We looked at our upcoming trips to see which American holidays (dates) might coincide with a British holiday (vacation), and boy were there plenty.
While Brits and Americans both speak English, their use of language can be downright…different. Sometimes it’s subtle – a nuance. And other times it’s bloody vulgar. For instance, when it comes to travel, Americans might ‘rent’ a car, whereas Brits would ‘hire’ it. And while a popular American travel accessory is a ‘fanny pack,’ based on the blue-haired euphemism for buttocks, a Brit would blush: over yonder, it’s as bad as the c-word (slang for a woman’s front bum, if you will).
Ironically, the c-word is far more prevalent in the UK and Australia. And Brits – like the Aussies – love the c-word. It’s used as an insult, exclamation, term of endearment and even adjective (“I can’t be c*nted.”)
The language disparity even extends to our homosexual communities. American gays like men, whereas the Brits fancy chaps (and by chaps we mean men, not assless pants. And by pants, we mean trousers, not British underwear.)
All this talk about language differences may leave you so exhausted it warrants a holiday. But dammit. Are we talking a British holiday, what Americans call vacation? Or an American holiday, one of those glorious paid days off to commemorate something special?
Why not both?
We looked at our upcoming calendar to see which American, British, Canadian, and Australian holidays coincide with our trips! so read on, stick your passport in your fanny pack (that’s what he said), hire an Uber, and tally-ho! We’re off to the airport.
Save your PTO on these gay holidays that happen over a holiday.
New Year’s Day: January 1 (USA, England, Canada, Australia)
Reset your mind and calendar at the same time.
Cuba: New Year Fiesta
Why ring in the new year with the same old routine? Instead, consider a trip to Cuba where you’ll enjoy handmade cigars, classic cars, and boutique homestays that redefine “southern hospitality” on a tour that’s 100% legal for Americans.
Thailand: New Year Celebration
Or you can head for Thailand to explore bustling Bangkok, befriend elephants in Chiang Mai, and hit the party island of Phuket. This trip will fire up the FOMO with your favourite homos back home.
Presidents’ Day: Feb 17, 2025 & Feb 16, 2026 (USA)
Celebrating – for better or worse – all the American presidents.
New Zealand: Active South Island Expedition
This might be the time you decide to celebrate Presidents’ Day somewhere else. Why not join us in New Zealand, which has already been led by *cough* three female leaders. Our South Island Expedition kicks off in Christchurch and ventures through the Southern Alps. We’ll also explore Fjordland National Park before an overnight cruise in Milford Sound.
Easter: April 5, 2026 (USA, England, Canada, Australia)
Grab your Bunny ears and hop over to South Africa!
South Africa & Victoria Falls In Style
Bask in the misty embrace of Victoria Falls, go on safari at Sabi Sands Game Reserve, and meet a friendly herd of elephants on our ever-popular South African escapade. An unexpected highlight of this trip is our stay in a swanky private mansion nestled in the shadow of Cape Town’s Table Mountain.
Anzac Day, April 25 (Australia)
Dive into tacos, tequila, and Mesoamerican culture.
Mexico City: Aztec Aventure
Indulge in Mexico City’s tastiest cuisine, then mambo your way through La Zona Rosa – the city’s gay district. On top of that, visit a colossal pyramid at Teotihuacan before exploring adorable Puebla, where we’ll stay at a renowned boutique & wellness hotel with a spa fit for El Presidente!
Early May Bank Holiday, May 5, 2025 & May 4, 2026 (England)
Head south for a decadent time in the Douro Valley.
Portugal: Lisbon, Porto & The Douro Valley
As if Portugal’s wineries aren’t enough, we’ll discover the ornate Ducal Palace and Braga – the “birthplace of Portugal.” Enjoy skip-the-line passes at the Livraria Lello bookshop in Porto (the inspiration for the Hogwarts library in Harry Potter). Then visit coastal Nazaré, medieval Óbidos, lovely Lisbon, and Palacio da Pena, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sintra!
Memorial Day (USA) and Spring Bank Holiday (England): May 26, 2025 & May 25, 2026
Kick off summer with some Latin flair.
