Bordered by two of the world’s most popular GLBT cities, Hollywood, Florida, is often tossed aside as a sleepy side city, far removed from the queer Miami-Fort Lauderdale limelight. However, a burgeoning arts scene, an extreme beach overhaul, downtown gentrification and a booming restaurant scene has finally ushered in some much-deserved TLC for this underdog city. Those tired of Miami and Fort Lauderdale’s more predictable scenes will find Hollywood a breath of fresh air – a city more about tradition, community and enrichment than cheap booze or standing and posing.

Hollywood’s redux has unfolded on two main fronts – the beach and downtown. Hollywood beach continues to evolve as a more upscale destination with new construction set to unveil several trendsetting hotels in the coming years. These new hotels will delicately balance the traditional, old school throw back feel of the Broadwalk, where mom and pop ice cream shops and outdoor ethnic eateries reign supreme to commercial chains. Don’t expect Hollywood’s overly tanned old-timers to retire their 1940s clunky bicycles anytime soon. Embracing the full gamut of generations is one of Hollywood’s most charming factors. It’s the beach’s no-frills fun and frivolity that unites people of all ages, races, shapes, genders and sizes. So, it should come as no surprise that gays here do not need to confine themselves to a separate “gay” beach; singles, couples and alternative families can readily enjoy the beach’s downy sands in harmony with the French Canadian tourists, sun starved vacationers and eclectic locals.

To both the north and west of Hollywood beach, Florida’s environmental heritage has been sensationally preserved within the mangroves and virgin habitats surrounding Anne Kolb Nature Center and John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. A hop, skip and a jump from the city’s oceanfront action, old Florida awaits with endless opportunity for canoeing, kayaking, boating, picnicking and wildlife viewing. If you’re lucky, you may even spot manatees while kayaking through this pristine area. And, at John Lloyd State Park, there’s ample space for picnics, grilling or just chilling along the sugarloaf sand banks.

Heading west on Hollywood Boulevard, the circular Young Arts Park segues from beachfront bliss to downtown delights. With a sprawling mega playground, a state of the art amphitheatre hosting fabulous concerts, educational workshop spaces and lots of green space for quintessential outdoor fun, this urban park has become wildly popular with families from all parts of South Florida. The park hosts fabulous events on a regular basis – like Food Truck Monday evenings, Friday glassblowing workshops for adults and kids alike, scheduled jewelry making classes, as well as a regular concert series which recently included gay favorites En Vogue and Expose in a free concert sponsored by the City of Hollywood.

At the western edge of Young Arts Park, Downtown Hollywood’s blossoming bar and restaurant scene commences along both Hollywood Boulevard and Harrison Street, leading to insider favorites like Mickey Byrne’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, upscale modern French dinging at Sage Café & Oyster Bar, sensational Merlots at Harrisons Wine Bar and decadent desserts at Sweetz Chocolate & Treats Café. Those looking for exceptional originality should definitely begin their citywide gastronomy tour with the restaurant leading the city’s foodie revolution – Lola’s on Harrison. Lola’s menu teems with innovative mouth-watering dishes like short ribs (or Portobello mushroom steaks for vegetarians like me) smothered in homemade Coca Cola BBQ sauce, topped by a tower of buttermilk onion rings alongside a helping of creamed corn; fresh ricotta gnocchi in a hearty wild mushroom cream sauce that melts in your mouth as you eat it; and the best crab cakes you’ll have outside of Baltimore! Three separate drink menus complement the food experience – an awesome and enormous beer menu with several dozen American and Imported Hand Crafted Beers, an extensive affordable wine list and a book of artisanal cocktails full of muddled, fruity goodness!

Beyond a day or evening trip to dabble in Hollywood’s beach and downtown offerings, the spectacular Hollywood Westin Diplomat is idyllic for a Hollywood vacation or staycation. With everything and anything you’d want from a grand hotel, combined with jaw-dropping views, quick beach access, plenty of swimming pools, excellent restaurants and bars (including one of my South Florida favorites – the Asian-inspired Azia), stellar service, a social vibe and a central location for enjoying Hollywood, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale – the Hollywood Westin Diplomat is one of South Florida’s best and most affordable hotel options.

“Casa de Campo” is a common term in Spanish, translating literally to “country house” or “cottage,” often referring to a second or third home for the Latin American bourgeoisie. However, in the Dominican Republic this term takes on a much grander meaning. Here, “Casa de Campo” is a resort, a community, a status symbol and the epitome of Caribbean luxury.

Originally a golf resort and recreation zone for the executive elite during the disco decade, Casa de Campo’s 7,000 acres have steadily developed to include over 2,500 villas, homes and hotel suites, as well as a 400-berth marina to complement the award-winning Pete Dye golf courses and the ever-growing spectacle of haute dude ranch amenities. The resort grounds are so large they’re divided into different neighborhoods, and a designated golf cart is essential for traversing the property in its entirety.

