Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gay & Lesbian Travelers
» West Indian taboos on the lifestyle are slow to crumble, so while a fair number of is-
landers are gay, you're not likely to meet many who are 'out,' nor are you likely to see
public displays of affection among gay couples.
» The USVI are more open than the BVI. Of all the islands, St Croix is the most gay-
friendly, with Frederiksted the center of gay life, but overall there aren't many structured
outlets for meeting. One exception is Sand Castle on the Beach, in Frederiksted.
» The following are good resources for gay travel. They include Virgin Islands information,
though they are not exclusive to the region.
Damron (
www.damron.com
)
Publishes several travel guides, including
Men's Travel
Guide, Women's Traveller
and
Damron Accommodations;
gay-friendly tour operators are
listed on the website, too.
Out Traveler(
www.outtraveler.com
)
Gay travel magazine.
Purple Roofs (
www.purpleroofs.com
)
Website listing gay-friendly accommodations,
travel agencies and tours worldwide.
Insurance
Make sure you have adequate travel insurance, whatever the length of your trip. At a min-
imum, you need coverage for medical emergencies and treatment, including hospital stays
and an emergency flight home. See Health Insurance (
Click here
) for further information,
including fine print regarding 'dangerous activities' such as diving.
Also consider insurance for luggage theft or loss. If you already have a home-owners
or renters policy, check what it will cover and only get supplemental insurance to protect
against the rest. If you have prepaid a large portion of your vacation, trip cancellation in-
surance is worthwhile, especially if you'll be traveling during hurricane season from June
through November.
Worldwide travel insurance is available at
www.lonelyplanet.com/travel
_services. You
can buy, extend and claim online at anytime - even if you're already on the road. Also
check the following providers:
Insure.com(
www.insure.com
)
Travelex(
www.travelex.com
)
