Essential LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Tips for Queer Nightlife Abroad

Planning a queer trip abroad? These LGBTQ+ travel tips cover safety, nightlife, local connections, and research to help you explore confidently and responsibly

While some destinations are lauded for their natural beauty or rich history, others draw visitors in droves each year thanks to their propensity for non-stop partying—yet as with all other facets of life, things can get a little more complicated if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community. Queer spaces offer an opportunity to connect with like-minded peers and experience travel from a unique perspective, but they also require a level of preparedness and situational awareness that isn’t always necessary at home. As you plan your next trip abroad, be sure to keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your vacation is hassle-free, insightful, and—above all—fun.

Pre-Trip Planning and Research

Any seasoned queer traveler is already well aware that not all destinations can guarantee the same level of safety and comfort. With close to 200 countries across the globe, each one comes equipped with its own unique set of laws, some of which can turn a typical vacation into a headache. Before setting off on your trip, Equaldex serves as a particularly valuable asset for LGBTQ+ community members, with a built-in Equality Index that’s designed to assess how queer-friendly a destination is. Given its broad scope of categories, the website is ideal for gaining a general understanding of local regulations and social attitudes before your trip begins.

If you’re opting to explore solo, Google searches might point you in the direction of popular gay bars, but the best way to find advice is to ask a local—and thanks to social media, scores of queer residents are just a text post away. I’ve often used Reddit or Facebook to seek out pre-trip advice, whether it’s on a city-wide subreddit or a Facebook group curated towards queer residents. Through these avenues, you’re near-guaranteed to receive authentic, up-to-date information that’s free from any paid promotional bias.

For any travel novices who are apprehensive about going it alone, a group trip offers like-minded peers and seasoned travel guides who are well-versed in the intricacies of the local queer scene. LGBTQ+-focused tour companies abound, with high-profile options including Brand g and Olivia Travel—and I myself have found great success with OUT in Colombia, a tour company curated towards one of Latin America’s most vibrant destinations. Ultimately, a group experience can offer peace of mind as well as built-in community, providing participants with a more accessible window into local queer nightlife.

Navigating Queer Spaces (Safely)

Once you’ve touched down in your destination, it’s time for the festivities to begin—but just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Before heading out, be sure to make a rough plan for your night. Will you stick to one venue, or do you plan to go bar-hopping? If it’s late, are there rideshare services available to get you back home? Though the night may not pan out the way you planned for, it’s important to have a good grasp on how the destination operates and what options are available to you.

As you set off for the night, many queer nightlife tips overlap with nightlife tips in general. Travel light—phone, wallet, keycard, and not much else—and be sure to tuck some cash away in a concealed spot in case of emergencies. If you consume alcohol, avoid accepting any drinks from strangers if you didn’t watch it being made. For an added layer of security, you may want to share your location with a trusted friend or family member back home. And of course, if you’re exploring a country that uses a language that you’re not comfortable with, be sure to copy a set of useful phrases and addresses and paste them in your phone’s notebook, lest you’re stuck pleading for a taxi at 2:00 AM with a phone on airplane mode and no way to translate.

In addition to the tips above, queer travelers should also keep visibility in mind as they navigate their nights out. While LGBTQ+ bars are—ideally—meant to be bastions of acceptance for all members of the community, the city or neighborhood that they operate in may be a different story entirely. That being said, it’s imperative that explorers keep in mind the beginning and end of their night and not just the destination itself. This could mean dressing more discreetly en route to the bar as well as on the way home, or even forgoing certain areas entirely if you’re concerned about drawing negative attention. Though not ideal, being mindful of visibility can be helpful for avoiding potentially harmful situations and keeping yourself safe during your night out.

Making Friends in New Places

Human connection is one of the primary reasons that people travel, and exploring a destination with a local can open you up to entirely new perspectives and cultural concepts that you may not have encountered otherwise. However, it can be difficult to make a connection in an entirely new country without any prior contacts—but personally, I’ve found dating apps to be a huge asset in this territory.

In the past, I’ve often used Grindr or Tinder to scope out the local scene—and on many occasions, it was in an entirely platonic way. Though the apps are designed with romance (or lust) in mind, I’ve found that many users are perfectly content to just hang out with a fascinating stranger for a few days and show off their city. I’ve had some truly incredible experiences by making friends on the apps, but of course, you’ll have to navigate them carefully, as some countries have (unfortunately) subverted these apps in an effort to punish users.

Before meeting, I ask that we connect via Instagram or Facebook so I have their full name. Any person who balks at providing information is no person worth meeting. Once we’re connected, I plan for us to meet in a public space to get acquainted, with an exit plan in place in case the vibe feels off. While I’ve definitely had a few awkward encounters, this strategy has also led to experiences that I otherwise never would have found. From a morning coffee date on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast to a night market dinner in Medan, Indonesia, dating apps have served as a bridge to a more wholesome form of the queer connection for me, imbuing my past solo trips with a deeper affinity for my community and all those who have fought for the right to live and love freely.