The resort is unique in that it coalesces elements of sophisticated, modern oceanfront living with estancia elegance and endless opportunity for the outdoor enthusiast. It’s not uncommon to split your days at Casa de Campo between horseback riding, sunbathing on the beach and sipping tropical cocktails; or sport shooting, kayaking, playing golf on the Caribbean’s top-rated course, “Teeth of The Dog,” and then indulging in a sumptuous spa treatment. With such ample acreage, Casa de Campo has perfected the multi-faceted vacation destination in a superbly fortunate geographic point where temperatures rarely fall below 70 or rise above 82.

The resort’s twenty restaurants, fifteen bars, shopping center, movie theater, equestrian center, five professional golf courses, expansive beaches, thirteen fast dry Har-Tru tennis courts, colossal marina and clay shooting center are so well dispersed that Casa de Campo feels like its very own vacation metropolis – no doubt a self-contained world of leisure and pleasure.

As the resort name implies, the “casa de campo” experience is one of the myriad accommodation types available for guests. The “Classic Villas,” as well as several of the “Exclusive Villas,” stand as bona fide country homes, with wooden and rustic furnishings that elicit that distinctive home-style coziness.  However, it’s the seaside stunners and the new “Elite Suites” that merit the most attention. Many contemporary “Oceanfront Villas” line the rocky coastline with open, airy floor plans, a heavy emphasis on neutral hues and Earth tones, drawing attention to the floor to ceiling windows that reveal the juxtaposition of blues between the contemporary infinity pool and the dazzling, aquamarine Atlantic. These villas offer pure private decadence – your own slice of the Caribbean – with the greater Casa de Campo amenities at your disposal.  During last year’s refurbishment of the charming, double story clusters that comprise the hotel portion of the resort, several second floor units were converted into oversized suites, adding full modern living and dining areas to the “Elite rooms.”  Beyond the more comprehensive hotel experience, these hotel suites offer close proximity to the resort’s peaceful and gregarious pool areas (a quiet one dedicated for lounging and reading, the other for a little more standing and posing, respectively), the sensational Cygalle Healing Spa, and the bustling main lobby, with Casa’s centerpiece – Minitas Beach – just a short ride away. The perfect combination of swaying palm trees, downy sands and crystal clear waters, Minitas Beach teems with unadulterated beach bliss. Sunbathers revel in the optimal rays, drink in hand from the adjacent beach bar. Water sports enthusiasts choose from the full range of snorkeling gear, Hobie cats, kayaks and paddleboats, eager to take on the Atlantic. Spa fiends opt for the open-air massage treatments to the sounds of the crashing waves.  Foodies rejoice in a barefoot lunch of fresh salads and seafood at the Beach Club by Le Cirque.

For the modern family, Casa de Campo is an ideal tropical retreat that bridges the likes of the most diametrically opposed personalities, satisfying extreme cravings of pampering and/or activity, for each and every demographic. And for the more subdued luxury jetsetter, Casa de Campo offers the greatest breath of villas in the Caribbean, suiting all architectural and interior design tastes of the sophisticated vacation palate.

www.casadecampo.com; 1-800-877-3643

But in the last few decades, elected reformists and determined denizens have grabbed Philly by the balls – Giuliani-style – laboring towards widespread gentrification, revitalization and some boomtown sophistication. Flash forward to present day, when Philadelphia triumphs as one of America’s hottest and trendiest cities. Restored historical relics, charming gayborhoods, sprawling parks, a burgeoning cultural and arts scene and  a globally renowned restaurant scene is just the beginning. With homeboy Rocky Balboa’s gloves firmly in hand, Philadelphia is now ready for the big-city boxing ring, eager to compete against neighboring New York City and DC, and finally show us what’s it made of!

Like most urban renewals, the GLBT community rests at the heart and soul of this extreme makeover. Point in case: lesbian power couple, Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, who have double-handedly revived an entire block along south 13th street, personally owning and operating a half-dozen eclectic restaurants and boutiques. More than creating a cozy village atmosphere, these lovely ladies dish out some of the country’s (yes country’s) best food, with restaurants themed after their global travels.  For example, the menu at Barbuzzo (110 South 13th Street, 215.546.9300, www.barbuzzo.com) was inspired by Marcie and Valerie’s jaunts through Italy, after which Marcie added her modern American flair to classic Italian dishes, resulting in some rather intense food orgasms for her patrons (think: house-made “Pan Seared Gnocchi” with smoked corn, baby tomatoes, wood roasted mushrooms and homemade truffle butter, “Roasted Beet-Goat Cheese Ravioli”, again house-made, with orange zest, balsamic-brown butter and crushed almond amaretti, and “Salted Caramel Budino” with dark chocolate crust, vanilla bean caramel and sea salt.

