Since the Civil Partnership Bill for gays and lesbians becomes law on in UK many gay couples have decided to take the step and legalise their relationship. And we are not talking about celebrities but about the normal gay couples.
Out Now Consulting, the marketing agency with a team of specialised marketers with high levels of expertise in understanding gay and lesbian customers revealed that "a total of 274,000 couples in the UK are expected to quickly get hitched which means that gay honeymoons are going to be booming."
In spite of this new finding a report released at World Travel Market, the annual business to business exhibition that provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade industry to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business, suggests that the travel trade is not taking the sector seriously. World Travel Market Special Report advises that the travel industry is failing to take the potential of gay honeymoons - despite more than 250,000 couples expected to get married.
Ian Johnson the director of Out Now Consulting stated that in spite that "there are nearly three million lesbians and gays in the UK and more than half of them are in committed relationships, the travel industry has to do much more if it is to capitalise on the new development with new products, new targeted marketing campaigns and more training for their staff."
The research made on 1,000 readers of Diva and Gay Times shows that the average age of respondents was between 25-44 and the average income of £28,481 with almost twenty per cent of them earning more than £40,000.
The description for the perfect gay honeymoon is romantic. The Romantic atmosphere implies all places where you can hold hands, coo at each other, and generally act like Doris Day and Rock Hudson. The romantic accommodation doesn't have to be a sumptuous suite (but it wouldn't hurt), but it does have to be comfortable, airy, stylish and excitingly different from your usual bedroom. Romantic dining could mean a candlelight dinner at a table for two, a dining room with a view, or a really good room service menu.
The most common locations for gay honeymoons are beach locations. Hawaii is a honeymoon paradise, and a gay paradise, as it came very close to allowing same-sex marriage licenses. Hawaii has many gay-specific accommodations of the small bed & breakfast variety and it also has many deluxe mainstream resorts, and mixing a stay of the two varieties offers you the best of all worlds. Not every couple is looking for a beach holiday, and while some cities are hard pressed to provide the kind of romance that a perfect gay honeymoon requires many offer a perfect mix of gourmet food, cool bars and plenty of sights, art and culture during the day such as Florence, Rome & Venice in Italy, Barcelona in Spain and Monte Carlo in Monaco.
Plenty of Indian Ocean destinations offer picture perfect beaches, turquoise oceans and ooze charm and romance. Whilst couples that have got married after a very long engagement may look to Morocco, South Africa, or closer to home Italy, Spain and Greece since they offer lots of diversions and activities, and the ideal setting to rekindle romance.
Remember to check out Luxury Hotels
Caravans Getting More Popular
After caravans made history centuries ago, became associated with the hippy lifestyle. Nowadays the caravan is having a surprising recovery.
Knights used the caravans in Crusades and the people who afforded to have one used it as tool for moving around. The conquest of Wild West is probably the one who made the caravans famous. What would it have been like to cross the Rocky Mountains without the covered wagons? The alternative was a cold draughty ride on a horse or tramping along in the mud. Only a hundred years ago you could see brightly painted horse-pulled Romany caravans on our roads.
But what about now, when you have roads and maps and so many means of getting where you want? What would be now the role of caravans? You can find the answer in the need of freedom people are still having.
In the last century motor-car ownership took off but the same thing happened to caravans and soon drivers found themselves queuing behind lines of caravans on the way to the coast. For decades the typical image of motor-caravanners was probably that of a hippy family in an old VW. Nowadays the image of caravans is so much improved and in many cases caravan became a luxury home-from-home with a price to match.
By the time more and more people that had money to spend became interested in having their own home from home that could give them the freedom to travel all over the place in good condition, the static caravan took off. These uncool and static caravans located by the sea or by the wild forests are now history.
Lately caravanning became one of the country's most popular holidays. Celebrities enjoy this way of traveling or more accurate this way of living. Actresses like Helen Mirren and Tracy Shaw, singers like Mark Owen, Chris Evans and even Sir Jimmy Saville are owners and satisfied users of caravans. And now we can talk about fancy, luxury and styled caravans.
The classic old hand built caravans, such as the Stirling and the Carlight, used to be expensive - the top of the market. Back in the fifties, these caravans were bought and run by owners of the Armstrong Siddeley, Lagonda and Rover cars. The owners thought nothing about embarking on overseas trips with them of thousands of miles.
