- Expedia has released a new Summer Travel Outlook report focused on destinations that are welcoming for LGBTQ+ travelers.
- The report surveyed 1,000 American LGBTQ+ travelers to find the best beach and city destinations for summer trips.
- Locales in North America, Europe, and Asia dominated the 2025 list.
Looking for some summer travel inspiration where you’ll find other LGBTQ+ travelers, great food scenes, and a welcoming environment? Expedia conducted a survey of 1,000 LGBTQ+ Americans to reveal the top Summer 2025 travel destinations. Its Summer Travel Outlook revealed that the destinations are a mix of well-loved locales and lesser known spots that are increasing in popularity year over year.
“This summer, LGBTQ+ vacationers are blending the comfort of familiar favorites with the thrill of discovering new destinations. Here’s my No. 1 tip when choosing your destination: check the ‘LGBTQ+ welcoming’ search filter on Expedia to find a hotel that has opted into our Inclusivity Pledge—ensuring a respectful and welcoming experience for all,” Melanie Fish, a spokesperson for Expedia, said in a release provided to Travel + Leisure. “My second tip is to ‘sandwich’ your summer travels: domestic stays are lower in June and the least busy time to fly is late August.”
These are the top LGBTQ+ beach destinations, according to the survey:
- Key West, Florida
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Provincetown, Massachusetts
- Phuket, Thailand
- Mykonos, Greece
- Brighton, U.K.
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Sitges, Spain
- Gran Canaria, Spain
- Ibiza, Spain
If you aren’t interested in towels, sunscreen, and salty hair, there are plenty of urban escapes that are trending this summer as well. These are the most popular summer city escapes for LGBTQ+ travelers:
- New York, New York
- Paris, France
- San Francisco, California
- Tokyo, Japan
- London, U.K.
- Barcelona, Spain
- Vancouver, Canada
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
Beyond destinations, LGBTQ+ respondents said they are real foodies: 41 percent of respondents said nice restaurants and bars top the list of top vacation activities, followed by shopping at 36 percent, and checking out LGBTQ+ nightlife at 31 percent.
Another major travel trend? Traveling for Pride events. At least 76 percent of LGBTQ+ Americans who plan on attending a Pride event plan to travel outside of their hometown for the celebrations.
“Here in the U.S, it’s no shock that LGBTQ+ powerhouses like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco topped the list—each city is rich in queer history, visibility, and non-stop celebration,” husbands and lifestyle influencers Taylor Phillips and Jeff O’Donnell said in the report. “Our best travel advice? Book the trip. Know what you want, plan well, and go. Life’s too short not to explore.”
