconic London black taxi which could cost up to £90 ($118, €101) and take 60 minutes. The taxis stop at the taxi ranks located outside each of Heathrow’s arrivals’ halls. All of London’s Black Cabs have wheelchair access.

The cheaper of the options is to order an Uber direct from your smartphone.

All taxis pick up passengers from the Taxi ranks.

The Coach

There is a coach service that runs all day with up to 51 departures per dat. It’s run by National Express. They depart from every terminal and arrive at London’s Victoria Station, 300 metres from the Tube. Prices are from £6 per ticket.

The most freedom

As you’d expect all the major car hire companies have a desk at Heathrow and are all located in the Arrivals’ hall in each of Heathrow’s terminals.

Remember in the UK we drive on the left.

Looking for great deals on Car rental in London? Check out Rentals.com for the latest prices.

There aren’t many toll rolls, but be warned we do have the daily congestion charge in central London (operates from 7:00 AM until 6:00PM). Any car (non-electric) that enters the zone will be charged a daily £11.50 fee, which you have to pay by midnight or the fee increases to £14 up until the midnight on the following day. After that you’ll be slapped with a hefty fine. You can pay over the phone or online.

Looking for great deals on Hotels while staying in London? Check out Hotels.com for the best deals.

Created July 2018

2nd July 2018
Top 10 gay things to do in Key West for free

Making a trip to Key West? Here are some of the must-see, free things to do while on the gay-friendly island.

Big gay road trip

Firstly getting to Key West can be one big gay affair with your very own big gay road trip. Key West is by far one of the most friendly areas for gay travellers in the United States outside San Francisco or New York.

Travelling by car to any of the keys is definitely the most impressive way to see all the keys and their different styles. Simply slap on some Shania Twain, Britney and Kylie and sing your heart out in a convertible for mile after mile.

Gay Key West Visitors Centre

Want to find out more about what’s gay in Key West the helpful Gay Key West Visitors’ Centre should be your first stop.

Hot tub it at a gay guest house

Bourbon has an all-male guest house called New Orleans House (724 Duval Street). You don’t need to be a guest to use their facilities, but drinks and foods are chargeable. So why not take a dip in one of their pools and feel free to shed some clothes as the resort is clothing optional.

Pan Am’s birthplace

Pan Am was an iconic airline which can trace its roots to Key West. Pan Am was seen as one of the world’s finest airlines. It introduced the world to the Jumbo Jet, was the first airline to space (in film anyway, thanks to 2001: A Space Odessey) and its camp but classic uniforms have been copied and revered countless times, including in the Britney Spears’ music video for ‘Toxic’. As far as we know, Pan Am is the only airline that has a drag queen named after it, Pam Ann.

Photograph yourself with an icon

Fancy getting up and close to a true icon. Outside the Tropic cinema, there’s a life-size model of Marilyn Monroe. Make sure you see the cinema at night when the neon lights shine brightly making the independent cinema complex a must-see on the island.

Gay bar crawl

It’s quite easy to do a gay bar crawl in Key West, after all, they are, for the most part, on one street, Duval Street. There’s the Bourbon Street Pub, 801, Bobby’s Monkey Bar, Aqua Key West, La Te Da, Saloon1, Garden of Eden. Duval Street is also famous for having the world’s biggest pride flag unravelled along its 1.25 miles.801 Bourbon Bar and Bobbies Monkey Bar provide free Karaoke most days of the week.

Key West Historical Memorial Sculpture Garden

Key people to Key West are memorialised at the Sculpture Garden, including writer Tennessee Williams who was key to assimilating the LGBT community into Key West. While you’re at you could pop into the Tennessee Williams’ exhibit. He lived in Key West until his death in 1983. It is open daily from 9:30 AM til 4:30 PM (there is an admission charge for the museum).

Kissing your partner at the southernmost sunset in the USA

Every night hundreds of people gather at Mallory Square to watch and applaud the setting of the sun. It’s one of the most beautiful sights you’ll see and well worth giving your partner a quick smooch as the sun goes down.

Holding hands at the southernmost point of the USA

Hold your partner’s hand at the southernmost point on continental USA.

Higgs Beach

Although technically not a “gay beach” Higgs has a poignant AIDS memorial, which informs visitors about gay history. The beach is at the southern end of White St. with Higgs Beach Dog Park on the Westside.

Find out more about the Keys at the official website

28th June 2018
What’s the best way to get to the Keys in Florida?
The Keys in Florida is a must visit for any gay traveller to the States, but what’s the best way of getting there and which Key should you go to?

FitzFox / Pixabay

At the far reaches of the Keys is Key West, which is where you’ll find most of the Keys’ gay life. There are three main ways in which you can arrive to the extremely gay-friendly Key – by car, plane and boat.

From the latter, you can fly directly into Key West International Airport. Despite its name, you won’t find any direct flights from the UK flying into the airport. There are a number of ways you can make the journey – a standard transatlantic flight (British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, AA and Delta all make these flights) into Miami, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa or Atlanta and then getting a connecting flight to Key West International with AA, Delta or Silver Airways.
- Key West International Airport (EYW)
One of the most impressive ways to arrive is by car, but be warned the journey is quite long from Miami to Key West (about 4 hours, including comfort and food breaks) and there’s no guarantee of parking once you get there. Space is limited in Key West and there are many resident-only parking spaces. Hotels and resorts in Key West tend not to have their own parking.

