Get Travel Ready!

Many times in getting ready for a cruise, trip, etc travelers struggle with what documents to have in place to travel or knowing that there are opportunities to have a smoother trip. Because of that I decided to put together a quick list of items to get you travel ready!

1-      Passport- You’d be surprised but many people want to travel but don’t have a passport and unless you are going to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, US Virgin Island to name a few, guess what? you’ll need a passport to go everywhere else! Recently passport fees have increased a bit but if you do international travel especially by air you want to have a passport in place. You can get your passport at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/ Don’t forget that if anything changes with your status, for example, you were married now you are single, change your passport information too as it can cause issues with your boarding pass and immigration. If you do a lot of travel from US to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean you can look into a passport card especially if its through land borders and ports of entry.

2-      Global Entry- When traveling nothing makes me happier than breezing through the security lines after I checked in and through the customs line when arriving after a long flight. I’ve literally have seen both lines take so long especially at LAX airport with all the renovations going on. Imagine if you can cut your wait time by an hour? Many major city airports have a lot of congestion getting in and out that’s why a Global Entry Card is a great investment. The great thing is that the investment is small in comparison to the time you spent on lines at the airport. For $100 you will have the benefit for 5 years to travel by air, land, and sea as well as TSA PreCheck is included. If you only want to fly domestic, then you can set up TSA PreCheck for travel by air at a cost of $85. It's truly worth it if you travel a couple times a year. For both options start the application here: https://ttp.dhs.gov/

3-      Alternative for TSA PreCheck- You may have been at a major city airport and seen a big white kiosk and wondered, what’s that? That is a competitive travel private company membership to TSA PreCheck called CLEAR. Clear is a bit pricier but it may or may not benefit you. One time I was on a business trip in San Francisco and with all the shuffle getting to the airport and through security I was running late! The airport was packed that even with my global entry card I would miss my flight but thankfully I had CLEAR too and I jumped in that super short line and eased by security and caught my flight. If you don’t travel often domestically it may not be worth the $179 to sign up. The other limitation is that not every airport has CLEAR so if you are traveling from small airport chances are it may not help. If you are a big sports fan and go to watch events at stadiums regularly then maybe it could be a good investment as CLEAR Sports lets you breeze through lines at stadiums making it a smoother experience and its part of your clear membership. You can start your membership with Clear at www.clearme.com

4-      Vaccination Card or Negative Covid Exam Result- Travel indeed is different now so much so that passport holders come with a pocket for your vaccine card. You always want to double check what requirements the country you are visiting has to make sure that if you are vaccinated you have a copy of your vaccination card, QR code, or negative result of a covid exam- PCR or Antigen. Not having these particulars could cause a delay and frustration on your travels. Don’t leave home without it!

Many people have said it was the best $100 spent to get Global Entry and I agree but first make sure you have a valid passport as you always need your passport to have 6 months validity from your date of travel to not have issues with immigration in other countries and to set up Global Entry. Also, don’t forget your vaccination card or negative covid results! From there make the investment to get through security and customs as quickly as possible, you can thank me later. Check out your credit cards and frequent flyer miles as they may have discounts to sign up for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, Clear and sometimes they offer it complimentary. Lastly once you have everything, take a picture of it and store it in your cloud while traveling so you have your important documents backed up. If you have these things in place, you are travel ready! Now you must book one of our group trips at www.ladiestouchent.com/travel to start filling up your passport with stamps from around the world!

Being a Queer Traveler in Maldives

I recently got back from a birthday trip to Movenpick Maldives and had an amazing time with my partner. I got a lack of slack from many about my travels there and posting that a venue was lesbian friendly, but the fact is it was. Let’s back track a bit…back in 2020 when the pandemic first hit the travel industry got slammed and deals were often posted so I took advantage of one to Maldives. As some may know, I am a part of IGLTA which is a global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism. I was surprised at our convention last year to hear that Maldives is a popular honeymoon destination for LGBT travelers and I thought how is that possible when it’s a Muslim country and anti-gay? Although this is true because “In the Maldives, homosexual acts, and intercourse, as well as same-sex marriage, earn eight years in prison or 100 lashes, these laws are currently enforced more in the local cities, and largely ignored in private islands with international brand hotels.

