Wilde Travels Launches LGBT Adventures

Mark Thompson READ TIME: 2 MIN.

Miami, FL - Wilde Travels has officially launched as a travel company geared specifically toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community.

Offering unique experiences to off-the-beaten-path destinations, including China, India, South America, and Africa, Wilde Travels uses gay and gay-friendly guides and boutique accommodations to craft custom itineraries for individuals.

Following a soft-launch in April by Jacob Marek, the company fulfills an unmet niche within the GLBT travel market. "When you think of gay and lesbian travel, you typically think of gay cruises, circuit parties in Ibiza or Fire Island, or clothing-optional guest houses in Key West or Palm Springs," said Marek. "I thought, 'there has to be something else for those who want to explore different cultures and venture away from the tourist circuits' - turns out, there wasn't."

Wilde Travels' tagline "pride, experience, luxury" guides the direction of the company. Explains Marek: "Above all else, our guests are free to be proud of who they are because our partners and suppliers are proud of who they are. We also select our adventures and accommodations because they offer a unique experience or something so special that our clients will remember it for a lifetime. And finally, after the previous two criteria are met, we cherry pick the best hotels and boutique accommodations to provide the most comfortable and hospitable stay possible."

Based on his experience in the travel industry, Marek saw consumers wanting customized experiences to unique places, rather than group travel and tourist circuits. "When I was managing the marketing for the Kenya Tourist Board and a tour company in Patagonia (South America), the push was for custom itineraries. So we've developed trips with the intent of being tailored by our guests, whether as an annual vacation, a honeymoon, or a family getaway," said Marek.

To celebrate the launch, Wilde Travels is offering 10% off all trips booked by August 31, 2012 (mention "celebration" to claim).

Wilde Travels is a travel company catering to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) market. Founded in 2012 and based in Miami, FL, Wilde Travels offers customized, unique experiences to off-the-beaten-path locales across Asia, Africa, and South America.

Utilizing the mantra, "pride, experience, luxury," the company uses gay and gay-friendly guides, GLBT-friendly boutique accommodations, and is gay-owned and operated.

For more information, visit www.wilde-travels.com, email [email protected], or call 305.517.7800.


by Mark Thompson , EDGE Style & Travel Editor

A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.

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