Michael and Matt’s
Gay Travel Blog
Recent Posts
Bangkok's LGBTQ+ Scene: A Guide For First-Time Visitors
Explore Bangkok’s LGBTQ+ scene with our first-timer’s guide, gay bars, drag shows, Pride, and culture tips to make your trip unforgettable.
Phuket’s Gay-Friendly Beaches And Beyond
Discover Phuket’s gay-friendly beaches, incredible nightlife, and the LGBTQ+ adventures beyond the typical. This is your ultimate guide to Thailand’s Phuket island paradise.
Helsinki & Reykjavik: What Makes a Nordic Summer Pride Special?
Ever wondered how summer Pride festivals shine when the sun barely sets? Michael and I hit Helsinki and Reykjavik to see what makes each city’s celebration so uniquely, spectacularly Nordic—picture rainbow flags on the edge of the Arctic Circle, after-parties fueled by endless daylight, and communities where inclusion isn’t just a slogan but a way of life. Here’s the inside scoop on the events, the energy, and the joy of Pride above the 60th parallel!
Top Things To Do In Helsinki, Finland: The Perfect 4 Day Itinerary
Discover the top things to do in Helsinki, Finland with our gay-friendly itinerary, cafés, saunas, Pride events, island escapes, and cultural gems await.
Costa Rica’s Best-Kept Secrets: LGBTQ+ Adventures In La Fortuna And Jacó
Explore Costa Rica’s best-kept secrets in La Fortuna & Jacó with LGBTQ+ tips, hidden adventures, and pura vida vibes for your next unforgettable trip.
Bangkok and Phuket Unlocked: Gay Marriage in Thailand and Epic Travel Guide
Explore city buzz and island calm with our Bangkok & Phuket itinerary. Marvel at ancient temples, shop neon-lit markets, and unwind on soft beaches—Your Ultimate guide for LGBTQ+ travellers in Thailand
Bangkok Nightlife Guide for Gay Travelers
Bangkok isn’t just another party city; it’s a place where gay travelers can truly belong, connect, and celebrate every shade of love well after the sun goes down. In this guide, I’m peeling back the curtain on Bangkok’s rainbow nightlife: from cozy queer-owned cafés perfect for swapping stories at sundown, to dazzling drag shows, rooftop bars humming with possibility, and wellness sanctuaries to recharge after wild nights out.
Grab a cocktail, bring your curiosity, and let’s dive in—your most memorable Bangkok nights await.
Finding Gay Bars Around The World: A Global Nightlife Guide
Discover how to find the best gay bars worldwide, from hidden gems to iconic spots, with tips for safe, vibrant, and unforgettable LGBTQ+ nights out.
Best Districts to Stay in Tokyo for LGBTQ+ Travelers
Tokyo isn’t just about the mega-districts you hear about in travel ads. It’s a constellation of diverse neighborhoods with their own distinct energetic vibe and surprises around every little corner. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with a partner, you’ll find an area scene that suits you for just what you’re looking for. Let me tell you about some great options to consider.
Europe’s Most Gay-Friendly Cities: Top Destinations for LGBTQ+ Travelers
Discover 10 fun and safe LGBTQ+ hotspots across Europe in 2025. Party in Berlin, sip coffee in Lisbon, stroll LGBTQ+ friendly streets. Pack your bags now!
Top 15 Gay Honeymoon Destinations for 2025: Romantic Getaways for LGBTQ+ Couples
Explore 15 hand-picked gay honeymoon spots on five continents, legal safety, top stays, real prices, zero side-eye guaranteed. Plan your dream trip now!
Why is Helsinki the Happiest City in the World?
The capital city of Finland doesn’t just flirt with joy, it fully embraces it in a its own weird and quirky way. While other cities might aim for a polished look, Helsinki takes a different route: real, natural, warm and welcoming. In Helsinki, they’ll tell you: “We’re not perfect, we’re happy.” And after spending a week here during Pride, exploring saunas on tiny archipelago islands, feasting on plenty of Finnish cuisine, and witnessing a design-forward city that leads with sustainability, I think I understand why it’s so happy here a little bit more.
Here’s a deep dive into what actually makes Helsinki one of the happiest cities on Earth.
