Sat. August 21, 2004
By Gary Trick
Below are a few helpful web sites and areas of general information you will need to know before you go! They hopefully will answer a number of questions, and ease the tension of pre-planning your special vacation.
Travel Advisories U.S. State Department
http://www.state.gov
We all have security issues and concerns at this time and the State Department offers many suggestions for destinations, including warnings and reasons of concern in certain countries.
Federal Aviation Administration
http://www.faa.com
The FAA also offers a site that highlights safety issues at airports and onboard aircraft, including what you can and can't carry onboard. Also included is informaiton on airport security and onboard the plane. This is a valuable site.
What to Pack
www.travelite.org
Packing and traveling advice for all travelers.
Find a Gay/Lesbian Travel Agent
www.IGLTA.com
Find an IGLTA member agent to help you plan your vacation.
Research your Destination
www.countryguide.com
Providing information for over 220 countries.
Flight Tracker
http://www.flightview.com/TravelTools
Track flights by airline, flight number, city and/or date.
Calendar/World Clock
http://www.timeanddate.com
Time Zones, Calendar, and Current Time all over the world.
Universal Currency Converter
www.x-rates.com
Convert currency and find out current exchange rates.
Tourist Offices
www.towd.com
Find and order brochures for your destination of choice.
Fact Book
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Find facts from the CIA about your chosen location.
U.S. Customs
http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/home.xml
Find out what you are allowed to bring into and out of a country.
Foreign Travel Entry Requirements
http://www.expressvisa.com
Find out if you need a Visa or Passport to enter into the country.
Embassy Locations
http://usembassy.state.gov
Locate the closest U.S. embassy to your destination.
Travel Destination: England
“England swings like a pendulum"
The British Tourist Authority was one of the first to develop a gay guide for their country and they did it very well! The Britain Inside and Out is an “essential” guide to lesbian and gay Britain! Visit their web site at gaybritain.org and check out discounts, calendar of events, etc. Britain has covered all the bases!
Britain welcomes everyone to the land of Sir Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, Rupert Everett and of course Boy George. London’s expanded National Portrait Gallery honors figures in our community such as Virginia Woolf, Oscar Wilde and other gays sons and daughters of the British Crown.
In addition to the obvious lesbian and gay community of London, it is a city rich in history, celebrity chefs, and of course the theatre. The “second city” is Manchester, and of course the “home” of “Queer as Folk”. Make sure you visit Manchester’s Gay village, a square mile that is the pulse of Lesbian and Gay life in Manchester! Newcastle and Brighton are gay friendly cities and shouldn’t be missed.
Pictured Left: The Palace Theatre in Manchester, UK.
A week in England is truly and adventure with its culture, history and gay life!
For additional information or to suggestion other websites, contact me.
Cheers...
Gary
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