Colombia: Bogota to Medellín
We’re off to Colombia where you can revel in the flamboyant architecture of Bogotá, indulge in the laid-back Caribbean vibes of Cartagena, and take in epic views of Medellín from the top of Peñon Boulder.
King’s Birthday, June 9 (Australia)
Come for the pasta and vino, stay for the sexually suggestive statues (ahem, David).
Italy: Milan to Rome
From the time-worn streets of Milan and Florence, to picturesque Lake Como and the vineyards of Monferrato, our Italian trip will have you channeling Diane Lane in Under The Tuscan Sun. After we island-hop across the Borromean Islands we’ll finish up on Rome’s gayest street, Via di San Giovanni!
Independence Day: July 4 (USA)
Celebrate the biggest American holiday with our most popular cruise.
Croatia: Gay Dalmatia Cruise
Year after year, people keep coming back for our Croatian Coast yacht cruise. It sure beats spending the weekend cottaging…and you don’t have to clean and pack up after yourself (not to be confused with the British definition of cottaging, where you would also have to clean and pack up after yourself).
Labor Day: Sep 1, 2025 & Sep 7, 2026 (USA, Canada)
End summer on a high note!
Greece: Aegean Sea Gay Cruise (2025)
Celebrate America’s Labor Rights Movement exactly the way you were meant to: with a holiday! We’re off to the land that invented democracy, Greece, for our Aegean Sea Cruise through the Cyclades Islands. Stops include Santorini, Athens, and the gayest island on Earth: Mykonos. Remember to pack your toga!
Peru: Amazon Gay Cruise & Machu Picchu (2026)
Arranging your own jungle cruise takes a considerable amount of labor and planning, so we’ve made it easy! Step aboard our swanky river ship, The Zafiro, for a relaxing 5-day cruise along the life-giving waterways that feed into the heart of the Amazon. From there, cozy up to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, then board a train to the famous Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. This tour has it all!
Labour Day, Oct 6 (Australia)
This hike is as good for the body as it is for the soul.
Peru: The Inca Trail & Machu Picchu
Lace up your boots for one of the world’s most epic treks in Peru! We’ll follow 15th-century Incan pathways from the Sacred Valley to jaw-dropping Machu Picchu. Along the way we’ll also dive into the colorful culture of Lima and Cusco.
Canadian Thanksgiving: Oct 13, 2025 & Oct 12, 2026 (Canada)
Give thanks for the Autumn harvest where it’s technically Spring.
South Africa & Victoria Falls In Style
Why should Americans have all the fun? Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving a month before their American neighbours. But rather than pay homage to pilgrims and Plymouth Rock, Canucks celebrate the autumn harvest. But why do it while leaves and temperatures are dropping when you could spend a sunny spring escape in South Africa on the other side of the equator? This is the same trip we mentioned under Easter (it runs twice a year).
Veteran’s Day (USA) and Remembrance Day (Canada): Nov 11
Add some sunshine to a dreary month.
Egypt: Nile River Cruise & Cairo
This admittedly solemn holiday comes at a time of year when many could use a recharge. Get away from the long nights and dreary weather with an Egyptian Nile River Cruise. See the best of Cairo before we board our ship in Luxor. Then we’re off at a leisurely pace to explore temples dedicated to Egyptian gods and pharaohs.
Galápagos Gay Cruise
If you fancy – like the Brits – something a little more active, consider our cruise of the Galápagos Islands. Untouched by civilization for thousands of years, this archipelago offers a stunning display of biodiversity where you can snorkel your way through paradise on Earth.
Christmas and Boxing Day: Dec 25 & Dec 26 (USA, England, Canada, Australia)
Happy Gay Holidays To – And For – You!
Thailand: New Year Celebration
This double-header makes it even easier to justify a lengthy flight to Thailand. This is actually the same Thailand trip we mentioned off the top of the blog. But the fact you can take advantage of three stat holidays on this single tour is quite the stocking stuffer. You’re welcome 🙂
Ready to explore a faraway land with a fun LGBTQ+ group?
Contact us to book your trip, or even if you just have questions. We look forward to hearing from you, and happy gay holidays!
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