GTH editors and writers look back at our travels and journeys this past year to reminisce, reflect and choose our top ten destinations and experiences. While it’s true that 2012 was our first year in publication, there was no shortage of great travel adventures. Some our top picks have...
Are Europe’s Christm...
posted by Marc Kassouf
Tips on how to book and plan a festive holiday vacation to see, smell, taste, and shop for lifelong holiday memories. With the coming of Christmas week, the holiday markets may be almost over across the continent. But it’s never too late to dream and plan and there’s still time to start...
Narita, Japan in a d...
posted by Marc Kassouf
Flights out of Tokyo airports heading to the US and Canada depart during all hours of the day and evening. Organized tours normally offer travelers free time without any scheduled sightseeing, often dropping them off near the Narita airport. Hidden within this unscheduled time is the potential...
Kinan Spa at Maroma ...
posted by Marc Kassouf
An open air layout of paths meanders through mangroves and sculpture fountains with cascading waterfalls over fifteen feet high. Ahead, the Spa’s main building is enclosed ever so lightly with cathedral ceilings forming an A frame thatched roof almost four stories tall, somehow maintaining...
UNESCO World Heritage turns forty
posted by Marc Kassouf
In 1960, UNESCO’s campaigned the world over to save Egypt’s Abu Simbel from flooding by the Aswan Dam. This mammoth act of multinational cooperation galvanized the global community around heritage. France’s Culture Minister, André Malraux, said that our world “publicly proclaims [our] art as its indivisible heritage.” Over 50 countries funded half of the then $80 million cost to move the monuments out of harm’s way. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, one of UNESCO’s most successful programs, arguably the most powerful vehicle for heritage preservation. Adopted by...
Baja Travel Destinat...
posted by Marc Kassouf
Villa Del Palmar Loreto is the hub of an ecologically sustainable Baja travel destination I can’t remember the last time I saw stars shining this bright; even the Milky Way is glowing to the naked eye. When my eyes drift back down to earth, I notice the walkways lit with lamps a few inches...
Art, Architecture and Nightlife in Amsterdam
posted by Marc Kassouf
The gay history of Amsterdam was not always one of tolerance, however. It’s hard to believe that this progressive and forward-thinking bastion of acceptance once hanged gay men publicly. Records detail gruesome tortures to elicit witch-trial-type confessions as late as the 1800s. It wasn’t until the hippy ’60s that the Dutch even allowed such “undesirables” to congregate privately and eventually decriminalized homosexuality. But in the decades since, the city has shone like a beacon of hope, spreading by example its ray of acceptance and solidarity worldwide.Gay Pride & Events Amsterdam’s official Gay Pride orbits around the...
Temecula celebrates ...
posted by Marc Kassouf
With summer coming to an end, and fall just around the corner, celebrations are starting to fill up the calendar. September marks California Wine Month. The go to destination in Southern California for this annual festival is Temecula Valley, so if the idea of a month of wine gets your blood...
Inn at Laurel Point hosts guests with grace
posted by Marc Kassouf
Where can you get picturesque island charm with moderate year-round climates (and have no chance of ever seeing a hurricane)? Where are nights filled with concerts of sound and light, days full of sights and attractions, and nature meets cosmopolitan city life in a harmonious blend? Just a quick hop from Vancouver, British Columbia, the provincial capital, Victoria, offers a refreshing palette of attractions complemented by local hospitality that is both old-fashioned yet warm and accepting of diversity. It’s no surprise that many same-sex couples come here to exchange vows, and come back for the relaxing pace. An excellent backdrop...
Two of Mexico’s Iconic GAY BEACH RESORTS
posted by Marc Kassouf
Warm people, animated nightlife, and excellent attractions beckon visitors. Story By Marc Kassouf • Photography By S. Nathan DePetris From coast to coast, Mexico’s playgrounds provide vacationers with unparalleled beaches, countless cultural sights, top luxury resorts, and adventure possibilities. Never mind the hoopla that keeps being flashing on the news, tourism is thriving with very high visitor satisfaction from Americans who are not deterred by scary headlines. Like its’ northern neighbors, Mexico is a huge country and the problems that dominate the news are often isolated to border towns or specific cities. It’s no surprise...