ManAboutWorld’s October Issue Is Now Available

You gotta see this in the iPad (something actually moves!)

 

Her’s the cover of our current issue. It’s chock full of the insightful, in-the-know recommendations for where to go, when to go, and where to stay, eat and play in some of the most exciting and gay-popular destinations on the planet. Download October now via the AppStore.

This month we bring you the boys of Rio and the steamy-hot Brazilian beaches of Buzios, Florianopolis, Trancoso and Paraty. We also bring you the definitive guide for the perfect gay weekend in Boston, Brussels, Cologne, New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta and Quebec City.

Did you know that Brazil is soon to enter its sultry summer season? Check out the bathing suits we spied there (below). Or that Rio’s beaches are absolutely packed with revelers for New Year’s Eve who come out all dressed in white to enjoy a spectacular fireworks display? One of our articles includes a snippet of video from that sexy holiday embedded right in the piece.

You’ll find this and lots more fun surprises from slideshows to audio clips to, simply put, the definite guide for where to go. So what are you waiting for, invitation? Here is is: We invite you to become a subscriber, enjoy our FREE trial offer and join our incredible journey.

You lookin’ at me? (Please say yes!)

Florianopolis, Brazil: “Like Square Cut-Palooza”

Screen shot from Dennis' sexy video

I just arrived in the fabulous gay-popular resort destination of Florianopolis, Brazil, the island capital of the state of Santa Catarina south of Rio de Janeiro.

We sent our intrepid writer Dennis Hensley here last year. He explored the gay beach (hey — it’s a tough job!) and here’s his sexy report.

Suite Dreams: Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro

The Copacabana Palace at night.

The grand dame of Rio de Janeiro is indisputably the luxurious Orient-Express hotel, the Copacabana Palace. This storied Art Deco gem opened its doors in 1923 and has hosted some of the most famous personalities in the world from Fred Astaire to Madonna.

Simply walking through the lobby, past the expansive pool (surrounded by chic sunbathers) or along the elegant hallways you’re transported back to a more elegant travel landscape than exists in many cookie-cutter chain hotels.

Not stuck in the past, the hotel offers a range of modern amenities including an ample work-out facility, beautiful spa, WiFi throughout the property, and a very hip pool-level bar, the Bar do Copa. Note: the bar is free for guests and worth checking out but note the cocktail prices are sky high and you’ll have to reserve a table to actually sit down.

The location is superb: Directly across one of the most famous beaches in the world. Just cross the street and see how Cariocas (residents of Rio) actually live. Playing, strolling, eating, flirting, exercising, and more, directly on the strand or at one of the innumerable cafes strung along the edge of the sand. It’s an approximately $6 cab ride to the gay beach and handful of gay and gay-friendly bars, cafes and restaurants in the nearby neighborhood of Ipanema.

Heading to Florianopolis

Praia Mole -- Florianopolis's gay beach

Where’s that, you say? Florianopolis is the capital of the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil, an island off the coast south of Rio de Janeiro. I’m heading there for a Board meeting of the IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association; IGLTA.org). I’ve never been and am looking forward to it.

One of the other attendees is Marta Della Chiesa, also a Board member and co-oener of Brazil EcoJourneys, an LGBT-friendly tour operator that can really show you this lovely region. The picture above is from Praia Mole, the gay heart of “Floripa” and it comes courtesy of Brazil EcoJourneys.

I arrive tomorrow via the fabulous and also gay-friendly TAM Airlines. Stay tuned for more updates.

IGLTA Concludes its 28th Annual Global Convention

You think all those LGBT guesthouses, tour operators, and travel agents operate in a vacuum?

Guess again!

There’s an organization that represents their interests and by extention you, dear gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender traveler. Read on!