However, it’s not just 13th street that’s buzzing with frenzied foodies. Exalted Iron Chef Jose Garces has seven restaurants (and counting) throughout diverse pockets of the city, each one more popular than the next. His latest, J.G. Domestics (2929 Arch St., 215-222-2363, jgdomestic.com) elevates American cooking to the next level, with farm-to-table ingredients from artisanal producers, resulting in mouth-watering dishes like “Barnegat Light Dayboat Scallops” over cauliflower, black truffle, and kumquat. Restaurant impresario Stephen Starr has also revolutionized the restaurant landscape with seventeen individualistic eateries, like the famed, Asian-inspired see-and-be-seen trendsetter, Buddakan (325 Chestnut Street, 215-222-2363, www.buddakan.com). Furthermore, Philly’s wildly popular BYOB craze has enabled the massive student population, and the more money-conscious crowd, to indulge in the restaurant scene while holding tight to the drinking kitty for some late night libations.

Fortunately, locales for after-dinner hedonism are always just around the corner – and often stumbling distance from one another. For the GLBT community, this is especially so within Midtown Village gayborhood, bordered by Chestnut and Pine streets, South 11th and Broad Streets, packed with enough awesome small bars and clubs to land Philadelphia the title “Best U.S. Destination” by LOGO. But regardless of where you begin your pub-crawl in the square, everyone invariably ends up at Woody’s Bar (202 S. 13th Street, 215.545.1893, www.woodysbar.com), a multi-level drink and dance palladium that’s become an institution in gay Philadelphia. There’s just no escaping it!

It’s likely that you’ll want to not just drink in the gayborhood, but stay there, too. The adorable, 24-room boutique Independent Hotel (1234 Locust St., 215.772.1440, theindependenthotel.com) is an adaptive reuse of a Georgian-Revival building on the National Register of Historic Places. The personality-driven rooms boast varying combinations of exposed brick walls, cathedral ceilings, French windows and loft-style furnishings, all technologically savvy and equipped with kitchenettes (as well as curtains that kind of look like the dress my sister wore to my Bar-Mitzvah, but I digress…).

A few blocks opposite the gayborhood, greater Philadelphia teems with historic landmarks and sites like Independence Hall (Chestnut St., between 5th & 6th St.), where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Liberty Bell Center and our nation’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital (800 Spruce St., 215.829.3270, pennhealth.com/pahosp). The exquisite and enlightening Philadelphia Museum of Art (26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215.763.8100, philamuseum.org) towers over the city, approached by the iconic stairs made famous by Sylvester Stallone’s pit-drenched victory jog (queue: “Gonna Fly Now”). Close by, the recently expanded Rodin Museum (22nd St. & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215.763.8100, philamuseum.org) houses the largest collection of the artist’s sculptures and drawings outside of Paris. And a bit further afield, the freakishly fascinating Eastern State Penitentiary (22nd St. & Fairmont Ave., 215.236.3300, easternstate.org) reveals our nation’s twisted history of confinement, psychiatry and punishment. Tours through this mega incarceration experiment, once the most expensive prison  in the world, are spellbinding and downright heart-pounding. Around Halloween time, the Penitentiary transforms into a haunted house extravaganza called Terror Behind the Walls, which is by no means for the faint-hearted. Be prepared to scream at the top of your lungs, drown in anxiety and collapse in fear as the prison walls and ghosts come to life, recalling the terror of the Penitentiary’s 19th century heyday or an average day on the streets in Philadelphia in the late eighties.

For more fun and fabulous Philly 411 go to www.visitphilly.com.

Dream South Beach

Photo: A Junior Suite at Dream South Beach

Earlier this month, South Beach woke up to some new, fabulous crash pads.

The Collins Ave. newbie, Dream South Beach (www.dreamsouthbeach.com; 305.673.4747), merges sexiness, eclectic modernism, historic preservation and a bit of South Beach big pimpin’ smack in the center of beach’s renowned party zone. Dream delivers the full throttle “scene-y” beach hotel experience within two sensationally refurbished, archetypal Art Deco buildings, and has quickly gained status as the beach’s latest “it” hotel.

Given the size constraints of the original 1939 Art Deco building, the rooms are primarily boutique-sized. But the Dream team has worked magic on the interiors, instituting meticulous design details that include colored bed lighting for a trippy fantasia atmosphere, glass closets, dramatic chandeliers in every room and warm hardwood floors. These seductive rooms are indeed made for friends (or the right couple) searching for fast times in America’s sexiest city. They’re perfect for pre- and post-parties, getting your freak on, and mentally escaping everything familiar.

In total, Dream is the key element of the quintessential South Beach equation (brag-worthy hotel + perfect tan + awesome eats and cocktails + wild nights + extreme hangovers = amazing memories). Given its ideal location on Collins Ave. and 11th Street, the silky sands, ocean blues and bulging Speedos of Florida’s most prolific gay beach are just a block away. Of course, when the Speedo scene becomes too overwhelming, you can bronze your bod on the hotel’s beach chairs at Dream’s designated slice of sugarloaf coastline. Naturally, this coolio hotel provides complimentary beach gear “to go,” available at front desk, like towels and sun lotion.

