Gay Travellers - Greece tourist information,hotel reservations,trips,tourist informations

The term "Greek love" may still evoke titters from those educated in British public schools of a classicizing persuasion, but in modern Greece overtly gay behaviour in public remains taboo for men in rural areas . There is, however, a sizeable gay contingent in Athens, Thessaloníki and Pátra, plus a fairly obvious scene at certain resorts like Ídhra, Rhodes or Mykonos, still the most popular European gay resort after Ibiza in Spain. Skála Eressoü on Lésvos, the birthplace of Sappho, is (appropriately) an international mecca for lesbians . Homosexuality is legal over the age of 17, and (male) bisexual behaviour common but rarely admitted. Greek men are terrible flirts, but cruising them is a semiotic minefield and definitely at your own risk - references in gay guides to "known" male cruising grounds should be treated sceptically. "Out" gay Greeks are rare, and "out" local lesbians rarer still; foreign same-sex couples will be regarded in the provinces with some bemusement but accorded the standard courtesy as foreigners. The gay movement in Greece is represented by Akoe Amphi, PO Box 26022, 10022 Athens tel 010/77 19 221.

Contacts for gay travellers
IN THE UK

www.gaytravel.co.uk Online gay and lesbian travel agent, offering good deals on all types of holiday. Also lists gay- and lesbian-friendly hotels around the world.

Dream Waves , Redcot High St, Child Okeford, Blandford DT22 8ET tel 01258/861149, Dreamwaves@aol.com . Specializes in exclusively gay holidays, including skiing trips and summer sun packages.

Madison Travel , 118 Western Rd, Hove, East Sussex NN3 1DB tel 01273/202532, www.madisontravel.co.uk . Established travel agents specializing in packages to gay- and lesbian-friendly mainstream destinations, and also to gay/lesbian destinations.

Respect Holidays , 74 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 2BE tel 020/7485 8855, www.respect-holidays.co.uk . Offers exclusively gay packages to all popular European resorts. Also check out adverts in the weekly papers Boyz and Pink Paper , handed out free in gay venues.

IN THE US AND CANADA

Damron Company , PO Box 422458, San Francisco, CA 94142 tel 1-800/462-6654 or 415/255-0404, www.damron.com . Publisher of the Men's Travel Guide , a pocket-sized yearbook full of listings of hotels, bars, clubs and resources for gay men; the Women's Traveler , which provides similar listings for lesbians; and Damron Accommodations , which provides detailed listings of over 1000 accommodations for gays and lesbians worldwide. All of these titles are offered at a discount on the website. No specific city guides - everything is incorporated in the yearbooks.

Ferrari Publications , PO Box 37887, Phoenix, AZ 85069 tel 1-800/962-2912 or 602/863-2408, www.ferrariguides.com . Publishes Ferrari Gay Travel A to Z , a worldwide gay and lesbian guide; Inn Places , a worldwide accommodation guide; the guides Men's Travel in Your Pocket and Women's Travel in Your Pocket ; and the quarterly Ferrari Travel Report .

International Gay/Lesbian Travel Association , 4331 N Federal Hwy, Suite 304, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308 tel 1-800/448-8550, www.iglta.org . Trade group that can provide a list of gay- and lesbian-owned or friendly travel agents, accommodation and other travel businesses.

IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Gay and Lesbian Travel www.galta.com.au . Directory and links for gay and lesbian travel in Australia and worldwide.

Gay Travel www.gaytravel.com . The site for trip planning, bookings and general information about international travel.

Parkside Travel , 70 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside, SA 5063 tel 08/8274 1222 or 1800/888 501, hwtravel@senet.com.au . Gay travel agent associated with local branch of Hervey World Travel; all aspects of gay and lesbian travel worldwide.

Pinkstay www.pinkstay.com . Everything from visa information to finding accommodation and work around the world.

Silke's Travel , 263 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 tel 02/9380 6244 or 1800/807 860, silba@magna.com.au . Long-established gay and lesbian specialist, with the emphasis on women's travel.

Tearaway Travel, 52 Porter St, Prahan, VIC 3181 tel 03/9510 6344, tearaway@bigpond.com . Gay-specific business dealing with international and domestic travel.