Kelsy Chauvin

Many travelers wonder about broadening their cruise experiences to more exotic locales. To help accommodate them, CroisiEurope Cruises has recently expanded its river-safari tours to Southern Africa. The voyages traverse both water and land in Zimbabwe and Namibia, touching Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa too.
And there’s no denying the glory of such a robust week of African explorations. From Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba (the world's largest man-made lake), to the Zambezi River and Chobe National Park, the sights and sounds of Southern Africa are absolute magic.

New York City is home to the country’s largest LGBTQ population. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents add to the city’s great diversity – and so do millions of LGBTQ travelers. They come from around the world to explore the city’s array of culture, nightlife and other gay-welcoming spots across Manhattan and the outer boroughs. Here’s our shortlist of the best LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods that travelers can explore to soak up NYC’s dazzling, out-and-proud atmosphere...

Escaping to Puerto Rico is an easy way to feel relaxed, thanks to its soft sands, sparkling blue waters, and breezy Caribbean vibes. But lately the "Enchanted Isle" is seeing to shift travelers’ attention away from the beach, toward the exciting culinary scene in and around San Juan.
The capital city, including historic Old San Juan and the outer districts of Condado, Santurce, and Loíza, are home to a growing number of talented chefs and memorable restaurants committed to serving seasonal, local produce — solidifying the island’s place as a bona-fide foodie destination...

Taming the big city is possible, just stay out of the way.
It can feel vast, loud, and confusing, yet New York City also can be manageable. There are simple and brilliant ways to not only survive each new day in the big city but to navigate and even enjoy its magnificent chaos. Best of all, the effort is worth it. Because every penny saved or minute spared can be applied to something delightful later.

Spend a Sunday—or any other day of the week—in the park with Georges Seurat at the Art Institute of Chicago.
An abundance of choices is a big part of why we love Chicago. It’s a fast-paced, year-round town that offers a spectacular array of things to do—from sightseeing, music, and culture; to famous gastronomy and sometimes-quirky history. So to help pare down the choices, here’s a rundown of the can’t-miss spots for new visitors to Chicago, along with some of the latest additions and emergi...

How about love?
That was the question that closed Stonewall 50/ WorldPride 2019 on Sunday, June 30, when the curtain fell on the month-long celebration and commemoration. The official Closing Ceremony took over Duffy Square, a relatively small area of Times Square between 46th and 47th Streets, known best for its red glass stairs. There, attendees gathered to hear a sparkling lineup of performers and speakers — and Broadway stars, of course.
Kicking off the evening was legendary singer and LGBTQ icon Melissa Etheridge, who sang a trio of hits...

WorldPride NYC and the Stonewall 50 Anniversary Weekend officially kicked off Wednesday, June 26, drawing thousands of revelers to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
The ticketed fundraising event brought LGBTQ community leaders and luminaries to the stage, led by host and native New Yorker Whoopi Goldberg, who welcomed about 8,000 attendees to the first-ever WorldPride in the US.
Goldberg launched the evening by introducing headliner Cyndi Lauper...

Pride runs strong in Puerto Rico. That goes equally for the LGBTQ community and for the “fuerza Puerto Rico” power that rallied the island after 2017’s devastating hurricanes.
For this year’s Pride Puerto Rico celebration, the force drew thousands of participants and spectators to San Juan, pushing through flashes of tropical rain for a colorful parade and festival. Following a weekend full of Pride events, the June 2 march kicked off at Condado’s Parque del Indio, launching floats, bands, activists, and queens down Ashford Avenue. Despite passing storms, the local pride was clear as ever...

Pride comes in many colors. For 50 diverse international artists, those colors will be sprayed, brushed, and splashed across all five boroughs as part of the World Mural Project (worldpridemuralproject.org).
The project is one of the cultural highlights of NYC Pride in this milestone year, when the community marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. The World Mural Project is a WorldPride NYC/ Stonewall 50 highlight that stands apart from much of the revelry by bringing LGBTQ-inspired street art to 50 sites. Created uniquely by different artists at designated spaces...

(by Kelsy Chauvin)
In 2006, South Africa became the fifth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. So the country must be naturally progressive about LGBTQ equality, right?
The reality is that homophobia, brutal hate crimes, “corrective rape,” and other anti-LGBTQ violence persist, with profoundly heartbreaking effects. And it makes the fight for basic safety in the queer community risky and incredibly difficult.
But over the past decade, one organization has risen to the challenge. Luleki Sizwe Womyn’s Project (luleki-sizwe.com) is a non-profit devoted to delivering help and...

There are always more ways to fall in love with Italy. The art and architecture, the history and culture, the food and wine: They all offer guaranteed travel joy, topped off by Italian warmth, whether from the sunshine or the hospitality.
Yet some of Italy’s most enticing cities can feel overrun with other travelers. The key is to explore beyond the usual stops, dine strategically, and make your vacation budget match your appetite. Here’s a rundown of great ways to eat like a doge, away from the hungry hordes in three incredible Italian destinations.

June Pride month is always big, but this year in New York City, expect a next-level blowout thanks to WorldPride NYC. Like the Olympics of LGBTQ Pride, WorldPride takes place every other year in different cities around the world. In 2019, it's heading to the U.S. for the first time, in combination with the city's Stonewall50 anniversary, which commemorates 50 years since the Stonewall uprising in Greenwich Village.
The extravaganza of events is unfurling like a bedazzled rainbow flag across New York...

Travelers bound for Mexico’s Caribbean coast have a new option for an all-inclusive getaway at the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa. Opened in late 2018, the property is situated 18 miles north of Cancun Intl. Airport, in a privately developed area of Quintana Roo called Costa Mujeres.
Built with eco-friendly design and infrastructure, the luxury resort offers a rich mix of relaxation, dining, and entertainment--plus a celebrity tie thanks to the brand-new Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, a sports and activity hub also located on the resort’s 51-acre waterfront property. Nadal himself...

For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers, a welcoming place to stay is perhaps the single-most important element of planning a trip. After all, nobody wants to plan a relaxing vacation only to have their bliss diminished by feeling unwelcome or unsafe. So with both Pride and summer-travel seasons ahead, we've rounded up this list of the world's top LGBT-friendly accommodations (or cities) around the world.