When my partner and I arrived in Maldives we were aware of what we were stepping into. Staying at Movenpick, because its on a private island, though was an exclusive experience. As soon as we passed immigration and got outside our concierge met us and got us on our way to our seaplane dock for our departure. What I noticed was that there were all sorts of people heading to different resorts Middle Eastern, Europeans mostly and us but it seemed that everyone had their own agenda. Once we pulled up to the resort, we had our island host welcome us and direct us to our villa and everyone else scattered across the property some that we never saw again the whole week we were there.

Most of the time we spent at our villa because of course the views were beautiful, and our space was comfortable but when we ventured out on the property, we didn’t have a problem, we even bumped into another lesbian couple (the pride face mask gave it away). Our island host as well went above and beyond to make sure our time was spent well with no issues. In our island hosts own words she said that Movenpick’s hotel value is to give the best vacation to their guests which I took as they don’t care who or what you are just have a great time here! My partner and I scheduled private romantic dinners for each other, and the staff took part of the festivities with lots of love and respect, we even got enGAYed, she said YES! That’s to show that when you are on a private resort on an international brand hotel, they are not really interested in any other politic other than love and respect one another.

So, if you are considering traveling to Maldives alone or with your partner, respect their culture and don’t PDA in their cities with locals as it can have consequences. To be on the safe side stay at an international brand hotel that you are familiar with like a Movenpick, Hilton, Marriott, etc. You can even reach out to these hotels and ask them honestly. If you don’t feel comfortable or don’t want to contribute to a country that doesn’t support the LGBT community then look into the French Polynesian Islands like Moorea and Bora Bora. Similarly, the international hotels are safe, and laws are more accepting for us LGBTQ people as well as the beaches are equally stunning like Maldives. I wanted with my own eyes and ears to see if it was true what I heard through our industry and got a great deal so jumped on the opportunity. Do what you what you feel is best for you but know that international hotels do welcome your business in Maldives.

Southern Mexico’s Lesbian Vacation

When it comes to Mexico, people often think about Cancun, Tulum, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta but Mexico has so many more gems in its big country, and we found one of them- Costa Maya! Honestly, I never heard of Costa Maya but have heard about Bacalar and was curious to check it out.

Costa Maya is in Quintana Roo between Tulum and Chetumal which are the nearby more popular towns by the coast. It’s a small port town with a growing population. What I love about Mahahual, the town in Costa Maya, is that the beach is super pretty (Maldives like) with clear warm waters and white sand. Outside of the beautiful beach, there aren’t many tourists like Cancun and Tulum making it more relaxing as well as enjoyable. The other thing I just thought about is that I never felt unsafe while being there because it’s a small town where a lot of the locals all know each other so you get that family feel.

Some of the popular excursions in Costa Maya are snorkeling, diving, Bacalar lagoon, visiting the Mayan pyramids, cenotes, and rapid river. It is said that Xcalak just south of Mahahual has some of the most beautiful reefs in the world to go snorkeling and diving. In Mahahual there are many reefs close to the beach so you can get some beautiful views there too. If you love snorkeling or diving, these places are a must! Bacalar lagoon or the 7 Colors Lagoon as they call it is spectacular. You literally see multiple colors in the water the further south you go on the lagoon. The town of Bacalar is super cute and boho but a little on the pricier side but you can certainly make it a day trip from Mahahual. Bacalar is also considered a “Pueblo Magico” a “Magical Town” which means that the government does as much as possible to preserve its beauty and nature. When vising Costa Maya, you can’t miss Bacalar and its Blue Cenote which is quite large and outdoors unlike many underground cenotes. In Bacalar I got the chance to go kayaking at sunrise and it was such a beautiful experience to be out in the lake with the sounds of wildlife around and the sun creeping up above the water.  The Rapids is also a quite unique beauty as you can float along the river, kayak, etc and see the multiple colors of the water as well as wildlife. One of the last popular excursions in Costa Maya is visiting the Mayan pyramids. Mayans were so ahead of their time and if you notice how big their civilization was, it extends from Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras so you will find many pyramids in the Costa Maya area, some that are covered and others that have been excavated. Learning their culture and understanding what they built is a humbling experience. You see? It’s hard not to not enjoy Costa Maya and its surrounding towns when there is so much to do and see.