The Tudor House is located at the Dream South Beach hotel in SoBe.

And if you choose (and at many points, you will), you can simply chill at the Palm Springs inspired roof top pool. The crowd is easy on the eyes to say the least, and there’s ample pool and lounge space for sun, fun and splashing. When hunger calls during breakfast, lunch, dinner, rooftop or poolside, the Tudor House, Geoffrey Zakarian’s latest trendsetting eatery, is always at your disposal. And, trust me, you’ll become obsessed with the homemade Oreos and the buttered popcorn milkshakes!

Gansevoort Park Avenue

One year after making headlines as Park Avenue’s divine debutant, the Gansevoort Park Avenue (www.gansevoortpark.com, 877.830.9889) is still queen of midtown east. Strikingly different from its Meatpacking counterpart, the Gansevoort Park Avenue boasts some of the city’s biggest crash pads, furnished to the contemporary nines with some classic jaw-dropping views of the NYC skyline.

A hotel room at the Gansevoort Park Avenue

Since the original Gansevoort redefined the NYC rooftop experience with its trendsetting pool set-up circa 2006, it was only natural for the Gansevoort Park Avenue to take the rooftop experience to the next level five years later.  The hook: a pioneering tri-level rooftop extravaganza with sensational views of the Empire State building, insane, glass bottom floors that project over Park Avenue, and the city’s only combination indoor-outdoor heated pool.

But the hotel doesn’t just push the envelope of architecture and design with this new breed of tri-level rooftop experience. The rooms and other common spaces are sheer modern luxury, too.

The Blue Room at the Gansevoort Park Avenue hotel in New York City

The dramatic floor to ceilings windows lend to the vertical rapture every NYC visitor longs for. Furnishings are funky and colorful without overpowering the room’s hipster sophisticate essence. Erotic photography on the room walls ramps up the hotel’s sexy factor, as does the sexually charged mosaic lining the pool floor and the bar’s handsome wait staff. What’s more is that the service level stands on par with the city’s exalted five star properties – something you don’t often find in New York’s younger, trendier hotels.

With its central location between uptown and downtown, and east and west sides, the most important locales in the city are a mere short walk or subway ride away. Gayborhoods, haute cuisine, NYC carb comas (hello bagels, pizza and black and white cookies), trendy watering holes and Broadway shows … the best of NYC is just around the corner.

Photo: The gorgeous Presidential Suite at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa is basically an island unto itself stretching out into the crystal clear waters of Bora Bora.

With the recent gay marriage victory in New York, there’s no shortage of far and away locales to celebrate our new rights as first-class citizens. Below are a few of my top choices for an exotic, first-class honeymoon.

The Salient Seychelles

Sandwiched between East Africa and the Maldives, the 115 islands that form Africa’s smallest nation, the Seychelles, are a contrasting mix of low-lying coralline islets and the world’s only high-rising mid-oceanic granite islands. Separated from the former supercontinent of Gondwana over 75 million years ago, the granitic Seychelles is a Darwin dreamland, blessed with fascinating, endemic flora and fauna that have evolved in isolation across the lush archipelago.

Dotting the emerald coastlines of Mahé island, a handful of luxurious resorts perfectly capture the country’s quintessential juxtaposition of mountainous backdrops, mind-boggling boulders and crystalline waters.  Chic amenities undoubtedly enhance the inspirational panoramas, like the private infinity pool behind each tree house villa at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles (www.fourseasons.com/seychelles, +248 393 000) or the hillside Spa pavilions  at the Banyan Tree Seychelles (www.banyantree.com/en/seychelles, +248 383 500).

Travelers who have experienced “The Baths” of Virgin Gorda and found themselves enchanted by the petite cavernous overlay of smooth rock, palm trees and white sands will achieve nirvana in the Seychelles’ ubiquitous equivalent. The natural mazes often lead to deserted banks of turquoise brilliance, sinfully romantic and splendidly private. Complemented by sensational marine life and eclectic cuisine, Africa’s oceanic tropical utopia lives up to its legendary reputation.

Bountiful Beauty in Bora Bora

Since the dawn of the 19th century, Tahiti’s magnetism has been the subject of nearly 15,000 books and articles. While the timeless rapture of its verdant panoramas remains, Tahiti has fallen victim to destructive, anthropogenic realities, forcing travelers to venture deeper into the Society Islands to discover the South Seas’ renowned magic.

Following the gospel of Pulitzer Prize winner James Michener, opulence arrived in nearby Bora Bora by the 1970s, endowing the idyllic island with five star resorts that matched the astounding beauty of Michener’s words.  Bora Bora was the birthplace of the overwater bungalow, later popularized in Tahiti and perfected in the Maldives. This concept of luxurious accommodation straddling the ocean floor, immersed in natural azure and emerald hues, in the shadow of jagged mountains, revolutionized the travel market and fostered a paradigm where the formerly unknown Polynesian gem became synonymous with ambiguous terms like “paradise” and “heaven.”