Along the scenic and historic drive, you’ll cross over 42 bridges that connect the islands. One of the most famous is the Seven Mile Bridge, which connects the Knight’s Key and the Little Duck Key. While on the Seven Mile Bridge you’ll be able to see an original bridge built in 1909 – 1912 which is now restricted to cyclists and pedestrians. This was the bridge that was constructed under the direction of Henry Flagler, whose vision of connecting the Islands with an Overseas Railroad ensured the growth of tourism in the region.

You can also travel by sea. Key West Express operates a high-street ferry from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island on the west coast of Florida. It takes three and a half hours.

Authors tip: When I travelled to Key West (in April time) we managed to find a parking space relatively close to the hotel we were staying at, The Equator Resort. The spaces are marked. Some have “residential” printed on the ground next to them – others do not. We asked a local whether the space in which we had parked was okay – and he told us, “you’ve won the lottery ticket” – meaning that parking spaces are few and far between. During our stay, we didn’t move the car – but opted to get taxis if we decided to leave the Key. However, it should be noted that Key West is not that big and most of the places of interest like the: Southern Most Point, the legendary Pan Am’s birthplace, the gloriously iconic Tropic Cinema and the poignant Key West Historical Memorial Sculpture Garden.

For more information on the Keys be sure to visit and bookmark the official website.
27th June 2018
Considering travelling to Belgium or France by coach? You might want to reconsider

It is better to travel well than to arrive, at least, that’s how the saying goes. The idea being that the journey itself should be an equal experience, form part of the memory, add some quality to the overall excursion, as much as the destination. That’s the theory anyway.

Coach travel operators Ouibus, however, seem not to have heard of this phrase.

I’m an adventurous type of person, open to new ideas and experiences, and so never having travelled to Europe by coach, normally preferring the Eurostar or plane, I thought that my planned trip from London to Bruges and on to Lille was within reasonable distance for a coach trip. Ouibus, by the look of their website, were the perfect balance of affordability and service that I was looking for, and so there I was at Victoria Station at the appointed hour to start my journey to Belgium and then to France. I was there, but sadly the coach wasn’t!

With no representatives from Ouibus available at Victoria Station, there was no way of knowing if the coach was late, cancelled, or if the departure times had changed. As my fellow travellers and I sat around the designated waiting area, a glorified cloakroom with all the charm of a low brow nightclub the morning after their busiest night and prior to the cleaners arriving, we came up with a quite reasonable plan. Ring customer service. A twenty-minute wait to be connected to an international number only to then be disconnected without speaking to anyone didn’t improve collective spirits, but finally, only two hours late, our carriage drove into view.

Not quite the level of luxury that the website had indicated, but there was designated seating to prevent that disorderly scrum that happens as people rush for the best seats. Sadly, the Ouibus staff failed to regulate or organise the flow of bodies, and the system quickly descended into chaos. But at least we were now on the way.

Or we would have been if the coach had been punctual, but the two-hour delay ensured that we were stuck in the worst of the London commuter traffic, adding another two hours to the journey as we inched our way through the nose to tail congestion that is part and parcel of inner city life. There was a Wi-Fi connection, but this was only a limited service, so I occupied my time watching the south of England and eventually the west of Belgium pass by the window.

The time allotted to a long lunch stop I had planned in Bruges had already been eaten up by the delays, and again without a company representative to consult, I hopped straight onto the Lille connection, which was surprisingly comfortable and spacious for the remaining 45-minute jaunt.

And if my journey had been frustrating and disappointing, The Grand Hotel Bellevue in Lille was total consolation. A 4-star hotel but plush enough to have been rated 5, located on the Grand Place or main square, wonderful urban views and positioned right at the city’s heart. What more could you ask for? Grand, plush bedrooms? They have that too. Great service? Absolutely. The feeling of being treated like royalty? Check.

Lille is not only a great city for families and romantic breaks, historical visits, and to soak up the rich culture, it has a wonderful gay social scene, especially at La Privilege, a very stylish and chic gay friendly bar and club, beautifully embellished and not overly expensive, and all just a short walk from the hotel. If you feel like a bit of a change, then Vice Versa across the road, though more of a boisterous, clubland vibe, is also worth checking out.

The city, in general, is a wonderful experience; there is strong support for local arts and the cafe culture, and night-time social scenes are vibrant and friendly. Two nights are enough to experience everything you need, and if you prefer a quieter place to stay whilst doing so, Grand Hotel Bellevue’s sister Hotel Couvent des Minimes is your answer.

So my advice to you comes in the form of another famous phrase. You get what you pay for and Ouibus’ cheap ticket price is such for a reason. Say no to the Ouibus, say oui (yes) to Eurostar, but ensure you experience both Bruges and Lille at least once in your life.

Written By: Ray Si – Proud Member of IGLTA

22nd June 2018