There is nothing that can help us try on new versions of ourselves quite like traveling. When experiencing an unfamiliar place, invigorated by new sounds, smells, and sights, it’s often the ideal time to experiment with where you fit in this world. It can also encourage us to more easily shed old patterns and solidify existing bonds with those we hold dearest. Travel is the ultimate educator, shining a light on our own identity and where our relationships stand.
At Condé Nast Traveler, we believe that traveling is almost always about love—for yourself, others, and the world itself. This year, to celebrate Pride month, we are exploring these truths through a lens of queerness. In the following stories, our writers, who all identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, venture to new places that both alter and connect them with their loved ones (and themselves) in meaningful and lasting ways: from finding chosen family in Costa Rica and moving to a different continent after marriage to learning new aspects of one’s personality by flirting in a foreign language. Read on for stories of connection and, of course, inspiration to get you out there and falling in love.