Forty years later, Bora Bora is still a bastion of exclusive and definitive romance with more options than ever for indulging in French Polynesia’s bountiful endowments. Perennial favorites like the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa (www.Hilton.com/Bora-Bora-Nui, +689-60-3300) and welcome newcomers like the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora (www.stregisborabora.com, +689-60-7888) dutifully triumph our expectations of “paradise”.

Turtle Island

In the north westernmost reaches of the Fijian archipelago, the remote Yasawa Islands exemplify the effortless magnificence of the South Pacific, bejeweled with Mother Nature’s finest Harry Winstons. None more so than Nanuya Levu, better known as Turtle Island (www.turtlefiji.com) – a 500-acre landmass, candy-coated with palm trees and turquoise inlets, immortalized in the 1980 version of the classic film, The Blue Lagoon.

Though Hollywood hoopla catalyzed a mass exodus to the South Pacific in search of the movie’s captivating milieu, Turtle Island itself remained a selective retreat, exclusive to the few couples patronizing the “bures” (cottages) on this island oasis. Staying true to sustainability commitments and judicious romanticism, Turtle Island never became a commercialized enterprise. In fact, to this today a maximum of 14 couples roam the island at any given time. This translates to long hours exploring the island’s perimeter and interiors in romantic solitude by foot, by horseback, or by bike; or basking in the tranquility of the holy waters by kayak or sailboat, creating the private moments you will mentally reference throughout your lifetime.

As the sun rises over the Pacific Ocean, we gather on the dive deck and peer down into the clear blue waters. Beneath the boat, large dark shapes swim ominously back and forth in anticipation.

We had travelled from the U.S. for three nights to one of the most pristine and isolated sea mounts of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Osprey reef sits 200 miles from Cairns in the Coral Sea and is separated from the mainland by 12 hours of rough seas. Our boat, the Taka Liveaboard, makes this 5 day/4 night trip weekly from Cairns (www.takadive.com.au), although the unpredictable weather in this part of the world can sometimes delay the trip for days, even weeks. In fact, it had been 6 weeks since the crew had been out to Osprey.

Osprey Reef, the most northerly of all the Coral Sea reefs, is known for its exceptional wall diving. The reef covers an area of 50 square miles and its perimeter drops vertically into a half mile of clear Coral Sea water. Exciting dive sites include South Horne, Admiralty Anchor Bommies, Pelagic Gully and Flashlight Ravine, which is most spectacular at night when the flashlight fish are feeding. The most requested site at Osprey Reef is the North Horne, where we had come to today. The North Horne is a reef shelf in depths from 60-125 feet, which drops into deep water. The shelf is covered with numerous hard and soft corals, and deeper still grow large, spiky soft coral ‘trees’ and gorgonians. This shelf attracts many reef fish; however, the North Horne is most famous for its sharks and is a popular shark-feeding location.

Just beneath the boat, and at the base of the dive line, the reef forms a natural amphitheatre, the rock formation allowing divers to sit in a semi circle. Positioned in the middle is a large rock, to which a chain with a float has been attached. From here, bins of frozen tuna heads from our boat can be pulled down to attract the sharks.

As we perch on the walls of the amphitheatre, we peer into the distance, where sharks are beginning to congregate. Usually calm and eerie, the deep water is alive. Above us, the small dive dinghy powers over and drops the refuse bin, which is then pulled down to the amphitheatre by the dive master. She fiddles clumsily with the lock and opens the lid. The tuna heads spring out and bob in the water, attached to the bin by a chain. The serenity of the moment lasts a second, as the water erupts in a vicious frenzy.

The sharks swim in quickly, ripping the heads apart and swim away gorging on their mouthful. They bite into the heads and writhe back and forth, forcing the meat off the bone. The number of sharks in the water seems to have quadrupled. An initial head count is in vain, as more and more sharks emerge from the deep blue to share in this bounty. The majority of them are large grey reef sharks, a common species in these waters.

We are all no more than 40 feet away from this spectacular event. Any initial fears or trepidation evaporates as we realize that they are not interested in us and instead are concentrated wholly on their next bite. Small black and white tip reef sharks dart into the amphitheatre quickly, pushing aside their bigger competitors and audaciously taking small bites before hurrying away.

As the initial excitement subsides and the heads start to become skeletons, the sharks begin to drift off. But the feeding is not quite over.

Out of the deep blue, a rather large and mysterious silhouette begins to take shape. All of a sudden a large oceanic silver tip is in the amphitheatre. Almost double the size of the grey reef sharks, it feeds with such power and ferocity that the water around it becomes cloudy. The other sharks disperse in fear.

