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OUT Adventures OUT Adventures Testimonials

Gay Travel Testimonials


Here at OUT Adventures we truly aim to provide an unforgettable experience that leaves each one of our guests' with at minimum an understanding of a new and exciting culture, new friends and stories that will last a lifetime. But don't take our word for it, read what just a few of our past travelers have to say:

OUT Adventures traveler profile: Phil, New York City, USA




Phil recently joined our marketing team, so what better time to ask him a few questions about his travel experience with OUT Adventures. Here's what he had to say...

OUT: "Welcome to the team Phil! It's been about a year and a half since you stumbled upon OUT Adventures, and about a year since you traveled with us for the first time. Judging by the fact that you are now a part of the team, we take it you enjoyed yourself? Can you tell everyone what destination you chose and why?"
PHIL: "I went to Cuba last year for Christmas and New Year's Eve. I had always wanted to go to Cuba to experience it before any major political changes."

OUT: "Great! What was your motivation when choosing OUT Adventures?"
PHIL: "I knew I wanted to see Havana but when I realized OUT Adventures actually goes to three other towns and that we would be traveling throughout the countryside, I was sold. I had never been on a tour before but knew it would take a great deal of time and energy to plan such an authentic vacation (especially to Cuba) on my own."

OUT: "Wow! This is exactly why we travel to Cuba. That, and the beaches and eye candy of course! Do any moments stand out more than others?"
PHIL: "Bringing in New Year's Eve in a small village in Cuba is definitely a memory I will always cherish. We had dinner under the stars in the backyard of a tobacco farmer's place on the outskirts of town. They spent the day roasting dinner for us and preparing a traditional, super authentic Cuban dinner. Then we went to the town square and danced the night away with the rest of the village."

OUT: "And we weren't the only gays in the village, were we? They all seemed to come out of the woodwork! If you could describe one or two things you took away from your trips, what would they be?"
PHIL:"Just like they say at Disney - it's a small world after all. Here we are in Cuba, which is less then 100 miles from Florida but is another world politically, culturally and in countless other ways yet when you are there the commonalities far outweigh the differences. I believe this especially rings true as a gay man when you encounter other gay men and realize we all face many of the same challenges and situations."

OUT:"What are the top 3 destinations on your travel wish list?"
PHIL:Buenos Aires, Istanbul and Iceland

OUT:Wheel bag or backpack?
PHIL:Definitely a wheel bag, I am way too lazy for a backpack

OUT Adventures traveler profile: Craig, London, UK




We asked Craig a few questions and here is what he had to say about travel and his OUT Adventures experience...

Where have you travelled with OUT Adventures?Peru (Active) and Cuba (Comfort)."

What was your motivation when booking with us?I was bored of the usual gay holidays, and was looking for a holiday that would offer me a bit more than the usual run of the mill trips; some adventure, a chance to see new places and to travel with a friendly and sympathetic group.
When I stumbled across the Out Adventures website I was amazed to see that they offered just that!

You've travelled with us a few times. Do any moments stand out more than others?It's a toss up between my big pink Birthday Cake (I celebrated a birthday while traveling in Cuba..I was moved by the personal touch and effort made for me.) or the wide open space and thrill of trekking the Lares trail with just our group, the sherpers and a stray dog who accompanied us for days!

If you could describe one or two things you took away from your trips, what would they be?Most importantly, friendships which have been formed and continue to grow.

What are the top 3 destinations on your travel wish list?Brazil, Hawaii, Nepal

Wheel bag or backpack?Depends on the holiday....I have both (I'm versatile!)

Love it! Thanks Craig!

OUT Adventures traveler profile: Lyndsey, Cairo, Egypt



We asked Lyndsey a few questions and here is what he had to say about travel and his OUT Adventures experience...

Where did you travel with us? - "Active Nepal"

What was your motivation when booking this adventure? - "As an Environment, Health & Safety professional I was looking for a company that offered adventure tours that were firstly FUN, but also a company that considered their environmental footprint too. I believe that I found those philosophies at Out-Adventures. A gay and lesbian travel company that truly cares about respecting cultural differences, sustainable eco-tourism, and above all customer service.

Nepal was a country that I have had on my “Bucket List” for over 20 years and so I was very keen at the possibilities of traveling from my current location in Cairo, Egypt, to the exotics of Nepal. As a single traveler I was especially excited at the possibility of visiting Nepal on an organized tour.

That said, I expressed my concerns to Rob that travelling with Out-Adventures would be my first GAY tour and that I was skeptical of what the experience might be like as a single traveler who is well into his 40’s. Rob assured and convinced me that because the Out-Adventure groups are smaller than other gay and lesbian travel companies that I would certainly enjoy their experience of responsible travel, value, local partners, and the incredible adventure of Nepal so I booked the Active Nepal tour."

What was one moment that stood out above the rest? - "That’s a tough one to answer because everyday had one of those moments…If I had to choose one…it would be the time spent in Bandipur. The journey to Bandipur involved riding in the back of a land rover pickup as it wound its way up the mountain switchbacks to one of the most spectacular vistas in Nepal. The town of Bandipur is situated high on a ridge with the spectacular snow covered Himalayas as a backdrop. The village is visually stunning with many buildings home to people who have lived there for centuries. Our hotel was called the “Old Bandipur Inn” and was...absolutely stunning, the service paramount, and the view of the snow capped Himalayas from the terrace is beyond description – WOW.

