When I look back on 2013, it is interesting to review which memories stand outfor me. It wasn’t any of the bigger purchases I made. No, the first and most important things that come to mind are several of the trips I took, and the unique experiences I had in those destinations. A few highlights include watching a cheetah stalk an impala in South Africa, drinking caipirinhas with new friends on the beach in Rio at sunset, and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Traveling has the power to inspire the mind, heal the soul, and energize the body. It...
Creating the most amazing trips in the world for a discerning group of gays, their family and friends, is no small feat. Our travelers are well travelled and are always wanting the latest, best, trendiest and most sought after destination. As LGBT travelers we are used to being pioneers. With that in mind Zoom scours the world not only for the most up and coming destinations but for how to take Zoomers there in comfort, style and safety. In the last years Zoom has flown to far away places like Japan, South Africa, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil (usually at...
It is common knowledge that the right camera angles and lighting can make virtually anything look radically different. Hotel rooms can look twice as large, and that view of the refinery can be blurred out. Food can photograph better than it tastes. Actors can be hired to look happy doing anything. Tip: Talk to a travel planner who has recently been to the destination and/or call the local tourism bureau.
Each time a country legalizes same-gender marriage, I get many emails asking me for the countries in which it is recognized. So, on the heals of Scotland’s exciting announcement… Countries where same-gender marriage is legal:Scotland (2014)England (2013)Wales (2013)France (2013)New Zealand (2013)Uruguay (2013)Denmark (2012)Argentina (2010)Portugal (2010)Iceland (2010)Sweden (2009)Norway (2009)South Africa (2006)Spain (2005)Canada (2005)Belgium (2003)The Netherlands (2000)
It was a busy year for me and the Zoom team. I traveled a total of 161,014 miles, the equivalent of over 6 times around the world, on 69 flights and a mega yacht to 31 countries. In addition to the scheduled tours we offered all year, 2013 had a few highlights that made it particularly special. A couple on Zoom Peru got engaged on Machu Picchu (read about them in our Featured Travelers section). We celebrated many birthday celebrations, honeymoons and long term relationships in exotic locations around the world on Zoom Southern Africa and our Zoom cruise. And for...
I’m a bit of a flight/mileage/upgrade geek. So, guests going on Zoom trips call me all the time to figure out the best way to get to a Zoom destination the cheapest and most comfortable way possible. As many of you know, not all business class is created equal and not all business class costs the same. So, it makes sense to do a little research to make sure the plane you are booked on meets your expectations. On routes like Peru, for instance, some airlines fly with flat beds while others offer a modest recline in Business Class, typically...
I am writing this from my hotel room in Buenos Aires, full of thoughts about how this city has changed since we offered our first tour here nine years ago. It has certainly become more gay friendly and accepting, both in the mentality of the locals and as evidenced by anti-discrimination laws that have been enacted. The gay scene in Buenos Aires is better than ever, and you can go out every night of the week and find something happening. Also the exchange rate has become very favorable for foreigners. Currently there is a double economy. The official...
I always get a kick out of the sentence, “why would you want to go there”, as there are few places on Earth I wouldn’t want to see for myself. Arguably, almost every country has enough sites of interest and things to do to make a vacation. Granted, of course I understand avoiding a country embroiled in a natural disaster or human-made conflict, or countries that are antigay. However, I have noticed that some people hold ill-perceived ideas about some places, originating from the past. For instance, myself and a lot of my peers grew up during the Beirut War,...
Focusing on living in the present moment abolishes our worries, fears, and anxieties and helps us to enjoy the time that we have. And this is where living in the now can benefit us while we are traveling, because it is during our travels where we want to make the most out of every second.
