Pride Atlas

This is a great reference book with so much information about LGBTQ+ travel. I was very impressed with the amount of research that went into it. The information about each place will make you want to visit and the tidbits were very informative.

I'm just going to say it. This book uses the word "iconic" so loosely. Some places were actual locations of queer history while some were just places where queer events happen once a year and others were entire cities. I wish there had been some explanation as to why these locations were chosen while others were left out. The 500 places broke down into 125 in North America; 73 in Latin America; 183 in Europe; 79 in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East; and 40 in Australia and New Zealand. Obviously Asia, Africa, and the Middle East are a lot less LGBTQ friendly than other regions so it make sense that this section was so small. I did find myself growing frustrated by the fact that so many of the U.S. locations were in California and New York and about a quarter of the Europe ones were in the U.K. I was genuinely so happy to find that my Salt Lake City warranted one of the slots, but so many states were not represented (like the entire midwest to the point that it felt like the book was erasing the queer experiences and contributions of those not on the coast. I did appreciate that the book acknowledged that there are still many locations in the world where being queer is dangerous if not illegal and encouraged travelers to do their research to know how to be safe where they travel. I do wish that the book had included a lot more practical information. Also, if you're going to call this an atlas, WHY IS THERE NOT A MAP??? Overall this could be a good resource, but it is not comprehensive enough to plan an entire trip.

Informative travel and photo book showcasing places or events that are queer friendly or have historical significance. Photos may show locations like bars, clubs, beaches while other photos are for Pride events or list whole cities or communities as queer friendly. Times of year are listed if it is important. I thought the majority of photos look like they come from various Pride parades. Those are fun, but I was liked seeing the colorful murals in neighborhoods or monuments. Things that look more permanent than annual celebrations. Roughy 2/5 of the locations are in North and South America, 2/5 in Europe and 1/5 in Asia. The majority of USA locations are in California and New York. I was happy to see Utah’s capitol city (I live in the suburbs) mentioned as extremely LGBTQ-friendly, with statistically more LGBTQ+ couples than Los Angeles. The Atlas does discuss safety for traveling and being aware of countries with restrictive laws.

This book is useful to find places or events you may be interested in visiting. But it isn’t comprehensive enough to for planning trips. For example the coasts are represented in the USA and Canada. But there is almost no information given for the middle areas of either countries. I’m not sure the criteria of how the places are selected as I’m sure there are Pride parades in the Midwest but nothing is mentioned. Even with areas not represented, I was happy to see what is included. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the temporary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is absolutely stunning photo book of the best gay places to visit is extensive! I have so many places I want to visit now, and know just when to go there based on the recommendations accompanying each location. So much colour and happiness depicted on each page makes me feel so glad and proud to be a part of the LGBTQIA community! We really do know how to party!

This is such a beautifully designed, informative book for anyone who wants to discover a variety of different LGBTQIA places while traveling. Included are locations around the world significant to LGBTQIA history, yearly celebrations, places to spend a day, or clubs if you prefer that scene. I love the idea of a global travel guide for the queer community, and I hope it is adapted to a pocket travel size or an app that can be continuously updated with new places for travelers on the go.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful book!

The book has information about various locations that are considered good destinations for the LGBTQ+ community. The book is broken down by continent and seems to focus mostly on events. While some bars, restaurants, etc. are listed most of the destinations have a short description with a time of year to visit and what to expect and a lot of them are pride parade or events that are only once a year. The photos are beautiful and there's information on how to travel safe and to be aware of what laws are in various countries. While there's not a lot of information on each suggested destination this could be a helpful starting point for deciding where to visit.

The Pride Atlas is a must have for queer travelers. It is not only a wonderfully curated list of destinations around the world, it also contains a good bit of queer history in its descriptions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the many places and events listed, and the photography included was perfectly paired. The book also includes a forward about safety when traveling while queer, and an afterword about colonization and how to not be part of the problem when traveling abroad.

I received an advanced digital reading copy from NetGalley.