Visit Owners Exclusive at http://www.ownersexclusive.com for Caravan holiday home ownership at holiday parks throughout Britain
All Inclusive Holidays: Kenya
All Inclusive Holidays: Kenya
What a vast variety of opportunities exist within this sensational country! The beaches are sandy, with coral reefs that you can walk on at low tide. Almost every type of watersport is available. The inland bush and scrub give way to wondrous views of the Great Rift Valley and snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The wildlife is breathtaking with an array of lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, giraffes and elephants which all share the plains with wildebeests and zebras. As if that wasn't enough, add to this the good food and excellent shopping and you'll find Kenya is a perfect holiday destination
Where to Go
There are so many different things to see in Kenya, and so many different places to visit. Below are a small selection of what is available to see:
Hotels and Resorts
Kokonut Cottages
Simply furnished with just eight cottages & suites (for adult guests only), this hotel offers you personal attention with your own personal chef along with an unspoilt and undiscovered beach
Papillon Lagoon Reef by rex resorts
The Papillon Lagoon Reef is located on the stunning white sands of Diani Beach. The resort is enclosed in lush, colourful gardens
Pinewood Village
A small boutique hotel on the shores of Galu Beach south of Mombasa, set in a lush forest landscape affording splendid views of the beach and Indian Ocean
Turtle Bay Beach Club
Located north of Mombasa on the beach at Watamu, Kenyas first all inclusive hotel has prooved year after year to be a favourite place to stay - especially for families
The Cove
Pamper yourselves with an experience that will stay with you forever. With just 6 private Tree Houses and 12 villas split into 2 bedroom Executive rooms and Suites (opens 1Jun) in the substantial 19 acre forested cove along Kindo beach relaxation and privacy are ensured
The Sands
Nestled in 25 acres of indigenous coastal forest overlooking the legendary Diani Beach, The Sands is the first 'Boutique' hotel on the renowned Kenyan coast
Leopard Beach
Situated on palm-fringed coral cliffs overlooking the endless blue horizons and white sands of the famous Diani Beach, Leopard Beach Hotel is the essence of Swahili style combined with world-class luxury
Whitesands
With 5 freeform pools and 22 acres of lush gardens bordering the beautiful Indian Ocean, this first class hotel offers the ideal place to enjoy the delights of East Africa
Safaris and Tours
Ngutuni Safari Lodge
An authentic safari experience combining game viewing and warm hospitality in the African Bush - ideal for one or two nights from the Mombasa Coast
Kenya Explorer
Travel partly by road and then air to the Mara to explore the wildlife of Kenya seeing the flamingo's at Nukuru and big game in the Mara staying at a combination of lodges and camps
Best of Kenya
Take in the diversity of three game parks (Maasai Mara, Samburu, Amboseli) in this exciting 6 night / 7day safari staying at luxurious camps and visiting conservation areas flying in between maximising your game viewing time
Big Cat Safari
An exciting 6 night / 7day safari driving between the parks and staying at small luxurious camps. See the Maasai Mara, Malewa and Amboseli and conservation areas in 4 wheel drive game vehicles
The Sable Sanctuary Tree Houses
Spend one or two nights All Inclusive in this Sanctuary bordering the Shimba Hills nature Reserve at the Sable Valley Treehouse in just one of 2 Treehouses with a personal butler and Jacuzzi
Elsas Kopje, Meru National Park
Travel by air to Elsa's Kopje Lodge, a luxurious oasis in Meru National Park. Unwind in one of 8 stone and thatched cottages with spectacular views over the wilderness.
What to Take
Climate and temperatures can vary drastically in Kenya. Depending on the area visited and the activities planned for the trip a visitor must be prepared for hot and cold, wet and dusty conditions. Unlike a trip to the tropics where a beach towel and swim suit are pretty much the only essentials packing for a visit to Kenya requires a bit more forethought and preparation.
If most of the travel within Kenya is to be done using the public transport system then a backpack is a definite essential. Bags with lockable zips and handles are a sensible precaution.
Any large amount of travel is going to require that luggage be sturdy and durable, able to withstand a lot of handling. At the same time hard suitcases can cause space problems particularly on smaller aircraft so it is a good idea to check in advance with any chartered airlines or safari tour operators before departure that this will be expectable.
Clothing should be lightweight, casual and comfortable. Some areas consider it inappropriate for women (and occasionally men) to wear shorts / short sleeved shirts. Check before travel to ensure this will not be a problem.
Brightly coloured, white and patterned clothing should be avoided for game and walking safaris. Instead neutral colours should be worn.
Any planned walking trip should include good foot ware, and serious trekkers or climbers need to bring a good pair of hiking boots. For long hikes or camping trips a first aid kit is a good idea. A flashlight and a Swiss army knife are also suggested accessories.
The sun is very strong and will cause burns very quickly. It is recommended that a wide brimmed hat (not just a baseball cap) is worn to offer as much shelter as possible. Sunglasses and sunscreen are also recommended (SPF15 or higher). Insect repellent is also a good idea.
Formal wear may be necessary for some of the more up-market lodges and nights out in Nairobi.
Any electrical equipment that needs mains voltage to operate, including phone or camera charges will need a converter plug to work. The mains electrical supply is 220 Volt, 50 Hz with a square pin 13-amp plug.
For safaris a good pair of binoculars are essential.
Equipment is available for high for climbers and divers, however visitors may wish to bring their own equipment with them. Dive Certification Cards and log documents may be required at some locations so it's best to bring them on the trip.
Credit Cards, Travellers Cheques, and Passports etc must all be kept securely. Photocopies of passports should be kept separate but should still be secure.
Any medication or prescription drugs should be brought, and the common name for the drug should also be taken in case a local replacement is necessary.
More Kenya holiday and travel information can be found at http://www.tropicalsky.co.uk/Kenya_luxury_holidays.htm
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