Costa Maya is gay friendly like most of Quintana Roo and there’s a chill vibe that you get in the south where no one is trying to be more than they are. It’s just fun beach bars on the Malecon, delicious seafood, boho style hotels, and excursions that fill up your vacation if you visit. With all that said, what are you waiting for? Start booking your tickets! If you feel shy going by yourself to Costa Maya, join our group trip this Spring March 25- Apr 1st, 2022 as we’ll be exploring the area with other like minded travel lovers! Trip details are available at https://tri.ps/6jo8g What ever you decide just make sure that you don’t miss out on this hidden gem in southern Mexico!

Lesbian Friendly Mykonos

Without a doubt Greece is one of those countries that everyone has on their bucket list. From the beautiful white houses and deep blue sea its no wonder why it is! Ladies Touch Travel had its first lesbian vacation to Greece in 2019 around Memorial Day Weekend and we had an amazing time! We first stopped in Athens and stayed overnight to then make it down to Mykonos. Once we arrived at our destination it was love at first sight! After our week in LGBTQ friendly Mykonos, it’s easy to say what are some of the top lesbian friendly things to do while in town.

#1- Visit Elia Beach- Elia Beach, a quiet beach cove in Mykonos is super gay friendly with pride flags standing tall towards the west side of the beach. On our first group trip we stayed at the beachfront Elia Beach Resort which gave us the convenience of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea right at our footsteps. Elia is a lot calmer than some of your other beaches, but many people appreciate that so if that’s the vibe you want, get a chair, relax, and enjoy!

#2- Spend the day at Jackie O Beach club- Jackie O Beach Club is nestled in the hills of Super Paradise Beach. Super Paradise Beach is another top LGBTQ spot to hang out and very gay friendly. This beach cove is a lot livelier with EDM music loudly playing all across the beach at various venues. There are several beach clubs options, but Jackie O has drag shows and LGBTQ events to keep you entertained. There are also water sports so if you like tubing, jet skiing, etc.

#3- Sail across the Mediterranean with some friends- One of the best experiences in Mykonos is to sail in an authentic Greek sailboat. These sailboats are big, with wood, and beautiful sails and the only way to truly appreciate it is by enjoying the day out in the sea. With all the great beach coves around Mykonos Island, you can spend a full day sailing. Usually, sailing tours have drinks and lunch provided so grab your friends and delight in the experience.

#4- Go shopping in Mykonos Town- Chora/Mykonos Town is the main town in Mykonos that has a lot of shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The town is gay friendly and beautiful to walk through. White house’s holding business establishments with blue or red outlining around them, the windmills, and several Catholic churches keep tourists busy in this area. These streets are truly dreamy and full of history which makes it that much more unforgettable. We spent a good amount of time shopping in Chora and had some yummy Greek food afterwards.

#5- Go Gay Club Hopping- Mykonos Town as mentioned is where there are many restaurants and clubs including some fun gay clubs. On our group trip we got to go to 54 Cocktail Bar, Babylon, and Lola Bar. We danced and battled the gay bois, created a soul train line, and danced til we dropped. 54 Cocktail Bar had yummy cocktails, Babylon had a fun drag show, and Lola had a great DJ that kept us on the dancefloor so definitely check out those spots when you are on the island.

Overall, Mykonos is very lesbian friendly, although you may find more boiis on vacation there, it doesn’t mean that there’s no space for us women because there is! We were welcomed everywhere and loved the Greek hospitality! If you have Greece on your bucket list, get out there soon as its not as crowed as it usually is. Typically, Mykonos in the summer is very packed with people visiting from all over the world so it’s best to go in the shoulder season which is right before or after the summer. You’ll also get some deals on pricing as the summer is way more expensive. Ladies Touch Travel has a Baecation in Mykonos at the end of September so if you want to take your special someone for a Mediterranean getaway sign up as we have limited rooms and will sell out. Trip details are available at: https://tri.ps/Mpx7S People always think of Mykonos as the party island which is true in comparison to other Greek Islands, but Mykonos offers so much more so join us to see all the beauties that the island has to offer. See you soon in Mykonos!