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), was founded in 1983 with 25 members as a way for travel agents to learn how to sell gay “product” (primarily gay cruises). Today, the association boasts well over 2,000 members around the globe including hotels, destinations, rental car companies, airlines and much more.IGLTA’s 28th Annual Global Convention welcomed more than 450 delegates from 35 countries who converged in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for five full days of education sessions, networking events and trade shows. New countries represented this year included: Finland, Nimibia, Malta, Rwanda and Uganda(!).

Voting closed on 13 May for the annual IGLTA board elections. The IGLTA Board of Directors for 2011-2012 is as follows: Chair Tanya Churchmuch; Vice Chair Cordey Lash; Treasurer Theresa Belpulsi; Secretary Darren Cooper; Past Chair Bryan Herb; Steve Smith, Jeff Guaracino and Mya Lake Reyes; along with our very own Ed Salvato (editor of this blog!) and Dan Melesurgo, who were elected to their first term. Two additional board members from outside of North America will be appointed within the next month.

For more information about the convention, including copies of the educational presentations, photos and media coverage, please visit www.igltaconvention.org. More information will be posted as it becomes available, so check back regularly.

The next convention will be held in Florianopolis Brazil in May, 2012. (Check back at www.igltaconvention.org later in the year for more information.)

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

Florianopolis – Brazil’s Other Carnival Hot Spot

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com

Most LGBT travelers know that Rio’s Carnival (Mardi Gras celebration) is a white-hot and gay-popular event. Fewer know that many gay Brazilians go to Florianopolis to celebrate. This year’s festivities, March 5-8 will be hotter than ever.

This sultry island town is located to the south of Brazil (here’s a map) and is becoming the go-to hot spot for in-the-know LGBT jetsetters. Mix Brasil, the main LGBT site in Brazil, already crowned Florianopolis the gay-est Carnival in Brazil in 2011. Click here for more information, including a booking option with a very highly regarded LGBT travel agent tour operator, Brazil Ecojourneys.

Gay Brazil Update

Rio beach scene

Occasionally, correspondents, friends, and fellow travelers send me updates to post in my blog. Here’s one from Bryan Herb, owner of Zoom Vacations, award winning gay tour operator, on exciting changes in Brazil — one of the world’s most gay-popular destinations.

Few countries have received the positive attention that Brazil has over the past few years.  Clearly its day has come.  Recently electing its first female president has certainly given Brazil some recent notoriety, but this is only one of the many accomplishments which have put it on the world’s center stage.  Brazil is hosting the MIss Universe Pageant in 2011, Military Olympics in 2012, the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and of course, the Olympic Games in 2016.

All of these things have raised the world’s interest in South America’s largest country, but that isn’t the only thing going up. Prices for almost any good, especially tourist commodities, are going up.

Six years ago, when Zoom Vacations conducted our first tour of Rio, the exchange rate was three Brazilian reals to one US dollar.  Now it’s about one and a half reals to the Dollar.  So, if something cost 100 reals six years ago, this was only about $33 US.  Now that same item is about $60. Not only is the exchange rate up, but the cost per item, in reals is also up.

Tour of the Week: New Years in Rio with Zoom Vacations

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com

New Years in Rio de Janeiro has been firmly established as a popular gay high holiday. Every year, thousands of gays and lesbians from the U.S. (and many other countries) flock here to ring in the new year.

Boys on the beach in Rio

Rio is exotic, beautiful, and charming. And the locals, known as Cariocas, are friendly and oh so gorgeous — both men and women. They seem to live on the beach, playing volleyball (regular as well as the variation of the sport played with feet only) and soccer; performing that sexy dance-cum-martial arts called capoeira; eating (you can get anything from grilled shrimp to exotic fruit); and cavorting in the warm Caribbean-like waters. Nightlife is an explosion of music in some of the  hottest venues in the world.

It’s relatively easy to get there on your own, but it’s one of those destinations — especially for first-timers to Brazil — that may make sense to visit with a group. A terrific choice is Zoom Vacations, which offers a six-day Gay Rio New Years Tour December 28, 2010 to January 2, 2011. More information: ZoomVacations.com/RioNewYears.htm