Hello hello — Happy Sunday! Here's what's on tap this week:
🌵 Our favorite desert oasis
🍸 How you can get easy access to nearly every airport lounge
🗞️ Travel Briefs: News for gays on the go
🔥 GoQueer’s Hot 10 Deals: Our favorite escapes this week
Our Favorite Desert Oasis
From one of our fave places in PS - The Santiago Resort
As much as we love the fall, we're… not that crazy about winter.
Luckily, America has a few places where the temperature rarely dips below 70 degrees and the fun never stops!
One of those places is our favorite desert oasis: Palm Springs, California.
About a two hour drive from LA, this small city tucked at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains has been a haven for Hollywood stars and homos alike for decades.
Only about 48,000 people call the city home year-round, but Palm Springs swells in the winter months with snowbirds and sun-seekers from all over North America. Some come for the whole season—others for just a few days.
Palm Springs' gay scene is legendary, with Arenas Road serving as the heart of the action. The city holds its annual Pride festival from October 31 through November 3 this year—one of the rare places with a winter Pride because June is simply too sweltering!
The town boasts the highest percentage of same-sex couples of any city in the U.S., and you'll feel that energy everywhere from the clothing-optional resorts to the legendary Arenas Road nightlife.
✅ Things to Do:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - Take the world's largest rotating tramcar up to Mount San Jacinto State Park for breathtaking desert views and hiking trails (it's about 40°F cooler at the top!)
Modernist Architecture Tours - Explore the city's famous mid-century modern homes and buildings, including Elvis's Honeymoon Hideaway
Joshua Tree National Park - Just a 45-minute drive away, perfect for hiking, rock climbing, and otherworldly desert landscapes
Downtown Palm Springs - Browse the galleries, boutiques, and vintage shops along Palm Canyon Drive
Pool hopping - Many hotels welcome day guests to lounge poolside with a day pass
🌈 Gay Hotspots Not to Miss:
For nightlife, Hunters Nightclub is the city's largest gay club with multiple dance floors and drag shows, and nearby Chill Bar is huge with its own dance floor
The iconic Toucans Tiki Lounge offers a more laid-back poolside vibe perfect for afternoon cocktails
Streetbar is the go-to spot for karaoke and watching the fabulous parade of people on Arenas Road
Leather lovers and those up for a cruise will enjoy the Tool Shed
🛌 Where to Stay:
The city is famous for its gay and clothing-optional resorts. The Santiago Resort (around $200-300/night) offers a pool, hot tub, and a relaxed vibe right in the heart of the Warm Sands neighborhood.
For something more scandalous, Cathedral City Boys’ Club (CCBC) (around $250-400/night) features a stunning pool area, rooftop deck, and is adults-only and clothing-optional. It’s also home to Western Xposure’s Bear gatherings (NSFW link)
Budget travelers should check out Vista Grande Resort (around $150-250/night), a charming spot with a great pool and friendly atmosphere.
Getting There: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) makes getting here easy, with direct flights from most major cities. From the East Coast, expect flights around $250-400 and a 5-6 hour journey. West Coast travelers can find flights for as low as $100-200 with flight times under 2 hours from Seattle or San Francisco.
Driving from LA takes about 2 hours and makes for a fun (though traffic-filled) road trip!
How to Skip the Airport Chaos
Our new obsession
We're genuinely thrilled to announce a new partnership that has changed the way we travel—and we think you're going to love it too. We've teamed up with Priority Pass to bring you access to over 1,700 airport lounges worldwide!
Here's the thing: you don't need some expensive credit card that only gets you access to one overcrowded lounge.
Priority Pass gives you access to multiple lounges at most major airports – sometimes 5 or 6 options at a single airport – all with one membership. At JFK alone, there are over a dozen lounges to choose from.
And, if you’ve ever done it, you already know—walking into an airport lounge is like entering a different world.
Instead of fighting for an outlet at your gate and paying $18 for a sad salad, you're settling into a quiet space with complimentary food, free alcohol, reliable WiFi, and comfortable seating.
You know that saying "it's about the journey, not the destination"? With Priority Pass lounge access, that actually becomes true. Now we actually look forward to being at the airport—and we get there hours early just to enjoy the lounge.
What we love about it:
Access to lounges in 600+ cities across 145 countries (so basically everywhere we want to go)
Multiple lounge options at major airports – no more packed, exclusive credit card lounges
Free food and cocktails while you wait
Quiet, comfortable spaces perfect for catching up on work or just decompressing
Their app includes airport maps and guides
One membership gets you into all of them
Whether you're a once-a-year vacation traveler or collecting passport stamps like they're going out of style, this is one of those investments that immediately improves your quality of life. Let’s face it, we're fabulous, and we deserve to travel fabulously.