Crazy for Cartagena!

Just a few weeks ago our lesbian travel vacation was redirected to Cartagena due to some of the requirements and changes in our original plans to Thailand. With all the last-minute planning I’m so grateful that the trip fell into place because we had an absolute blast! I had two months to put it together but with one of my partners from Out in Colombia, a LBGT tour company in Colombia, we recreated a similar experience in Cartagena than we were supposed to have in Phuket which was basically a fun and energetic trip!

We had a long trip flying over to Cartagena as we were coming from the west coast, Los Angeles to be exact. Midway in Miami thankfully we went to American Airlines Admirals Club to rest, eat, and wait for our next flight. Upon arrival in Cartagena, our driver was there to pick us up and take us to Ivy House in Walled City in Old Cartagena. As soon as we entered the Walled City, we all already started to fall in love with its charm and quickly we arrived to check in. After our welcome drinks and appetizers, we all showered to get ready for dinner, it had been a long day. As we headed up to the rooftop, we smelled the yummy dinner being prepared by Nelsy who was our private chef for the week. We ate and got ready to head out. There’s so much that goes on in the Walled City that it can be overwhelming at first. People trying to sell you stuff, others performing as you pass by, women working…tons of beautiful women! We navigated around town and checked out several places including Townhouse Rooftop which was a totally cute vibe with mixed music and yummy cocktails. From there we checked out some other bars but I think we were all jet lagged still so eventually got back to the villa to rest.

The next day Belkin met us at the villa for a cultural tour. She’s a lesbian tour guide and I was so excited to have her go out with us for the day. We headed over to the San Felipe Fortress, Monastery of La Popa, and enjoyed the typical street food of Cartagena. Belkin gave us deep insight to the history of Cartagena which was like other Caribbean history. It humbled us as we have it so much better than many had in the past. The following day we took a catamaran out to Playa Blanca and its nearby beaches. It was a beautiful day to soak up the sun and water considering we were there in the winter while everyone else had been experiencing cold weather. The views of the high rises as we left the city and headed to the islands were beautiful. It was definitely worth the trip. On our 3rd day of the trip, we had the day open to rest as the water is always exhausting but headed out in the evening for our dance tour. This tour was so much fun! I don’t know if it was all the music or that we had a couple of drinks before we headed out but maybe it was both! March our tour guide picked us up at the villa and we walked over to Café del Mar for some live Vallenato a traditional Colombian genre of music. From there we met May our other tour guide and we danced in the streets to cumbia which was so much fun as we were in our own world enjoying it all! From there we stopped at Parque Fernandez Madrid for a show we weren’t expecting with folkloric music as well as traditional cumbia. If that wasn’t enough, we walked over to Getsmani to the Caponera Café Bar for some salsa dancing and Champeta, an African inspired dance in Colombia! Did I mention that at every stop we had shots which was part of the tour?? Aguardiente, rum, coffee, and more rum!! By this time, we were all super giddy dancing in the middle of Getsmani and wrapped up at the last bar with some more dancing before heading back. I must say this night was a special one and the group made it even more fun!

At that point, our trip had been amazing, we had lesbian tour guides, Cartagena was gay friendly, and we never felt disrespected. On top of that, the towns colors, charm, history was a great experience. After all the dancing the night before our next excursion was to Bora Bora Beach Club in the Rosario Islands and what a great spot that we highly recommend! Of course, we had VIP service because that’s how we roll at Ladies Touch Travel but we just enjoyed our plush day beds, meals, drinks, and beautiful beach all day.

On our second to last day, we had some down time to go shopping as we were right in the middle of everything. Souvenir shops, apparel, you name it and super inexpensive. We literally shopped til we dropped! After all the shopping we got our covid tests done and had dinner before our last excursion of the week. For our last night we went out on a traditional Chiva bus ride. Chiva buses were designed to transport goods in the past but gained popularity as a “party bus” experience. We rolled around the city in the Chiva and of course DANCED for a couple of hours literally! We realized with all these tours Colombians love music and to dance, we experienced that all week no matter where we went. We didn’t mind all the energy, we fit right in! To wrap up the tour we got dropped off at City Club in Cartagena the local LGBT club and continued to dance til the weeee hours of the night. The night was filled with fun memories, and we made new friends in the process. So many beautiful people and good music!