It takes a few minutes over the last of the heads, leaving it in tatters, bobbing pathetically in the water. This signals the end of the feeding and the sharks are soon replaced by smaller, less voracious scavengers. The dive master checks that everyone is alright and has all their limbs intact. Thankfully, we all give a big okay sign, and signal our intention to return to the surface. Everyone in the group starts to climb the dive line, looking back frequently, haunted by the image of the past hour.

Back on deck, the atmosphere is one of intense excitement. We are all aware that we have just been witness to something spectacular and conscious of the incredible controlled aggression of the sharks. The dive team woops and cheers and describes the shark feeding as one of the best that they have been on. We finish the day on the top deck, looking out over Osprey Reef and watch as the waves curl serenely over the top of the reef. As the boat moves away, a humpback whale joins us, breaching the surface as it swims to keep up with the boat.

Photo: When relaxing in St. Maarten, you too can charter this luxury yacht to sail the high seas.

With modern jetsetters looking beyond commercial cruises and traditional resorts for their next upscale vacation, private yacht charters have upped the ante to provide the ultimate bespoke vacation. Professional yacht charter brokers like Ulla Gotfredsen of “Amazing Charters” (www.amazingcharters.com) function as maritime matchmakers, pairing clients with beautiful boats, seasoned crew and tailored agendas that suit their whims, tastes and personalities. Chartering a crewed yacht is like “creating your own floating luxury boutique hotel,” explains Ulla. The  destinations, the cuisine, the drinks, the hospitality and the activities are all at clients’ discretion.  Plus, amenities like flatscreen TVs, WiFi and iPod docking stations are identical to those in high-end hotels. Ulla navigates us through some key tips for a floating vacation with endless opportunity.

Use a broker: Yacht charter brokers are like free personal shopping experts. Good brokers know the intricacies of the myriad of private yachts available – everything from crew personalities to the ages and styles of the boats to the languages spoken by the polyglot captains (and crew). Best of all, the prices they provide are identical to those of direct bookings (which begin at $300/person/day).

Go all-inclusive: Clients can choose between bareboat and luxury crewed yacht charters. Like the name implies, bareboat charters provide the insured boat only and are recommended for experienced sailors. Luxury crewed charters, on the other hand, are an all-inclusive package of boat, crew, unlimited food, drink and unabashed pampering.

Pick a start and a  finish: International boating hotspots like the British Virgin Islands and the Mediterranean tend to have the greatest selection of yachts for the start of a sojourn. That said, brokers easily arrange a crewed yacht to begin and end at almost any reasonable location around a desired destination(s).

Find a match: The key to a successful charter experience is the perfect match between the clients and the boat/crew. Some yachts cater to romance, others to families. Some specialize in diving excursions. Others offer kiteboarding and watersport extravaganzas.

Set lofty goals: The best part of a personal charter is the ability to control your vacation. Price is based on the number of days and the yacht itself, not on the activities. Ulla encourages her Caribbean globetrotters to play golf in Anguilla, go shopping in St. Maarten and dine in St. Barth’s – all in the  same day. Likewise, she advises her Mediterranean jetsetters to enjoy morning croissants in France and dinner in Italy. And that’s only on day one!

I once dismissed St. Thomas as nothing more than another homogeneous cruise ship destination chock full o’ fanny-packed freaks, tax-free shopaholics and predatory tourist operators, littering the streets, the mountainsides and bays with their daunting presence. Yet late last year, on my third trip to  the island, I was introduced to St. Thomas’ lesser-known eastern reaches and have since reaped the rewards of taking the road less traveled. My apologies, St. Thomas. I underrated you.

Far beyond the McDonald’s and the neon fanny packs, the sleepy towns in and around the east end have evolved as pockets of seaside glamour, a delicate blend of West Indian flavor and wealthy ex-pat investment. The serenity and laid-back vibe on this part of the island, often lumped as Red Hook Bay, reveal a  gentler, more welcoming side, and an ideal foundation for the US Virgin Island’s most esteemed resort, the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.

Straddling the downy sands and crystalline waters of Great Bay, the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, assumes its rightful role as ambassador to the island’s natural bounties and luxurious offerings. The hotel’s fortitude stems from an atypical equilibrium between traditional West Indian elegance and modern luxury. Even in its most recent renovation last year, the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas kept a style true to its location and cultural surroundings, forgoing trends of hypermodern, minimalist overhauls. Its barefoot luxury and tropical elegance are constant reminders of the beach’s splendor and the Caribbean’s vibrant colors. Every room ends in a private terrace or balcony, the ideal spot for absorbing the azure serenity and the lush hilltops dotting petite peninsulas. The spa’s outdoor treatment pavilion edges over the bay’s crashing waves, ambushing your senses with everything ocean as the world’s best therapists work magic on your body. The resort’s 53-foot catamaran, Lady Lynsey, sails into the horizon come late afternoon, grabbing a front row seat for the sun’s awe-inspiring descent. Under the twinkle of starry nights, the hotel transforms Grand Bay beach into your own private open-air dining room, with champagne at the ready and a six-course meal at your leisure.

