Top 5 Vacation Locations for the Solo Stud

Look bois and gurls and boys and girls. It’s hard out here being a stud. As if being black, female, and gay wasn’t enough, I had to go and throw a good dose of gender-non-conformity on top of it. I’m a professional though, I work hard on complex projects and I like to travel.

I’ll be honest, unless its somewhere that has super publicized homophobia (Russia, the UAE, Uganda) I don’t really do a lot of research on safe places for homos. So here is my list of Top 5 Vacation Locations for Studs, based solely on my experience. Of course this is all lesbian inclusive, but shout out to my stud brothers who want to travel!

1. Rome, Italy

In 2014 I went to Birmingham, England for a conference at a motorcycle museum (a work thing, i’d never go there on purpose). It was super lame, but since my job was paying for a flight to London and a flight home, I decided to go to Rome. I had always dreamt of going to Rome!

The atmosphere is amazing, the streets are walkable, and I always felt pretty safe. I stayed at a hotel that was off the beaten path and had no issues asking locals for directions to the subway.

Things I saw:

• Trevi Fountain (go see it)
• Colosseum (go see it, don’t waste your money going inside, its boring af)
• The Vatican (GO INSIDE ITS BEAUTIFUL)
  • Took a walking tour the second time I went to Rome, definitely worth it booked with Dark Rome
• All of the sights via the Hop on Hop off bus tour
• Pizza, traditional margherita pizza (lots of it)

2. Sydney, Australia

Again, here for a 1 day conference for work. There was no way I was flying 18 hours and not staying a few days. My coworker actually had family in Sydney so she stayed with them and I went off to explore. I always felt safe here, spent a lot of time walking around by myself.

Things I saw:

• The Opera house, of course( I’m not in to Opera, i didn’t go in)
• Manlay beach (its kind of like that pier thing in San Francisco (or any beach town) but with surfers you can watch, much better food, and giant bats at night (ew)
• Random things via the Hop-on-hop-off bus tour (I’m a huge fan of these)
• An aboriginal art show (just on the pier near the opera house)

I only stayed for two days, but i’d go back to go to their zoo, like for realz.

3. Bangkok, Thailand

This one was really a culture shock for me. My first time in a country that is still considered developing. I very much enjoyed the cultural experience, and I was by myself here for 5 days. I will say this wasn’t much of a sight-seeing trip. I just wanted to experience it. I spent a lot of time just walking around or cruising the streets in the tuk-tuks. People frequently thought I was a man and respected me differently. I always felt safe

Things I saw

• Third world living conditions via my bus tour (not being funny here, it was heartbreaking)
• Giant gold Buddha’s (they’re every where)
• Chatuchak Weekend Market – was super cool, got some bomb food
• MBK Center- Its just a mall move on with your life
• Sushi at McDonald’s
• Red Light district (no i didn’t go to the ping pong show, i should have though)

4. New York City, USA

You can decide whether being an American and going to New York is a vacation but it was for me the first time I went in 2014. There is no shortage of things to do! I also spent a lot of time wandering around in different parts of the city.

Things I saw:

• 9/11 memorial (the energy there is almost overwhelming)
• Ellis Island & The statue of liberty (book these tickets before you even book your flight, the wait list can be months long)
• Times Square/NBC Studios
• Bomb ass street food
• Tons of other NYC shit

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

This kind of happened on accident. I was here for a conference (yes lots of conferences). And It was snowing in Chicago so I ended up stuck in Vegas for two extra days! I didn’t expect to, but I had a blast in Vegas by myself! 

Things I saw:

• Old Vegas/Freemont St– I actually spent most of my time here because the drinking and gambling are so cheap.
• The Strip- Of course
• The MGM Grand (my hotel, very nice rooms)
• People jumping from the stratosphere (bungee)
• Giant alcoholic slushies
• Men who like to hit on masculine lesbians

 

Thats a wrap kids! I am usually taken for male in a lot of the places I visit, it comes with some perks. So fellow stud muffins, try not to be offended when someone calls you sir, just bask in your moments of male privilege!