So, what do we think about Cartagena? We are crazy about Cartagena!! If you love culture, dancing, beaches, and high energy then Cartagena has your name all over it. We loved it so much that we plan to take another group to Cartagena this Summer 2022 so stay tuned! Check in with us in a few weeks on our site for trip details. Our group trips are about creating new friendships and having unforgettable memories as we did on our trip so join us to have a one-of-a-kind experience!

Lesbian Spring Travel In Rio de Janeiro!

With how travel has been in this last year and a half, who doesn’t have the travel bug these days! There are still opportunities to travel with minimal to no restrictions and safely. It’s also a great time now to plan for the rest of the new year. While the United States is feeling the cold in January the southern hemisphere is just starting to heat up! One of our favorite places to travel to with Ladies Touch Travel is Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro around late February.

One of the largest events in Brazil is Carnival, but a little inside info, there are so many great festivals, block, and beach parties around Rio two weeks before the actual Carnival that are free or super low cost that it doesn't make much sense to go during Carnival to spend double the price on everything! Currently, Carnival is on schedule for February 25- March 5, 2022, so if you go right before make sure you don't miss out on these spots:

1. Ipanema Beach- Between Posto 8 and 9 is the infamous Farme Gay strip. You will see the pride flags and many gay and lesbian folks enjoying the scenery and music. This area is a ton of fun especially if you are with cool people. We have literally partied to sundown with the Ladies Touch Travel group not even realizing everyone had left the beach!! Good times indeed! Keep in mind in Brazil women typically wear thongs or Brazilian cut bikinis and men wear speedo-type bathing suits so don't be alarmed, go with the flow and enjoy the beauty!

2- Bloco Ceu na Terra- One of our favorite block parties in Rio de Janeiro happens in Santa Teresa at guess what time? 7AM!! You would think who wants to party at 7AM but thousands fill up the narrow cobble stone old town streets of Santa Teresa for an energetic party. You'll see sheroes, villains, drag queens, clowns, you name it but after all the craziness you can't help to say "that was an amazing experience"!

3- Samba School Rehearsals- There is something about the drums beating live that make the hairs on your body stand at attention and even if you don't know how to dance, you just start pumping your hips...welcome to a samba school rehearsal! Carnival is when all the samba schools in Rio get together to compete on music, dancers, and costumes so experiencing a rehearsal beforehand is a one of a kind party. We had the pleasure of visiting Comuna Que Pariu in the Lapa District and it was a blast and not to miss!

4- Lapa District- Lapa is filled with bars, clubs, and parties that go til the wee hours so drink a redbull and experience the nightlife! Rio de Janeiro is very mixed as far as the patrons. You'll find that many parties have queer and straight people all in the same room having a ball and nobody cares! There are definitely gay clubs but for the most part in Lapa everyone parties together.

These are just a few things to do while in Rio de Janeiro especially right before the actual Carnival. Make sure you have a Caipirinha and Pao de Queijo when out and about in Rio. The Cariocas (Brazilian Natives) are warm people, love to have fun, and offer great hospitality. As with most places you travel to, always travel safely! If you want to learn more about our lesbian women’s travel group and upcoming destinations email us at ladiestouchtravelevents@gmail.com or go to our travel section for more details. 

2022 LGBT Women’s Travel Bucket List

There’s no denying that the pandemic has turned the travel industry upside down on its head. Even through all the uncertainties there are still some travel hotspots for lgbtq women. Check out the top 5 on our Ladies Touch Travel list with little to no restrictions and who knows maybe we’ll see you at one of these locations!

1-     Puerto Vallarta, Mexico- Known as the top LGBT destination in all of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has been the top location for tourism during the pandemic. With old school charm, culture, and upbeat energy its no doubt why PV is on the top of many travelers list. The LGBT women’s community has been also growing in Puerto Vallarta making this little big city their top option.

2-     Key West, Florida- Looking for beautiful beaches, small town feel, and queer energy? Look no further as Key West has been a top destination for the LGBT community for many years. September every year hosts the top lesbian event- Womenfest.  Key West, in particular Downtown Key West is filled with gay businesses including lodging so you will feel safe and busy with lots to do.