Given its prime waterfront location, the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, teems with opportunity for taking full advantage of the sand and sea. Unlimited use of paddle boats, kayaks, Hobie cats, wind-surfboards and snorkel equipment means you’ll have way too much fun traversing Grand Bay in, under and above the water. Besides her sensational sunset cruise, Lady Lynsey sets sail for neighboring St. John several times per week for a quick evening island hop to indulge in St. John’s awesome dining and bar scene (note: the tuna at Rhumb Lines is epic). Those keener on poolside R & R can enjoy the postcard perfect views from the 125 ft. free-form infinity edge pool, cocktails in hand. And those feeling a bit more private can indulge in the vistas either from the comfort of the Club Lounge (with its full Cruzan Rum Bar and unlimited champagne) or there’s always your private deck.
More than a mere outpost of a high-end chain, the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, discloses a multi-faceted spirit uncommon to the Caribbean. The hotel’s warm “come as you are” philosophy lends to a rare, genuine acceptance of gay travelers, especially in this vastly homophobic region of the world. Though dozens of Caribbean hotels do carry some kind  of “gay-friendly” label (especially in today’s desperate quest for the gay dollar), the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, welcomed the GLBT globetrotter and alternative families long before it was politically correct or corporately mandated. There’s simply no faking the warmth and respect I received when  my partner and I vacationed here.

Eighty-one countries deep into my travels, my time at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, goes on record as one of the greatest experiences of my travel-writing career. It’s undeniably one of the globe’s most well-rounded resorts, effortlessly fusing dissimilar elements of signature Ritz-Carton decadence with beachfront simplicity, facilitating a complete disconnect from the world at-large and inspiring an unexpected love for the quiet eastern shores of St. Thomas.

To experience the “Caribbean Queen” visit: www.ritzcarlton.com/StThomas or call 1.340.775.3333. There is no passport required for visiting the US Virgin Islands, including St. Thomas.

Though Key West failed in its formal claim of independence from the United States, the iconoclastic “Conch Republic” never really took well to dictated conformity and authority. Distance and demure allowed the two-by-four-mile island to evolve as an isolated refuge for those who deviated from supposed societal norms, and by the late 1970s, Key West had become a Mecca for wild times, unadulterated freedom and unapologetic homosexuality.

The concept of “One Human Family” has always governed everyday life in  the Conch Republic, where everyone “around the world is entitled to equal rights, dignity and respect.” Nowadays, this concept has been branded and distributed on 1.3 million bumper stickers, reminding the greater U.S. of the Keys’ exemplary philosophy. Prom King or pariah, everyone is welcome in Key West.

While most American cities tend to follow slash and burn trends, Key West’s predictability and reverence for history is a welcome respite. The gingerbread houses, coconut palms, bougainvillea and lucid waters that inspired Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway forever remain “Old Key West”. The larger than life, eccentric personalities and unwavering spirit of the island’s residents contrast modern society’s desperation to “fit in”. A drunken stupor through the “Pink Triangle” invariably ends up in a random bed (or the Island House hot tub).  And both the sunsets and sunrises seem to grow more breathtaking over the years.
Key West boasts remarkable offerings of quaint gay guesthouses and full-scale resorts. Just recently, Equator Resort (www.equatorresort.com; 305.294.7775) added an upper sun deck for tanning all your Lever 2000 body parts, while Pearl’s Rainbow, (www.pearlsrainbow.com, 305.292.1450) once exclusively female, became all-welcoming. The Island House mayhem rages on 24/7, nary a shortage of foreskin and alcohol taking center stage around the pool. The intense summer heat means fewer reasons for remaining clothed; and summer break means more college cuties breaking through their white-knuckled anxiety, giving into the temptations of the House!

One of the island’s top resorts, the Hyatt Key West on Duval Street (www.keywest.hyatt.com; 305.809.1234), has become a new GLBT favorite for those looking to experience the Conch Republic’s latest offerings of modern luxury. While it’s a well-known fact that all of Key West is gay-friendly, the Hyatt Key West has pro-actively courted the GLBT market with pride packages and gay-centric marketing campaigns. Contrasting the palm-tree print/Tommy Bahamas style of most Keys’ hotel rooms, the Hyatt Key West is a blend of contemporary design and Florida color and flavor (delightfully without the overkill). All guest rooms flaunt private balconies, ideal for enjoying the sea breeze with a glass of bubbly or Chardonnay.  The pool is everything and anything you’d expect from a high-end resort and the hotel’s signature restaurant, SHOR American Bar and Grill (www.shorgrill.com), offers sensational, waterfront dining with a daily catch direct from the docks!

