The Little Black Book of Gay Travel - Damron's Men's Travel Guide
Written: Jul 13 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: One of the most comprehensive guides for gay men
Cons: none really (I guess a heterosexual wouldn't have much use for it)
The Bottom Line: An indispensable guide for any gay man, Damron’s Men’s Travel Guide is a must-have for anyone traveling who wants to gay life wherever you go
|
|
|
| jps246's Full Review: Damron Men's Travel Guide Books |
Billed by the New York Times as the little black book of gay travel, Damrons Mens Travel Guide is one of the most comprehensive guides for gay men traveling throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and western Europe (though the European section generally focuses on only one city in each country, instead of the extensive coverage provided for the United States and Canada).
Layout
Broken down by State (or Province) and then by city, the Mens Travel Guide provides basic information on services, dining, and attractions that are of interest to gay men.
Each entry is coded and the codes are described in the very beginning of the book. The codes are quite extensive (everything from gay-owned and operated to neighborhood bar) and youll find yourself flipping back and forth from the guides entry to the code page to understand them all at first.
Each city entry includes information on:
Info Lines & Services
Youll find information on services provided by a citys gay center, social and/or support groups, state tourism information and other services that arent covered in the other portions of the city guide.
Accommodations
Looking to stay in a certain city and want a gay friendly stay? This is where youll find out the basics for these hotels, bed and breakfasts and more. By looking at the codes youll find what kind of clientele that the accommodation caters to, whether its gay-owned and operated, whether its popular and many other basic facts about the property. Youll also find contact information generally a phone number, address and a web address if it is available.
Bars & Nightclubs
Want to spend a night out in a strange city, with the Mens Travel Guide that prospect isnt so overwhelming. Each citys Bars & Nightclubs section includes information on the clubs popularity, its clientele, cover charges, climate and more. No matter if you want to sing karaoke or if are looking for the young collegiate types, then youll find it all right here.
Restaurants
Know where the hippest gay and gay-friendly restaurants are right here. From the food served, to the type of crowd that frequents the restaurant, youll find out everything you need to know before you start looking to eat.
Cafes
If youre looking more for a cup of a coffee than a meal, check out the Mens Travel Guide section on cafes in each city section.
Entertainment & Recreation
Not an extensive guide to everything there is to do in each city, but more a guide to something slightly touristy or kitschy, but definitely unusual or commonly overlooked. You might just find a really cool place that you can tell all of your friends about.
Youll also find information on gay bookstores or retail stores, if there are any in your selected city.
Publications
Just about every city nowadays has its own gay publication for nightlife, news and more. If its available in the city, the Mens Travel Guide will give you the lowdown.
Gyms
I guess some of us cant work out in a mixed gym, so in this section youll find gyms that cater to the gay community. Youll also find information on other major gyms in the city, just in case you dont mind working out with a straight guy.
Mens Clubs
Weve all got guilty pleasures and youll find information on sex clubs, bathouses and sex orientated services here.
Mens Services
Youll generally find local telephone dating services in the various cities in this section.
Cruisy Areas
Probably the shadiest part of the Mens Travel Guide (but something that a portion of our community enjoys), this section talks about areas where men are likely to find other men. Just read the information and warnings before you try anything out. Remember George Michael in the bathroom?
Other Areas
Where applicable, the Mens Travel Guide also includes information on events that occur annually or more often if applicable.
Theres also a quick section on tour guide operators with descriptions of the various tours and their scheduled upcoming tours.
There are advertisements scattered throughout the Mens Travel Guide and there are also advertisements from some of the business listed in the guide. The major advertising is kept to the front of the back of the book, before the actual guide information, but the advertisements from business included in the guide is found within those city sections of the guide.
Experiences
Ive never really been one to need a guide to gay life, but my boyfriend had picked this one up for me and Ive got to say that it was an eye-opening experience for me. I of course flipped to local towns and cities that Ive been familiar with and almost right away I was like I didnt know that was there! or Ive never seen or heard of that!
The information contained in the Mens Travel Guide is extensive and it seems like if theres something gay out there, then Damron will have found it and included in the Mens Travel Guide. Seriously, down to the Inn at Maplewood Farm in Hillsboro, New Hampshire if its out there, you will find it in the this guidebook.
The timid amongst us will probably blush at some of the advertisements for some of the racier bars and the private clubs, but I found that the Mens Travel Guide has become an indispensable quick-reference guide to everything gay no matter where my boyfriend and I travel to.
I know that there have been trips where we never end up visiting a single place mentioned, but its a great start when youre considering traveling and want to know whats available to you. The Mens Travel Guide is also a great reference for people living in a big city youre never going to know every single place out there and the guidebook can help you discover a wonder that was just under your nose that you never noticed.
While updated and re-published yearly, even older copies of the Mens Travel Guide are useful reference guides. While businesses may come and go, even the older guides give you a good idea of what is around and you should always be calling ahead anyway and then youll find out if its still there. We get a new copy about every three years and Ive compared the newer ones to older ones and 90% of the information is the same only a few places have either been added or dropped in the newer guides.
At about $18, the Mens Travel Guide isnt cheap but like I said, a single edition should last you for a couple of years and it does provide one-of-a-kind information on gay life throughout the Americas and Europe. If youre looking to save a few bucks, you can usually find the prior years edition in the discount bin and it should serve you as well as the newest edition.
Final Thoughts
An indispensable book for any gay man, Damrons Mens Travel Guide is a must-have for anyone traveling who wants to gay life wherever you go. You might think you need a guide for that, but the Mens Travel Guide provides useful information in a easy-to-read and easily accessible format that once you get, youll wonder why you never had it before.
More Gay and Lesbian Related Reviews
Magazines, Newspapers and Books
Instinct Magazine / Genre Magazine / Out In The Mountains / The Advocate / Love Makes a Family / XY Magazine / Out Magazine / The Gay Guys Guide to Life / Gay Guy's Guide to Love / 501 Great Things About Being Gay / Metrosource / [2] Magazine / Unzipped Magazine / Men Magazine / Freshmen Magazine / Queer Astrology For Men / The Guide
Music & Movies
Work OUT / Lie Down With Dogs
Shopping and Services
Kleptomaniac / Out & Gay Web Hosting
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|