3-     Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica- If you haven’t been to Costa Rica, now is your chance! Our favorite area in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio as it is the most LGBT friendly area in all the country. Wake up to howler monkeys or watch sloths hang out in the trees, nature will be all around you, and its why we love it! There are other areas to check out but first try Manuel Antonio and make your way to their beautiful national park to be connected to the area’s beauty.

4-     Palm Springs, California- One of the top LGBT destinations on the west coast is Palm Springs in California. Filled with natural hot springs, spas, and wellness hotels, Palm Springs has become the top place for some of the largest queer events including our favorite Dinah Shore Weekend when thousands of women flee over to the town to escape the rat race and connect with other queer women. Palm Springs has many gay businesses and pretty much all are gay friendly establishments. Outside of Dinah Shore Weekend, Palm Springs is a great place to take your hunny or group of friends to hang out for the weekend.

5-     Bogota, Colombia- Love the city life and culture? Head on over to Bogota, Colombia’s capital for one of the biggest LGBT communities in South America. Bogota offers historical sites, nightlife, and a booming gastronomy scene if you love Latin food. If you get out to Bogota, check out the Chapinero Gayborhood for an experience of the gay bars and businesses for a time to remember.

Don’t get deterred to travel!  Even though travel is a bit more complicated, it’s doable. If you feel nervous to travel alone but love to travel join our travel group for one of our upcoming trips at linktr.ee/ladiestoucheventsntravel There are beautiful countries waiting for you!

Mexico’s LGBTQ Haven - Puerto Vallarta

 If you haven’t heard by now, Mexico has been the most dominant country in tourism, pandemic and all. There have been no restrictions to enter Mexico and they don’t plan on getting strict or close borders. What has happened in the last year depending on the city or town is curfews. Many of the bigger cities may have seen businesses close anywhere from 10PM to Midnight worse case. Because of the minimal to no requirements and proximity to the United States, Puerto Vallarta, has been one of the top cities to travel to in Mexico during this pandemic.

Puerto Vallarta typically gets lost when people talk about Mexico. Most people when talking about Mexican vacations mention Cancun and Los Cabos first before mentioning Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta though is a gem with a lot of old town and authentic Mexican charm! On top of all that charm, Puerto Vallarta is the most LGBT friendly city in Mexico with its own gayberhood, Zona Romantica, filled with queer owned businesses, the popular Los Muertos Beach which has a gay section between Mantamar Beach Club and Blue Chairs Resort and bars/nightclubs galore off Lazaro Cardenas and Ignacio Vallarta Ave. 

The LGBT women scene is growing in Puerto Vallarta with several lesbian owned businesses you must check out and support! Elixir Mixology Bar makes the yummiest drinks and a great starter spot before you turn up the rest of the night. Another great spot is Café Versalles in the Versalles neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. The owners are super cool and love to give back to the community. Then there’s Oculto, a dining experience for those that love gastronomy, connection, and conversation. The ladies at Oculto put together amazing dishes to make your tastebuds happy and if you are looking for a different experience, you don’t want to miss this! Lastly there’s Nosh Turkish Bites if you’re in the Romantic Zone and in the mood for some Mediterranean yumminess.

Outside of the lesbian businesses and places to visit in town, there is so much to do in Vallarta from popular tours like Rhythm of the Night, Whale Watching, lounging beachside at Mixto Beachclub in Quimixto, or snorkeling by Los Arcos and more. You can easily turn around and wonder how a couple weeks went by with all to do in town. Not to mention north of old town there’s Marina, Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerias so make time to paint the town rainbows. If you want to come down and join other like-minded women, contact us to participate in Tropicale, a Lesbian Vacation in Puerto Vallarta May 31- June 5, 2022 and you’ll get to visit several of these places mentioned.  If you plan to be in town another time connect and say hi!

