A new (Gay) twist on The Traditional Grand Tour

The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper class European young men of sufficient means and rank (or those of more humble origin who could find a sponsor), as well as young women if they were also of sufficient means, and accompanied by a chaperon, such as other family members, when they had come of age (about the age of 21 years old). The custom flourished from about 1660, until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage. Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of other Protestant Northern European nations, and from the second half of the 18th century, by some South and North Americans. The tradition declined with the lapse of neo-classical enthusiasm and after rail and steamship travel made the journeys much easier when Thomas Cook made the “Cook’s Tour” of early mass tourism a byword.

A new (Gay) twist on The Traditional Grand Tour

Now-a-days, this traditional “Grand Tour” of Europe is available to all of us mere mortals.You don’t have to son/daughter of a Lord or Baron. Back in the day, the tour would usually start by crossing English channel and landing in France’s northern coast. Due to many available modes of travel we aren’t limited anymore. So I decided to take the approach of mapping out the tour and depending on your point of departure you can enter the loop.

The Gay Twist

What destinations made it on this modern “Gay Grand tour” were how the destinations rated on our Gay scale. How Gay friendly they are? This also includes venues, safety and “party ability”.( Fun is always top of the list).

Please, always remember to keep your Gay street smarts about you when traveling. So hop on the loop at any point and get off and any point in this suggested loop. Also you might not have the luxury of time like the original l”Grand Tour” takers did. Again, luckily times have changed and travel has been democratized. Never before has travel been more available to us. Due to advances in travel have changed and made it affordable to more people than ever. So you have choices to use air, rail or sea. Plan according to time and personal finance. Overall ENJOY discovering. learning and having fun! Now why wait to take the “Grand Tour” with the Gay twist! Book it now.