Travel Further with Pride
At Scott Dunn, our mission is to push the boundaries of luxury travel and create travel experiences that take you further. No matter who you are or how you identify, we want to help you Travel Further with Pride.
04 June 2024
In honour of pride month, we’ve reached out to the Scott Dunn community to ask them to share what it means to ‘travel with pride’. Here’s what they had to say…
Chris, Scott Dunn Travel Executive
“It’s about safety, it’s about comfort, but it’s also about welcoming events, friendly accommodation, and having fun with similar travellers. Personally, as a gay traveller, I want to know and understand the world I’m in, so I seek out local LGBT organisations, places, events, and meet-ups.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
Gran Canaria
Where would you like to go next?
Emma, Scott Dunn Guest
“It’s travelling and not being treated differently to any other families or guests (often asked if we are ok with one bed for example) and that kids clubs are aware of different family make ups (not just Mummy and Daddy).”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
“Probably city breaks and in countries where the LGBT laws are more progressive.”
Where would you like to go next?
Max, Expedition Cruise Partner
“It means freedom, acceptance and being able to enjoy life.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
Where would you like to go next?
Italy
Corey, Scott Dunn Travel Specialist
“To Travel with Pride means being able to openly and safely communicate with others about their sexuality, as well as my own. I think it's so important to be able to have a frank discussion about this, and especially with people from a different country, as this is how healthy conversation and debate starts, which ultimately leads to change!”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
Mexico, Italy, California, England
Where would you like to go next?
Silvio, Italian Hotel Partner
“It means being able to travel confident that the places we visit and the properties where we stay are truly inclusive.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
Where would you like to go next?
Alexandra, Scott Dunn Marketing Team
“For me Travelling with Pride is about feeling safe to travel with my wife and daughter, not just to a resort but to experience the sights and communities in a destination without feeling threatened or the object of scrutiny. It is about having the same freedoms and opportunities for experience that heterosexual families have.
It is also very important to my wife and I that we do not need to hide our relationship and without making a fuss can be seen as ‘role models’ to young people in that destination who may be struggling to work out who they are and what they want from their lives. In 2021 we stayed in several resorts around Crete and my wife chatted to a young waiter and young waitress, on opposite sides of the island, about being gay. They both said that they would be scared to be openly gay because they would (not might, from their perspective, would) lose their jobs and be rejected by their communities. I was very shocked by this as by that time same-sex marriage had been legal in the UK for 7 years and we were in an EU Country. In fact, I am shocked that I have just read that Greece only legalised same-sex marriage in February 2024! People should be free to be true to themselves and have access to the opportunities that are available to others. The more that people witness anything, but in this case same-sex couples and families, the more that it can be normalised and ultimately accepted. This is very important for engendering change.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
“The world has changed a LOT in the 14 years that I have been in a same-sex relationship and in that time I have visited many countries across Southern Europe, South East Asia and the USA and I did not feel uncomfortable in any of them. I suppose I became more aware of how we might be treated since becoming a parent, but I have always been careful in choosing travel destinations where we should not have any issues and fortunately we haven't had any.”
Where would you like to go next?
“Mexico or Caribbean (only the islands which no longer legally persecute being gay).”
Hunter, France Travel Partner
“Traveling with Pride, for me, is about celebrating who I am on the road. It's about finding those vibrant threads of LGBTQ+ life woven into the fabric of every destination. Connecting with local communities lets me truly immerse myself in a place, experience hidden gems, and see the city through the eyes of those who understand my perspective. After all, isn't travel about expanding our horizons and learning about ourselves? By forging connections with the global queer community, we gain a richer understanding not just of the world, but of our own place within it.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
“That's a tough one! Paris definitely holds a special place in my heart. It lives up to its nickname, the City of Love, for everyone. But beyond the romance, there's a real sense of acceptance and celebration of diversity in the Parisian LGBTQ+ scene. The nightlife is electric, and there's a strong sense of community you feel everywhere, from trendy Marais to historic Montmartre.”
Where would you like to go next?
“Next on my travel wish list is Montpellier! It's often overshadowed by other French destinations, but it ticks all the boxes for me. As the so-called ‘gay capital of the South of France’, it boasts a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene and even hosts the country's second-largest Pride parade. But it's not just a party town. Montpellier is a charming university city with a youthful energy. Plus, its proximity to the stunning Mediterranean coast and historical gems like the Pont du Gard and Nîmes makes it a truly well-rounded destination. I can't wait to soak up the sunshine, explore the historic sites, and experience the city's unique LGBTQ+ culture.”
Kirsty, Scott Dunn Product Team
“It means travelling in the complete comfort of being yourself. It means travelling without having to decline offers of twin beds, usually on multiple occasions, and continuously explain you are not sisters or friends. It means acceptance.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
Where would you like to go next?
Rossana and Iris, Italy Travel Partners
“For me and our team, Travelling with Pride means travelling feeling free to express ourselves exactly for who we are as individuals, part of a certain culture and ideology.”
Where in the world have you felt able to travel with pride most comfortably?
“In Italy, we might mention Milan, known for its multicultural and international atmosphere, along with the cities of Bologna and Padua.”
Where would you like to go next?
Every place in the world