Jungle Fever! Traveling in Costa Rica

We are definitely in unprecedented times and even with all that is going on in the world, people are still thinking about travel. A recent article on CNBC news said that travelers are “trip stacking” meaning they are booking many trips in a year instead of just one. Mental and spiritual health has been two of the biggest reasons people have been taking off and a country that we love at Ladies Touch Travel is Costa Rica just for that! Costa Rica which is nestled in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama currently has no restrictions to enter their country in comparison to recently where you needed to fill out a health form and carry traveler insurance in addition to showing a negative covid test result. What we love is that Costa Rica has different towns and vibes. If you want to really clear your head and be lost in the jungle, Dominical in the south Pacific is a great place. If you want to connect with the LGBT community Manuel Antonio is your place. Big Resorts and all-inclusive hotels you’ll find in the Guanacaste area. For hot springs and low-key vibes head up to La Fortuna. Lastly Limon/Puerto Viejo for Caribbean local Tico’s vibe!

There’s truly something for everyone and a great reason to check out Costa Rica considering the limited requirements. Our favorite town in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio because it has a gay beach section, Playa Espadilla, gay accommodations, gay bars, and LGBT friendly restaurants! Although its predominately bois, women are always welcome for the fun too! Manuel Antonio also has its National Park so you’ll frequently see and hear howler and cappuccino monkeys, macaws, woodpeckers, sloths in the area which is my favorite experience especially when traveling with a new group. Since Manuel Antonio is in the south Pacific there are so many other areas nearby that take you to waterfalls, mountains, and the beach all within an hour drive.

Whatever your heart desires, make sure that you check out Costa Rica! A country with “Pura Vida” meaning “pure life” as their mantra can only welcome you with great energy! That’s exactly what you will experience no matter what side of the country you are visiting. Grab yourself an Imperial local beer, Gallo Pinto dish, sunset and indeed you will enjoy that Costa Rican pure life!

Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Do Group Travel

Many times, you’ll find yourself booking on Expedia, Booking.com, or any of the other online travel shopping company but outside of individual travel there’s group travel which hits your soul a little different. People think that traveling in groups can be messy and conflicting, but it takes a certain type of person to travel in a pack. It takes an open, adventurous, lighthearted individual and why it works when in the right energy. Even if one is off energy, they will rise up to match the rest of the group otherwise it won’t be the best trip for them. We’ve had some of our best life experiences at Ladies Touch Travel with our group travel. Our trips have been filled with laughter, good times, and unforgettable memories but the beauty that makes us utterly happy to watch is the bonds, friendships, and even the love connections that have happened on our trips so this is why we say these are the top 3 reasons why you should do group travel.

1-     You won’t have to worry as much about planning or costs. The top reason is that you can just worry about the clothes you need to pack. As if planning a trip isn’t already a headache, now you have less to worry about because you will be dealing with a travel coordinator with years’ experience that will handle it all for you as well as the group and you can just meet everyone at the airport gate to start the travel journey.

2-     You meet new friends. Another great reason to do a group trip is that you instantly meet new travel buddies. Ever get frustrated that you want to travel but your friends can’t take the time off or have the money to go on a trip? Now you don’t have to worry about that because you have like minded women on the same mission and in this case lesbian/lgbtq womxn/even straight allies that also love to travel. I have seen it time and time again, bonds, and new friends made on every single trip we have had. I’ve seen after a trip that their friendships extend past that initial trip they went on to weddings, birthday parties, or just getting together to catch up. So, if you want to surround yourself around other lgbtq women couples, singles, and everything in between, group travel, especially group travel with Ladies Touch Travel is a MUST!

3-     Unforgettable memories. When you don’t have to worry about planning, just met new friends, now you can really enjoy your moments and create lasting memories. There’s a synergy when a group of us are out anywhere around the world. The venue and people around us know we are there because that’s what groups bring to the experience. Think of anytime that you are with a group of friends, and you are having fun, how much better does it feel when it’s a big group with high energy. That’s why at Ladies Touch Travel we love a group experience.

I always say don’t knock it ‘til you try it because group travel is an experience and at Ladies Touch Travel we strive for good vibes, good times, and unforgettable memories. If you try it but think its not for you we understand but I promise you’ll enjoy the experience and will leave with at least a few new friends. Give it a try and join our newsletter to learn about upcoming trips in 2022 and 2023 at linktr.ee/ladiestoucheventsntravel  We look forward to you joining us on the next travel experience!