Aldwin Era tackles the topic of gay travel. Is it all about choice or does it support negative stereotypes? What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below.

Madrid is one of my favourite places in the entire world.  And that’s exactly where I found myself one evening last June.  After eleven hours of torturous travel from Toronto, with a pit-stop in Paris, I had arrived to join one of my best comrades Gabe and a few of our mutual friends to a convivial tapas meal at Lateral in the heart of city.

Our destination? Cool – world-renowned circuit party venue and stomping grounds of Madrid’s most good-looking hombres.  I placed my night’s fortune, as I had countless times in Toronto, in Gabe’s hands.

Making our way down the spiral pathway, I beheld what was to be the absolute best party of my life.  It was like stumbling into a wet dream, one of those surreal moments where the circumstances are simply too good to be true. And for what seemed like an eternity I danced my life away, surfing the throngs of chiseled torsos and crashing against the flood of rippled chests.  And before I knew it the night was over.  The first morning rays had already begun to soften the staunch grey façades of the neighbourhood buildings when we blundered out of the club.

Gabe and I parted ways and I dragged my aching body back to my hostel.  I climbed the mountainous staircase, let myself in, and collapsed on my bed.

I glanced at my watch.  830AM.  I had been in Europe for twenty hours and I was already gayed out.  I plonked my head onto the pillow and wondered for those few moments before the immense fatigue set in if I had gone too gay, too soon.  Was this vacation becoming a gaycation?  Even though I had just spent the last six hours at the best party of my life, I was ready for something new, something not so…gay.

Gay travel is big business.  Recognizing the enormous buying potential of this seemingly affluent niche market, travel and tourism companies such as Atlantis Tours and Out Adventures have built wildly successful businesses catering specifically to the gay and lesbian community.  In fact, LGBTQ’s worldwide are presented with an endless array of choices when it comes to travel the gay way.

From non-stop party cruises along the sun-drenched Mediterranean Coast to spiritual pilgrimages through the Buddhist temples in Thailand, there is truly something for everyone represented under the LGBTQ umbrella. Atlantis Tours for example, the premiere gay and lesbian tour operator in the world, boasts nearly 20,000 guests annually.

Similarly, Olivia Lesbian Travel, offers an equally diverse holiday selection.  Whether you find yourself snorkeling with angelfish along the Mexican Riviera or wandering through the Forbidden City in Beijing.

I have to admit, as a fairly cultured gay man who (every now and then) likes to throw it down to the music of DJ Abel and Manny Lehman, the idea of a gaycation has enticed me.  However, every time I’ve contemplated a gaycation I’ve always hesitated. Was I really willing to sequester myself to a week-long escapade of gayventures?  Did I  want to spend every waking moment with gay people?  Doing ‶gay things″ all the gay freakin’ time?

For some perspective on the topic, I surveyed some of my good pals. And according to Johnny and Marc-Antoine, who have been on many a gaycation, it really is about three things: freedom, flexibility, and fun.

“What appeals most to me is that you can still make it what you want. If you want to party your ass off every night, never sleep and come home exhausted, you can. Or, if you want to chillax, read, workout, have a few cocktails, see the sights, you can certainly do that,”  explains Johnny.

Marc-Antoine takes a similar view and adds, “[Gaycations] cater exclusively to gay people’s needs and have a lot more to offer than straight (cruises) which cater more toward families and children.”

For these two gaycation veterans, the idea of consecrating an entire holiday with gay folk isn’t an issue in the slightest.  In fact, they embrace it.  “I was pleased to discover guys  from early 20’s well into their 60’s having a great time.  And there are plenty of both model types and non-model types so you can definitely find your own niche,” adds Johnny.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, those who hadn’t been on a gaycation seemed opposed to the idea.  My gay partner-in-crime, Glenn, with whom I’ve shared countless exploits, shares his personal reasons: “I have always felt that my sexuality does not define who I am. I’ve never been incredibly comfortable in entirely gay settings i.e. Pride…(and) I never grew up in an entirely gay-friendly/accepting environment, so I actually am more comfortable in settings where sexuality is not the main focus. My most favourite vacations have been with close friends, regardless of their sexuality. In my case, I would find gay vacations restrictive.”

Peter, a former coworker supports Glenn’s stance on gaycations.  Here, he describes is vacation planning process:

“We don’t plan a vacation in ‘gay’ mode, we plan a vacation like any other couple would plan a vacation.  We are completely against going on a gay cruise or gay beach. Doesn’t that go against everything ‘we’ as part of the gay community have tried so long to pull away from?  Why do we have to conform to a stereotype that has never really existed…Machael and I plan for vacations, places in the world that we would like to see and enjoy as human beings, not as gay men…It’s absolutely disgusting in my opinion and many gay men that we associate with feel the same way.”

In the end, on whichever side of the fence you happen to fall, it seems to boil down to one all-encompassing factor: choice.  As Vince so eloquently puts it, “it’s all about choice.  It’s there for those who want it.”  And much like the LGBTQ community at large, gaycations can either be viewed as the harbinger of all those nasty stereotypes we have fought to quash or just a fun getaway. I texted my talented colleague and great friend Antonio for his thoughts last week to which he replied, “well, have we asked ourselves what makes a vacation too straight?”  Touché.  However the next time I plan a getaway, if it sounds like fun I’m going to go…gay or not!