Across the water from the Hyatt at beautiful Sunset Key, Latitudes (www.westinsunsetkeycottages.com/latitudes; 305.292.5300) has unveiled the results of a protracted facelift, revealing a new, sleek, modern edge that spills onto Sunset’s downy sands, doling out even more of the delicious local seafood dishes that originally made this beachfront gem famous. Though the abundance of fresh seafood keeps the island’s top chefs at the top of their game, there’s definitely more than just amazing fruits of the sea to be had around the island. La Creperie (www.lacreperiekeywest-.com; 305.517.6799) serves authentic northwestern French delicacies and crepe creations for both breakfast and lunch. Smack in the heart of Fleming Street’s “guesthouse row,” Azur (www.azurkeywest.com; 305.292.2987) has expanded its already vast, mouth-watering Mediterranean menu to include homemade gnocchi, tapas and more Greek-influenced dishes. The perfectly executed “toasted gnocchi with pine nuts, arugula and truffle oil,” and the divine “charred octopus marinated with garlic, lemon zest and Italian parsley” showcase the diverse gastronomic talents and evolution of chefs Michael Mosi and Drew Wenzel.

After dinner, Front Street teems with partygoers and inebriation opportunities, with essentially four main bars and clubs to seek a night of promiscuous  fun. Divas rule at Aqua Nightclub (711 Duval Street, (305) 294-0555, aquakeywest.com), where the city’s renowned drag queens take center stage, attracting straights and gays alike. Come 11 PM, most gay life has converged at the riotous and frisky Bourbon Street Pub (724 Duval Street, (305) 296-1992, burbonstreetpub.com), spread between the two bars in the front and the poolside bar in the back. Saloon 1 (801 Duval Street, (305) 294-4737), Key West’s only Levi, leather and uniform bar, regularly hosts a weekend contest awarding a prize to the biggest or most attractive shlong in the house. Now, I’ll toast to that!

Photo: The Pool at the Ritz-Carlton, Puerto Rico

Summer is the perfect time of year to give into your deepest pangs of wanderlust and fulfill your travel fantasies. As the debate lingers on whether the recession has ended or not, some hotels are still offering great discounts this summer, from a GLBT sanctuary in the jungles of Costa Rica to one of Florida’s best kept secrets. Below are a few of my personal picks for summer 2011’s best sales!

Villa Roca, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica from $50/night via Direct Website

For over 11 years, Villa Roca has drawn LGBT visitors from far corners of the globe to delight in mountain top views over the Pacific. The resort’s infinity pool is arguably my favorite in the world. Sipping cocktails during happy hour, watching the sun set into the forest canopy, hearing the calls of the howler monkeys, and watching naked hotties jump into the clothing optional pool, I have experienced some of life’s great “moments” in the pool at Villa Roca. A stay includes Wi-Fi and a fabulous breakfast (with great gallo pinto) overlooking the ocean. Hotel guests split their time between sunbathing and drinking at the pool, trekking to the remains of the former gay, nude beach called “playita,” and enjoying the nature trails of Manuel Antonio National Park. Visit their Website at www.villaroca.com.

Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, Vero Beach, Florida from $109/night for Florida residents via Direct Website

With two Florida guidebooks and over 1300 hotel reviews under my belt, Vero Beach Hotel & Spa still triumphs as my pick for Florida’s best vacation value and the state’s best-kept secret. The light, West-Indies-style décor, replete with oversized fans, rich hardwood furniture, and luxurious plantation shutters scream “fabulous!” The lobby buzzes with fashionable and friendly hotel guests, enjoying Kimpton’s signature complimentary wine hour, a relaxed forum for meeting fellow patrons and their adorable pets. Similar to the common areas, the attention to detail and level of casual luxury of the rooms is similar to award-winning five star Caribbean hotels, while the $109 rate is less than an average Holiday Inn. The rooms are straight out of a seductive Ralph Lauren catalog – whimsical whites, cappuccino dark wood craftsmanship, and light blue accents to match the ocean views. The textured walls, the decadent crown molding, the epicurean touches, and the complete interior design fantasy was our weekend reality. And the views of the ocean will blow you away! Log on to www.verobeachhotelandspa. com for more info.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, Puerto Rico from $239/night (including breakfast, parking, and free upgrade) via Direct Website

In this resort-heavy district of Isla Verde, the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino (www.ritzcarlton. com) stands out among the competition, combining all the splendor of a Ritz with the simplicity of the tropics. A tropical elegance motif unites the vast spaces of the oceanfront sanctuary. In common areas, grand pineapple chandeliers shine upon fresh exotic floral arrangements while lush reds and greens contrast the teak furniture in guestrooms. The marble lion-clad, five-in-one 7,200 square foot swimming pool emerges as the resort’s center of attention (though resident iguana George would like to think it’s him). Whether sipping margaritas by the pool, getting carried away at the hotel spa, or watching the waves crash from the Club Level balcony, the hotel fosters an unabashed haven for relaxation, romance, and self-indulgence.

For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com.