The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide by Alicia Valenski and Lonely Planet has great recommendations for queer-friendly places all over the world (5/5 stars)

The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide by debut author Alicia Valenski and Lonely Planet has great recommendations for queer-friendly places all over the world.

In fact, there are over 50 suggestions for the world’s most queer-friendly destinations! Suggestions span from Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa to Bangkok, Thailand and Melbourne, Australia. There’s also a spotlight on quite a few towns in the U.S., if you’re in the states and unable to travel internationally at this time.

There are great “know before you go” highlights for various locations, which were especially helpful to me. They note what languages are spoken there, what currency is used, when they have pride celebrations, and when the best time is to visit based on weather and crowds. There are also tons of helpful maps, and suggestions on good restaurants or events to check out. There are so many photos included, which really paint a clear picture of all of the highlighted areas.

I really loved the “hit lists” section of the book, which features several options for where to go if you’re looking for adrenaline-pumping adventures, awe-inspiring art, family-friendly festivities, inclusive island escapes, leisurely locals, seaside sanctuaries, or trailblazing travels (good hiking). One of my favorite queer vacation spots, Rehoboth, Delaware, is included in this book (as a seaside sanctuary), and I was very delighted to see it there. They even shout out Cape Henlopen State Park, which is one of my favorite places to camp!

I appreciated reading insights from interviews with queer tastemakers, because I really love insider tips on various locals before I visit them. But the biggest thing I appreciate about this book is the fact that there’s a LGBTQ+ Travel Essentials section in the back which lists resources where you can know your rights, learn practical safety tips, and who to reach out to in case of an emergency while you’re travelling. They also include a worldwide pride calendar and queer travel agencies, tours, publications, and apps!

The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide comes out tomorrow, Tuesday, March 18th, 2025!

I received a complimentary review copy from Lonely Planet. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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