…On this particular overnight stay my roommate had asked to borrow my international power adapter to charge his mobile phone….He had plugged the adapter into the wall socket and had walked away when suddenly the adapter made this un-describable hissing noise, then a loud “pop” and suddenly the entire Hotel was in the dark and without power (lol). The charger had fried, and knocked out the entire power to the hotel and we suddenly found everyone wandering around the property by torch or by candlelight...When my roommate and I shared the reason why the power had gone out, the room came to life with laughter. We all laughed even louder when the power was restored during our dinning experience."

If you had to describe one thing you took away from this trip, what would it be?- "I would say the sense of personal growth, accomplishment and brotherhood – acceptance of individual differences will be the highlights of what I take away from this Out-Adventure Active tour.

The physical and mental strength required to climb a mountain, white water raft down the Trisuili River for two days, and to witness the public cremation of human remains will change who you are – this type of vacation will take you to an entirely different level of perception of everyday living – where ever that may be...

Not-to-mention living in the “back pocket” of a roommate and eleven strangers who become your strength and support over the entire 14 –day adventure. This active tour is truly an amazing experience of travel too, trekking through, and then the return home with such incredible memories and pictures of the adventures in Nepal."

Where are you planning to travel next?- "Since the Nepal trip in October, I just returned from an adventure in South Africa. The trip involved the thrill of an African Safari and game drive.

In 2011, I hope to travel to Peru in South America, or perhaps central and northern Africa.
I also look forward to another Out-Adventure tour and the wonderful friendships that are made on these trips."


OUT Adventures traveler profile: Mark, DC, USA



We asked Mark a few questions and here is what he had to say about travel and his OUT Adventures experience...

When and where did you travel with us? - "I took the active trip to Peru in May of 2009."

Why did you decide to book with a gay operator vs. a mainstream operator? - "I specifically wanted an active trip to Peru that included travel to Machu Picchu and I was looking for an operator that offered the best trip. Out Adventures offered everything that I was looking for with the added bonus that I would be traveling with a small group of men who were gay. It was an easy choice."

Have you been on group trips before or do you typically travel solo? - "I have usually traveled with someone, but circumstance and my own interests helped me make the choice to take this trip solo."

You traveled with OUT Adventures to Peru - do you feel it was a good choice to travel with a group? - "I experienced Peru in a way that would not have been possible were I traveling alone. Our guides, the itinerary, and the group of people that I was traveling with created unique opportunities to interact with the people and country we were visiting. Even guinea pig tastes better when shared with fellow travelers."

What were the highlights of your trip? - "There were so many things from start to finish. Machu Picchu is beyond words; truly a wonder of the world. Camping and hiking the Lares Trek provided personal and group experiences that I will never forget. Oh, and the gay Latin dance club in Lima! Can’t forget that!"

What were the low points of your trip? - "Funny, the things that would seem to probably be the low points – transportation strike, fogged in at the airport, etc. – turned out to provide some of the more interesting moments of the trip."

Would you travel with a gay group again and why? - "Yes, if only to hear the after dinner stories from everyone I was with!"

Were you intimidated as a solo traveler booking on a group trip? - "Any trepidation that I did have as a solo traveler was taken care of because it was a gay trip. I already knew I had at least one thing in common with my traveling companions."







Comfort Vietnam

John & David
Chicago, IL

"We had such a phenomenal time. Vietnam is an amazing country, and this trip is the perfect introduction. This was our first trip to Asia, and we really got a great feel for the culture, history and people. This trip is an excellent mix - fascinating cities with time to chill on the beach and stunning Ha Long Bay. Vietnam is very gay-friendly, and we felt completely comfortable. I highly, highly recommend it. You'll fall in love with the country!"



Comfort Vietnam

Steve
Washington, DC

"Outstanding adventure. Well-organized and well-paced for little more than a two week trip. The guide helped our group easily navigate the country--no one in this group spoke the language. I would recommend OUT and plan to travel with them again soon."



Comfort Thailand

Nick
Toronto, Canada

"Great trip! A good balance of culture and fun..."



Active Peru
& Inca Trail

Joe
San Francisco, USA

"The combination of unspoiled natural scenery, physical challenge, and insight into an incredible way of life so different from my own made this trip one of the most enriching experiences of my life."



Comfort Thailand

John
Toronto, Canada

"I have been on several group led trips before, but never had as much fun as I did with this trip to Thailand."



Active Peru
& Inca Trail

Mark
Washington, USA

"Experiencing a great vacation can be hard, particularly if you're single. So many things can go wrong - or at least not right. With Out Adventures, it seems they cut the variables down. I had a great time with an amazing group of guys that happened to be gay. Peru was an incredible place to visit and the place, combined with my travel companions, allowed for a very fulfilling trip on a social and personal level. The planning and pace of the trip made my time in Peru feel comfortable and easy. I would recommend Out Adventures and the Peru trip to anyone."



Active Peru
& Inca Trail

Ed & Caleb
Beverly, MA, USA

"The trip really exceeded our expectations -- Cynthia was fantastic, Peru was beautiful, and the experience was once in a lifetime!"



Active Peru
& Inca Trail

Don
New York, USA

"One of the best vacations I've ever had. Active is the only way to go. Some people like to "do nothing" on their vacations. I'd much rather do something on my vacation. In fact that would be the perfect tag line. OUT Adventures - Do Something!"