YOUR GUIDE TO OUR LGBTQ FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS Share your stories: #flywithpride WE RE PROUD TO SUPPORT PRIDE
02 INTRODUCTION YOUR PERFECT HOLIDAY Planning a holiday is an exciting time for us all and whether you re heading off on your first adventure together or you ve been discovering new places for years, we ve got something you ll both love. Being in the travel business for over 175 years, we know a thing or two about creating amazing holidays for all of our customers. As the travel experts, we re able to recommend the very best LGBTQ-friendly destinations around the world and no matter what your holiday passions are, we ll find something that matches your taste and your budget. On the next few pages you can read more about our LGBTQ-friendly holidays, as well as discovering the best places to get married abroad (if you re ready to say I do ). Whether you re going away as a group, with your partner or flying solo, we re here to help you find your perfect holiday. WHY CHOOSE US? Help and advice from our LGBTQ Holiday Experts, either instore or over the phone Flights from a wide range of regional airports, including those with our own award-winning Thomas Cook Airlines Spread the cost interest-free with monthly Direct Debit payments* With over 175 years experience, we re the travel experts you can trust Complete peace of mind, our holidays are ATOL protected Our 24-Hour Hotel Satisfaction promise on selected hotels** BOOK NOW INSTORE 01 733 224 577 THOMASCOOK.COM
FABULOUS HOLIDAYS CLOSER TO HOME You can reach some of our most popular LGBTQ-friendly destinations in just a few hours from the UK. GLAMOROUS MYKONOS This Greek Island has had a long tradition of entertaining LGBTQ holidaymakers, and today it s home to a whole host of gay clubs, bars and restaurants with more opening all the time. Spend your days relaxing on the beautiful beaches or wandering among the Cycladic architecture, and your evenings enjoying the sunset in a beachfront bar before hitting a club to dance the night away. LIVELY IBIZA Ibiza is well-known as being a party hotspot in the Med, but did you know it s considered one of the top European gay hotspots? Ibiza Town is the centre of activity, with lots of bars, clubs and restaurants. During the summer months, event nights are held weekly in the biggest clubs, attracting thousands of gay clubbers looking to party the night away. SUN-KISSED GRAN CANARIA Gran Canaria, one of Spain s Canary Islands, is one of our most popular destinations. Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles, in the south of the island, are where you ll find the best nightlife, and The Yumbo Centre is the place to go for a lively night out. Of course, if partying into the early hours isn t your thing, there are lots of things to see and do during the day too! From jeep safaris and dolphin-spotting cruises to water sports and sunbathing, there s plenty to keep you as busy as you like! LIVE THE HIGH LIFE IN MALTA A popular destination for LGBTQ travellers, the people that call Malta their home offer a warm welcome to anyone visiting its beautiful shores. 7,000 years of history, clear blue seas and sandy beaches are three big draws. Time your visit with the Malta Pride Festival for a holiday to remember; it usually takes place around June each year. Share your stories: #flywithpride CLOSE TO HOME 03
04 WEDDINGS IT S ALL ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU Whether you re a guy that loves a guy or a girl that loves a girl, having your perfect wedding day is important for any couple wanting to take the next step in their relationship. A same-sex ceremony doesn t have to be your average run-of-themill wedding though; it s the perfect opportunity to show off your creativity and have the day you both want. Being the wedding experts, we re in the know of the best places to say I do and we have some incredible destinations for your big day; it s never been easier when you leave all of the finer details to us. If you love the hustle and bustle of a big city, how does a ceremony in the Big Apple s iconic Central Park sound? Las Vegas is big, bold and brash, and there s no better place for fun-loving couples; the Little White Wedding Chapel has been the setting for nuptials over the years including those of Joan Collins, Frank Sinatra and Britney Spears. If you have something more relaxed in mind, you could choose the palm-fringed coastlines of Mexico. As well as all those lovely beaches, you ll also experience the friendly, warm culture that this country is famed for. One of our most popular wedding destinations, Florida has the perfect blend of excitement and relaxation. If you want to have your cake and eat it, have a lakeside ceremony in Cypress Grove, then head back to your hotel in Orlando to experience the fun of the theme parks and bustle of International Drive. If you d like to stay a little closer to home, the Mediterranean Island of Malta is just a three-hour flight from the UK. If a laid-back ceremony is top of your wishlist, the db Seabank Resort and Spa makes the perfect setting. Overlooking the beautiful white sands of Mellieha Bay, you ll be able to make the most of the incredible coastal views during your ceremony. SAME-SEX WEDDINGS 01733 224 825 CALL TODAY
ESCAPE TO SOMEWHERE MORE EXOTIC If you dream of paradise shores and a tropical climate, our range of far & away destinations tick all the right boxes. FALL IN LOVE WITH SAN FRANCISCO If you love exploring new cities, San Francisco should be at the top of your list. Known as the gay capital of the USA and home to its very own gaybourhood : the Castro, there are lots of different cultural experiences to be had here. Museums, art galleries, shows, farmers markets, even the infamous Alcatraz, you can see why millions of people choose the City by the Bay for their holiday each year. LUXURIOUS MEXICO Mexico, more specifically the resort of Cancún, has everything you need for a luxurious stay in the Caribbean. Pure white sandy beaches, luxurious hotels and some great shopping and nightlife. Make sure you pay a visit to Coco Bongo; one of Cancún s most popular night spots. More a show than just a bar, the entertainment goes on until gone 3am! A BITE OF THE BIG APPLE While we re in the USA, we can t forget New York. This forwardthinking city is never short of LGBTQ events which happen throughout the year. The West Village is a hotspot for revellers, home to many gay bars, clubs and drag clubs, or spend some time in Hell s Kitchen, considered to be the heart of gay-friendly NYC. PARADISE IN THAILAND For something even more exotic, it has to be Thailand. Phuket, the largest island in the country, is paradise on earth, with sugar-sand beaches fringed with tropical jungles and turquoise seas. From here you can access the breathtaking Phang Nga Bay, where sheer limestone formations rise out of the water like huge columns. Of course, no visit to Thailand would be complete without experiencing the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, considered the gay capital of the world. This relaxed city is a melting pot of sights, sounds and aromas, and has an infamous party scene too. Share your stories: #flywithpride FA R & AWAY 05
