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What’s inside this issue
Why some queer/LGBTQ travel guides fall flat
The difference between being safe and feeling at ease
Two flexible European road trip routes I’ve curated myself
A link to the full 7-page download; free, updated for 2025, and mobile-friendly
My Favourite Finds
The Queer Road Trip Across Europe Itinerary this post is inspired by
LGBTQ+ couples are shifting how and where they travel
The Adriatic coast of Slovenia and its growing LGBTQ+ travel appeal.
Trainline Europe – A great tool for anyone trying to mix trains and rental cars across borders.
Main Feature
Two LGBTQ+ Road Trips For 2026
You know I love a road trip.
So, this week I’m doing something slightly different. I’m sharing the thinking behind the two road trips I’ve built for queer couples and small groups. I dive into what makes them work, who they’re perfect for, and (most importantly) how it feels at the finish line.
As a little bonus, there’s a free download of the 5‑page guide Swipe This: Flexible Queer Road Trips Across Europe (1 or 2 Week Options), updated for 2025/26 and ready to use.
Why most trip ideas leave you unsatisfied
You’ve seen the articles: “Top 10 gay destinations”, “Best hotels for queer travellers”, “Ultimate Pride break”. They tick boxes, but they rarely deliver feeling.
The problem: ticking the destination doesn’t automatically give you the experience you wanted.
You land somewhere, watch the sunset and you realise you’re still thinking about whether you can hold hands at dinner or if you’re too visible when you wanted to relax.
Travel writers call this shallow travel, the kind that looks great on Instagram but leaves you emotionally flat.
I’m far more interested in what Two Bad Tourists describe as “slow, meaningful travel that lets you experience queer culture beyond the bars.”
Whether that’s kayaking in Slovenia, sipping wine in Porto, or just knowing your accommodation won’t make it weird when you check in with your partner.
If you’ve ever tried to relax on a jam-packed group tour while half the bus makes assumptions about you… you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Who this road trip is for (and who it isn’t)
This guide is ideal if you:
are part of an LGBTQ+ couple or a tight‑knit small group and want something meaningful, not just a party or a resort break
crave freedom: the road, the view, the slow breakfast, the sunset from a terrace, not the tour‑bus timetable
want to feel safe, visible, and comfortable
have 7–14 days to travel (so this works whether you’ve got a week or a fortnight)
are ready to trade “everywhere” for “here, deeply”
This guide is not for you if:
you want to do 20 destinations in 10 days and check off the list
you’re only interested in straight‑up party holidays or staying in the uber‑gay capital of somewhere and doing nightlife only
you want everything completely laid out in minute detail and don’t mind following someone else’s slideshow itinerary
Here’s a peek at the two routes in the guide, just enough to make you want to book the damn trip!
Option 1: 1‑Week Escape – South France → Northern Spain → Portugal
Fly into Biarritz or Bayonne, cruise the Atlantic coast, savour Basque culture in San Sebastián or Bilbao, end in the Douro Valley or Porto for wine, river views and slow dinners.
This route works if you’ve got a week; you still hit three countries, you still get coast, food, countryside, but you avoid airline loops, back‑tracking and rigidity.
Bonus? The queer scene in Porto is small but mighty; Café Lusitano is a gem of a venue where locals actually talk to you, not just pose for selfies.
Option 2: 2‑Week Loop – Switzerland → Austria → Slovenia → Coast
Start in Lucerne or Lauterbrunnen for mountain air and lakes, swing through Salzburg and Austrian lakes, dip into Lake Bled + Ljubljana for that forest‑meets‑town energy, then finish by the sea in Piran / Istria / Trieste.
This one gives you space, layers, and wind‑down time. It’s designed for bigger occasions, slower pace and real change of scene.
Why both work:
They’re one‑way loops (fly in one end, fly out the other) so you’re not retracing your steps.
They include 3+ countries but still feel coherent.
They’re built with short drives or scenic trains, not marathon travel days.
They put you in environments where you can relax, be queer, and still feel the travel high.
This two week trip is perfect for couples who want space to connect. Slovenia’s capital is one of the most progressive in Europe, and you’ll find queer-friendly stays without having to ask awkward questions. It's low-key, peaceful, and surprisingly cool after dark.
Top tip; In Ljubljana, don’t miss Pritličje, a queer-friendly café-bar that doubles as a community space and late-night hangout. Come for the spritz, stay for the stories.
What you’ll remember
You’ll remember that wine at 7pm in the Douro valley.
The quiet lake in Austria at dawn.
The coastal breeze in Piran where you didn’t have to edit yourself.
That’s what I built this around.
And I’m not the only one preaching the gospel of “don’t try to do everything”. Atlas & Boots an adventure travel blog that gets slow, meaningful travel says it best:
“The less we crammed in, the more we actually experienced.”
That’s the point. Less = more.
Why this beats the group‑tour or conventional city break
Here’s my take:
Group tours often mean you're following someone else’s pace. You might see the sights but you might also be watching your watch.
Fast city breaks mean you swirl in and swirl out. You might tick ‘culture’, ‘food’, ‘nightlife’ but you miss the quiet moments in between.
Therefore, what I’m offering is the middle ground: freedom without loneliness, adventure without anxiety, comfort without compromise. It’s your trip. You decide the pace. I help you skip the worst parts (over‑hyped nights, awkward hotel scenes, the “are we safe/did we book the right place” stress).
Over to you
If this resonates, you’re warmly invited to download the free 7‑page mini‑guide Swipe This: Flexible Queer Road Trips Across Europe (1 or 2 Week Options).
Pop it on your phone, take a read on the weekend, lean into the routes.
And if you like what you see, I’ll help you turn it from idea into reality (with bespoke tweaks, queer‑specific stays, and top tips that I keep in my back pocket).
Download it for FREE to kickstart your planning.
Outro
That’s a wrap on this week’s issue. If you’ve ever tried to DIY a trip and ended up overwhelmed by tabs, or second-guessing what’s actually safe, that’s exactly what I help with.
Like this issue? Forward it to a travel-loving friend. Or better yet, let me help plan your next one.
I’m Steve, your LGBTQ+ adventure curator. If you’re tired of rainbow-washed travel tips, rigid group tours, or just wondering where to go, you’re in the right place.