With COVID-19 restrictions slowly easing, many vacation spots now offer more queer-friendly options than before. But you don’t have to splurge on a four-star resort in Orlando to find a great gay getaway.

Park City, Utah, welcomes skiers from around the world, and its downtown scene features sophisticated piano bars and drag shows. Plus, the nearby craggy peaks of the Rocky Mountains are ideal for outdoor adventures.

Palm Springs

Once a stomping ground for Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddies, Palm Springs has evolved into one of the hottest gay destinations in the United States. The Coachella Valley retreat is a sunny oasis just a few hours from Los Angeles, offering warm weather year-round, luxurious hotels and resorts, upscale shops, and buzzing nightlife.

The gay scene here is lively and accepting, with camp entertainment venues like Quadz specializing in singalong nights and sophisticated date spots like Blackbook Bar serving gastropub fare and craft cocktails. There are also a variety of gay-friendly hotels, including the luxury men’s resort Santiago Resort and the downtown property WorldMark Palm Springs.

The town is home to a range of LGBTQ events, from the annual Pride festival in November to Dinah Shore Weekend, a five-day lesbian music and party event. The best time to visit is from March to May, when temperatures are balmy and the town’s bars and clubs fill with a sexy crowd. A glamping experience is also a must-have, allowing you to unwind under the stars with your romantic partner.

Missoula

Montana isn’t the first place that comes to mind when thinking about LGBTQ-friendly cities, but this college town lays claim as one of the most tolerant and welcoming places for gay dating. Home to the University of Montana, Missoula is the rare tranquil slice of country that’s also vibrantly inclusive. The city boasts anti-discrimination laws in housing, employment and public accommodations. Its leadership and police department are on board with the community, and extracurricular groups like a gay men’s chorus and an LGBTQ spiritual group add to its progressive attitude.

When it comes to dating, many gay singles are all too familiar with the horror stories that abound on apps like Grindr and HER. Baseless questioning of sexual history, harassment, and fetishization are just a few of the things that queer users encounter when they swipe through their feeds.

Safer neighborhoods and a sense of belonging should be paramount when choosing where to live, regardless of your gender or orientation. Contacting a gay realtor in your area early on can ensure you get up-to-date information on LGBT-friendly areas and neighborhoods, and help you find the perfect place to call home.

Bangkok

Despite a reputation for brothels and go-go bars, Bangkok is a diverse and welcoming city with many hidden treasures to discover. From a foodie haven to art and culture, the Southeast Asian megapolis is sure to please all types of travelers.

A hedonistic gay party scene, pristine beaches, and a world-class spa all await in this grand capital. The city is a popular destination for singles and couples who want hedonistic nights, sun-drenched days, and plenty to do.

Equaldex gives Uruguay a rare 100/100 mark for LGBTQ rights, meaning holding hands at the market or PDA in a public square raises no eyebrows. With cosmopolitan coffee shops, beautiful architecture, and old-world culture, this unexpected LGBT destination is a treat for the senses.

Hong Kong

In a world of increasingly homophobic countries, some LGBTQ travelers have learned to expect the unexpected when traveling abroad. That might mean worrying a hotel owner or Airbnb host might kick you out if they discover your sexuality, or wondering how to best navigate the local culture and customs.

This gastronomic and design capital isn’t typically known as a gay destination, but its anything-goes spirit extends to the city’s beaches, where you can find mixed couples on lounge chairs under thatched-roof palapas or lesbian patrons sipping cocktails at bars like Spijker Bar and Café Reality. And the sexy nightlife scene is equally diverse, with gay-friendly spots including YOLO and Club NYX serving every demographic and fetish imaginable.

Uruguay scores a rare 100/100 on Equaldex’s LGBT rights index, meaning booking shared rooms as a couple raises no eyebrows, and PDA is totally accepted. It also has a lively annual Pride celebration and the city’s burgeoning gay hotels, clubs, and restaurants cater to all crowds.

Paris

Go if: You want to live out your queer dreams surrounded by world-class museums, haute couture shopping, iconic architecture, and one of the most imaginative food cultures in Europe.

Paris isn’t just the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, it also boasts a booming gay scene that lets you go from sipping cocktails at a trendy bar to exploring underground kink parties on a single night. You can even take in the city from a new angle by taking a Seine cruise – which is sure to give you a whole new appreciation for this romantic French capital.

From enticing quayside walks to edgy galleries and hipster coffee shops, Sydney has something for everyone. Add to that a roster of events and the chance of bumping into dreamy Justin Trudeau, and it’s no wonder this sophisticated Australian city makes our list.