06 THOMAS COOK AIRLINES OUR AWARD -WINNING AIRLINE When you fly with our own award-winning airline, you ll be getting your holiday off to the best start possible. At Thomas Cook Airlines, we aim to put the fun and comfort back into flying and we re always looking for ways to make your experience with us even better. Whether you re flying to somewhere just a couple of hours away or to a faraway destination, you ll likely be travelling on board one of our new or recently refurbished aircraft. Following the biggest investment programme in Thomas Cook Airlines history, we now have 16 brand new aircraft and a further 12 which have been completely refurbished to make your journey as comfortable as it can be. It s not just our aircraft we re proud of, though. We work with Celebrity Chef James Martin to create a menu of mouth-watering meals for you to enjoy whilst you re on board. Plus, the crew who will be looking after you during your flight are, we believe, the very best in the business. So, you can just sit back, relax and leave everything to us. COME FLY WITH US Choose from seven destinations in the USA including our newest route: San Francisco Our huge range of shorter flights include Ibiza, Malta, Mykonos and the Canary Islands BOOK NOW INSTORE 01 733 224 577 THOMASCOOK.COM THOMAS COOK AIRLINES ARE THE PROUD SPONSORS OF MANCHESTER PRIDE 2017
THE HOTTEST EVENTS Looking to head to one of the world s best LGBTQ events this year, or sometime in the future? Festivals are a great thing to experience together with a group of friends, and combining them with a week or two in the sun is the perfect mix! Here s our pick of the best LGBTQ festivals around the world. GAY PRIDE GRAN CANARIA In May and November every year, 100,000 partygoers head to the Canary Island of Gran Canaria for the twice-annual Gay Pride Festival. The streets of Maspalomas come alive with a variety of parades and shows, and there are plenty of activities to take part in, from pool parties to boat excursions. Of course, you ll need somewhere to rest your head at the end of a day of celebrations, and we have a wide selection of adult-only hotels on the island, from budget-friendly to 5-star luxury. WORLDPRIDE MADRID Kicking things off with a huge opening ceremony, throughout the week there are lots of things going on including the International Human Rights Conference and Pride Park exhibition. One of the highlights is the Pride Parade, where more than 3 million people come together to parade through the streets of Madrid in an incredible display of unity. If you couldn t make WorldPride this year, the next festival is being held in New York in 2019. XLSIOR FESTIVAL MYKONOS The largest gay dance festival in the world, Xlsior takes place every year, usually during August. This festival s been going for eight years now, and each year it becomes bigger and better than the last. With open-air venues, breathtaking views, hot crowds and of course, incredible music, this is one festival not to be missed. WORLD OUT GAMES MIAMI This 10-day sporting event which began in 2006, brings together the crème de la crème of sportsmen, sportswomen and artists, who compete in 450 events across three areas: sport, culture and human rights. This year s games were held in the sun-kissed city of Miami, but if you missed them you can catch them in Paris in 2018. WorldPride is the biggest event in the LGBTQ calendar. In 2017, Madrid is the host city, and they re really going all out with the celebrations. Share your stories: #flywithpride EVENTS 07
OUR THREE PROMISES TO YOU When you choose us, we ll do everything we can to make sure you have the best possible holiday. Here are our three promises to you: We re here to help you all the way through your holiday, from planning to returning home We only offer holidays we re proud to put our name to We ve got everything covered, so rely on us and just enjoy your holiday QUALITY SERVICE RELIABILITY We are passionate travel experts and have been creating great holiday memories since 1841. We ll be there whenever you need us. Our teams are available around the world, 247. We care. You can trust us to always be open and honest with you. We share customer reviews before you book to help you choose the perfect trip for you. We are here to make you happy and we promise to put you at the heart of everything we do. We listen and act on your feedback. Our teams and the partners we work with are always looking to improve to make your next holiday even better. Your holiday means the world to us. We d love to welcome you again and are committed to sending you home with great memories of your holiday. We always give you all the information you need to make your time away stress-free. Your money s safe when booking with us. We re ATOL protected for peace of mind. Terms & Conditions: *Payment by monthly Direct Debit instalments is available for selected package holiday bookings made 22 weeks or more before departure. A deposit payment by cardcash will be required at time of booking. A 2% charge applies to payments by creditcharge card (limited to 95 per transaction). Further terms & conditions apply - please ask for full details or see thomascook.com. Thomas Cook and The co-operative travel, ABTA L8164, act as booking agent and do not provide payment services under the Payment Services Regulations 2009. By setting up direct debit payments, you ll be receiving a payment service from your bank. Payments are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee. **Thomas Cook 24-Hour Satisfaction Promise: applies only to selected package holidays operated by Thomas Cook Tour Operations Ltd (ATOL 1179, ABTA V6896). If your hotel accommodation doesn t match our description in our brochureon our website, inform our Representative service within 24 hours of arriving. In the unlikely event we can t resolve the issue or offer alternative accommodation of the same standard within 24 hours of you contacting us, you can either stay at your booked hotel and receive a voucher for 25% of your holiday cost (to spend on a new holiday with us) or fly home early and receive a full refund. Please see our brochureswebsite for full terms and conditions and the hotels to which this Promise applies. BOOK NOW INSTORE 01 733 224 577 THOMASCOOK.COM