15 Reasons to Visit Walla Walla, Washington This Summer
Let’s get this out of the way first: yes, Walla Walla is fun to say. Yes, it’s famous for its onions. And yes, we did eat our body weight in cherries, foraged mushroom soup, and smoothies during our time there. But if all you know about Walla Walla are the vegetables it produces, then you’re missing out on one of the most unexpectedly charming towns in the Pacific Northwest.
Located in southeastern Washington, Walla Walla is the kind of place that sneaks up on you. One minute you’re road-tripping through the Columbia River Gorge, and the next, you’re sipping Rhône-style reds at a vineyard with panoramic views and wondering if you could maybe… live here?
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
If you’ve ever dreamed of a place where monkeys swing through the trees, sloths nap like they’ve got nowhere to be, and falafel is somehow life-changing, then pack your bags for Manuel Antonio. This slice of Costa Rican paradise is the ultimate destination for nature lovers, beach bums, and anyone who appreciates a good jungle vibe.
Here’s your ultimate travel guide to Manuel Antonio, streamlined into three key categories: where to stay, what to do, and where to eat/drink. Let’s dive in!
Top 10 Things to Do in the Azores for First Time Visitors
If you’ve ever dreamed of an island paradise where pineapples grow in greenhouses, waterfalls double as waterslides, and hot springs are basically nature’s hot tubs, then pack your bags for the Azores. This archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic is like if Hawaii and Iceland had a baby, and that baby was raised by a Portuguese grandmother who insists you eat more seafood.
Here’s the lowdown on the top 10 things to do and see in the Azores, served with a side of wit and a sprinkle of wanderlust.
A Weekend Guide to Walla Walla: Washington’s Wine Country
There’s something magical about Walla Walla. Maybe it’s the way the golden light spills over the rolling vineyards at sunset, or the way the town feels like it’s been plucked straight out of a storybook. Whatever it is, this little corner of Washington’s wine country has a way of wrapping you in its warmth and making you feel right at home.
I recently spent a few days exploring Walla Walla, and let me tell you—it’s the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave. From the cozy accommodations to the incredible food and wine, every moment felt like a celebration of the “good life”. If you’re planning a trip (and you absolutely should), here’s my personal guide to making the most of your time in this enchanting town.
The Perfect Weekend in Miami: Where to Stay, Where to Eat, and What to Do in Miami, Florida.
What can we say about Miami? South Beach is the ideal hotspot for a holiday on Florida’s hippest coast. Make the most of its wide beaches and endless sunny days. In Miami, it’s not just about relaxing — there’s tons of shopping, great restaurants, and tons of great music in Miami’s best-known nightclubs and bars. For a weekend or longer escaping to Miami, here are our top recommendations of where to stay, where to eat and drink, and what to see and do in one of the most popular destinations in the world.
3 Days in Helsinki: The Perfect Helsinki Itinerary for First Time Visitors
So you’re looking to visit Helsinki, and possibly Finland for the very first time. Where do we start!? For a country with only 5.5 million people, Finland surely packs in a ton of culture. Helsinki is located at the edge of the Baltic Sea, with its vast archipelago stretching nearly to the shores of Sweden. Whether you’re visiting during the warm and humid summer where it stays light until the wee hours of the morning, of you’re heading there to see the snow and Northern Lights, Helsinki has something to offer for everyone.
The Ultimate Gay Guide to Key West Pride — Top LGBTQ+ Bars, Restaurants & Tours in the Florida Keys
Key West is a vibrant, fierce, and welcoming city full of pride! We’ve fallen in love with The Florida Keys and this community.
Pride is a time where the community comes together, celebrates our individuality & beauty, and remembers all those who’ve stood up for our rights before us. 🌈 Celebrating pride is a movement towards greater equality. Celebrating pride makes communities feel safe, seen, and understood. Celebrating pride is a message to others who can’t come out or do not feel safe to do so, that there are welcoming and loving communities beyond their current circumstance. That there is hope. No matter where or how you’re celebrating #pride today, we hope you feel this love and unity. ❤️
We went to Key West for Pride and there’s so much to do that we decided to pick out the top places and put them in this guide:
Ultimate 5-Day Florida Keys Roadtrip from Key Largo to Key West
Visiting the Florida Keys is like visiting the Caribbean, but without needing a passport! We spent 5 days doing a roadtrip through the Florida Keys. Here is the full 5-day itinerary to Key Largo, Key West and the Florida Keys.