“Don’t drink the water” is a common warning that can be disregarded with CamelBak All Clear’s UV purification system that turns any tap or clear natural water into potable drinking water in just 60 seconds. For more info, go to camelbak.com.

Eagle Creek makes some of the most innovative and convenient packing tools on the market. Its Pack-It line helps compress items to maximize packing space, while it minimize wrinkles. The convertible bag is a teeny pouch weighing less than a pound, those folds out into a tote, backpack or duffel bag. For a look at the full line of products, priced from as low as $22, go to shop.eaglecreek.com.

There are times when you want to take a photo and don’t have anybody you can ask. That’s when the Tiltpod comes in handy. It easily attaches to a camera or small phone, has a magnetic base that pivots and comes with a wrist. It is reasonably priced at $14.95 at gomite.com/products/tiltpod.

Kate Spade’s two-tone leather passport holder, comes with interior slots for a passport and three cards, plus a clear ID window and an exterior slot for stashing a boarding pass, making getting through security a breeze. Available at saturday.com for $50.

Maybe it’s my inner hippie speaking, but I love to give a gift that gives back. The compact, seven-ounce WakaWaka solar charger juices up a phone in just a few hours and has a built-in light that can shine for more than 60 hours. Best of all? For each charger purchased, the company donates one to the typhoon relief effort in the Philippines. Available from wakawaka.com for $69.

Remove all doubt as to which is their suitcase at the luggage carousel with a gift of Jonathan Adler’s “This Is Mine” leather luggage tag. A snap closure allows a space to put personal info. Available at joanthanadler.com for $38.

Hotel room bedding can be suspicious, even in the best of places. Let them put a layer of silk between their skin and unfamiliar bedding with a DreamSack (which comes in its own 8” x 4” pouch). Made of silk with a built-in pocket for a pillow. It is machine washable, quick-drying and only weighs 6 oz. Flight Spray helps prevent viral infections by creating an unsuitable environment for inhaled germs to reproduce. Both are available at magellans.com.

Your gift recipient will never have to pay for overweight luggage again with the Balanzza digital luggage scale. It’s small enough to pack and strong enough to weigh up to 100 pounds. It indicates pounds and kilograms making it ideal for the international traveler. Available at many retail stores and web sites for less than $20.

Laugh all you want about the Home Shopping Network, but for every bedazzled denim jacket for plus sized ladies, there’s a terrific product. One of my favorites is the Grid-It! Organizer. Its compact size makes it easy to slip into a briefcase or backpack and ends rummaging around for stuff that falls to the bottom of the bag. It’s only $19.95 and available in a plethora of colors at hsn.com.

My final entry comes from one of my favorite sites, Flight 001. “Airline: Style At 30,000 Feet” is a fascinating book examining every aspect of airline style, from the interior design of planes to the days when flight attendants wore haute couture instead of polos and khakis. It’s only $14.95 at flight001.com.

Best Day Spa: The Grand Resort and Spa

Everyone likes to be pampered every now and then and no one does it better than The Grand Resort and Spa located near Fort Lauderdale Beach. Lay back and relax as you receive one of their specialty facials, body wraps, body scrubs, massages, manicures and pedicures, waxing, derm-abrasion or hair styling. You can also enjoy their oversized heated pool which is great for lap swimming or carelessly floating on mats soaking up the South Florida sun. The hotel also boasts a fully-equipped fitness center.

Favorite Clothing Designer: D & G

Dolce & Gabbana, also known as D & G, is a famed Italian fashion house started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. Their clothing designs are usually black in color and geometric in shape. Dolce & Gabbana actually includes two fashion lines: Dolce & Gabbana and D & G. Dolce and Gabbana specializes in luxury items more influenced by designers and is more formal and “timeless,” responding to long-term trends rather than seasonal changes. The D & G line is the more casual line and attempts to set trends. The line includes jackets, pants, denim, swimwear, underwear, eye glasses and fragrances.