Because after dealing with TSA and whatever fresh hell airlines throw at us these days, we all deserve a little sanctuary before takeoff. And who knows, maybe you’ll even find love in the lounge like these gays did.
⚖️ Q&A Time:
Have you ever been in an airport lounge?
Last Week’s Results: Last week, we asked do you prefer “gay travel” or “queer travel”?
7% said “gay travel: nightlife, parties, Pride parades, and circuit festivals”
40% said “queer travel: community vibes, queer-owned spots, culture, and inclusivity”
38% said “both!”
15% said “neither!”
The Verdict: we're not a monolith! The old binary of "party gays vs. culture gays" is outdated. Most of us want destinations that offer options—where you can dance until 4am at a legendary club one night and spend the next morning supporting a queer-owned café or exploring local LGBTQ+ history. We want places that welcome us whether we're there to rage or to relax, to see and be seen or to simply exist without explanation.
Your ideal trip might include hitting up a circuit party, brunching at a lesbian-owned restaurant, visiting an LGBTQ+ museum, and lounging at a clothing-optional beach—all in the same weekend. And you know what? Love that for us.
“Both. I like the celebrations but also “our” community neighborhood with quiet bars restaurants and interesting shops and lots of people”
“Want safe respectful events that bring the community together fearlessly and at the same time are enjoyed and respected by those outside the gay/queer community. ”
“It is disheartening to only see cis men when I seek out safe travel experiences. More inclusivity is preferred!”
What this means for GoQueer: We're committed to covering the full spectrum. You'll see guides to cities with legendary nightlife scenes and recommendations for queer-owned guesthouses in small mountain towns. We'll cover Pride festivals and quiet off-season escapes. Whether you're looking to dance on a float or hike through fall foliage with your chosen family, we've got you covered.
Travel News for Gays on the Go
What’s worth knowing in queer travel this week — from major headlines to the best finds worth your clicks.
⚖️ Queer Politics & Rights
October is LGBTQ+ History Month! Here’s how it all began
Over 200 people were arrested at this NYC gay cruising site
Watch Sarah McBride troll absent Republicans hours ahead of another Trump government shutdown
One Utah lawmaker wants to rename a street honoring Harvey Milk and pay tribute to Charlie Kirk instead
Stonewall vet Miss Major Griffin-Gracy has been hospitalized
🔥 Trending & Viral
Drag Race stars are paying tribute to an iconic gay bar as it announces its permanent closure
A fresh break in the alleged Mike Johnson Grindr case has people screaming “Release the DMs!”
How do Instagays afford to travel so much?
Some companies are dropping fees for solo travelers
Taylor Swift wrote a song about her man’s big ‘Wood’ – here’s what the lyrics mean
From contemplating suicide to forgiving her gay brother, Madonna opens her heart in bombshell interview
“So happy” & “So peaceful”: Seniors talk life in an LGBTQ+ residence
🏳️🌈 Travel Inspiration
Exploring LGBTQ+ History: 10 must-visit sites for Gay History Month
Vamps, tramps & naked people: an LGBTQ+ guide to Halloween across America
Six winter escapes to chase away the winter blues this January and February
Get ready to celebrate ten years of the magical and meaty Megawoof America
Cole Escola’s Broadway smash Oh, Mary! is coming to the West End — with a new Mary — here’s how to get tickets
Which states have the most same-sex couples? Here are the top 10
Belfast is entering its Rainbow Era
💋 Sexy Stuff
Submit to these 69 spicy photos of Folsom Street Fair 2025
And for good measure —11 steamy pics from Folsom Europe in Berlin
Confidence, smelly pits, getting tickled: Gays reveal what really turns them on
Category is: Hot Travel Deals — 10s across the board.
Amazon, Baños & Galápagos for 50% off: Discover Ecuador’s highlights on this 12-day journey from the Amazon rainforest to the Galápagos Islands. Explore Quito’s colonial streets, hike through the lush jungle, admire Baños’ waterfalls, and encounter unique wildlife on San Cristóbal Island.
Portugal Coastal Cities Tour – 50% Off: Explore Portugal’s highlights in 9 days, from Lisbon’s pastel streets to Sintra’s fairytale castles and Porto’s colorful riverside. This package includes hotels, some breakfasts, city tours, and cultural experiences—perfect for couples or solo travelers looking to mix history, charm, and stunning coastal views.
Ireland Adventure: Dublin, Limerick & Killarney – From $499: Explore Ireland’s rolling hills, rugged coast, and charming villages with this 6-night getaway. Stay in a cozy two-bedroom cottage in Killarney, plus nights in Limerick and Dublin, with a rental car to discover at your own pace.