Sexiest Underwear Brand: 2(X)ist

It’s not surprising that 2(X)ist hit the top of the list as it was one of the first underwear designers to target the gay community. (About the same time that Marky Mark showed us his tighty-whities for Calvin Klein.) Known for its cutting-edge fashion, contoured shapes and superior comfort, 2(X)ist creates fashion-forward designs to fit men’s lives. Since its founding in 1991, 2(X)ist has grown to become an iconic men’s lifestyle brand with a style and fit for every occasion and leads the evolution of fabrics, materials and technology to create better fitting underwear, apparel and accessories for the fashion-forward.

Best LGBT Boutique: Bottoms & Tops

Bottoms & Tops has two stores – the main boutique in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors and its outlet store a few blocks down Wilton Drive next to Sidelines. Both stores offer the top trends in fashion at the lowest prices on denim, shirts, swimwear, underwear, watches, jewelry and gift items. Owner Jon Anthony knows the value of a dollar and negotiates the best possible prices when purchasing for his stores and passes those savings on to his loyal customers. There are also great sales always going on, so keep an eye out for the sales racks. Of course, Bottoms & Tops also includes the D & G and 2(X)ist brands along with dozens of other designers.

Best LGBT Guest House: Royal Palms Resort (Fort Lauderdale) and Island House (Key West)

We don’t think anybody realized the impact Richard Gray would have on Ft. Lauderdale when he opened the Royal Palms Resort in 1991. Gray and his Royal Palms turned Fort Lauderdale into a major gay destination and one of the most desirable places for the LGBT community to live, work and play. Now, 20 years later, Gray is reinventing and greatly expanding his property by adding several additional locations in the same area, which will include a bar, full gym, spa, a café and much more, all within a few steps from Ft. Lauderdale’s famed Sebastian Street Gay beach.

Imagine a place where everyone is gay – and you have the Island House in Key West. Island House is a very tropical and a not-so-far away all-male compound that’s safe from the influences of the outside world. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner poolside and is one of the most complete resorts in Key West offering a steam room, sauna, weight room and both an indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi.

Florida’s Most Entertaining Pride Festival: Miami Beach Gay Pride

Though only looking toward its third year, Miami Beach Pride has become the most-anticipated gay pride festival in the state. A spectacular parade moves north along Ocean Drive with plenty of floats, marching bands and walking groups. After the parade is finished, take a few steps east to the beach and enjoy the festival with live entertainment, food, drinks and more “pride” than anyone can imagine. Learning how to dance in the soft sand does takes a little getting used to but you will catch on rather quickly. If people watching is more your thing, muscle boys with their shirts off (it’s Miami Beach, after all), walk along proudly displaying their physics. Plenty of costumes and other gaiety can also be expected. Check out the exhibition booths on the dunes while the DJ’s keep the crowd and excitement levels high.

It’s also a full day of family activities as tourists bring their children out to enjoy the excitement of this all-encompassing community event.

Best Gym: Island City Fitness (Wilton Manors) and David Barton Gym (Miami Beach)

After a day of tanning your body on the beach, you’re ready to tone that body, and there are two fitness gyms that were voted the best by our readers.

Island City Health & Fitness in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors on Wilton Drive is the choice in Fort Lauderdale. Here you can transform your body, mind and spirit in their state-of-the-art facility. They offer experienced trainers and professional equipment. This spacious club offers incomparable amenities in a comfortable atmosphere which makes becoming fit a truly inspiring adventure.

The David Barton Gym won out in South Beach, and you have your pick of three locations. The first step to a healthy body is just walking through the door — any of their three doors. The equipment is top notch: a huge selection of free-weights, top-shelf equipment from Hammer Strength and Cybex (among others) and the cardio equipment, such as elliptical trainers and treadmills.

Best Abs: Brady Frost

Brady Frost

Are they real? Has this been photoshopped? These two question come to mind when hearing abs and Brady together. Well, after 3 years of using silver, blue, purple, and all the gay flag colors to showcase his abdominals, Brady has achieved the REAL look. There’s no more faking them now that he’s got ‘em. Showing off those abs with the 2(x)ist line, you can truly see why the voters have chosen Brady Frost.