Summer is here, and who isn’t daydreaming of fabulous adventures in foreign cities?  Well …dream no more, because Eurostar is offering you the chance to take in both Paris and London in one amazing trip to Europe in October……

The high-speed train operator, connecting the U.K. and France (in just 2hrs and 15 mins) is celebrating all things London and Paris and you are invited to join in the fun!  To enter into the competition, all you have to do is share your dream vacation to London and Paris at www.loveparisjadorelondon.com, and you could win two places on a fabulous trip of a lifetime in two of Europe’s most iconic cities this fall.

So, does your heart belong to Paris?

Do you desire a rendez-vous in the City of Lights? Someone to whisk you off to a chic hotel for a whirlwind week of fun, fashion and fine cuisine? A romantic stroll down the Champs Elysees, a spot of shopping and a glass of champagne on a rooftop in full view of the Eiffel Tower?

Or do you hear London Calling…?

A roller-coaster ride of impossibly cool art, culture, history, heritage and rock ‘n’ roll royalty. Would you seek out the Victorian streets of Sherlock Holmes or take a wander in Notting Hill? Fill up with a full English breakfast before speedboating up the Thames, a spot of afternoon tea with the Queen, then kicking back in a charming East End pub while cockney locals regale you with tall tales of how well they know Michael Caine? Cheers mate!

Get your imagination fired up and visit www.loveparisjadorelondon.com now for your chance to win.

Bon chance

American Airlines is offering a special low fare of just $206* each way, from

New York (JFK) to Manchester (MAN)! Visit one of the UK’s most exciting and diverse cities! From the breathtaking architecture to the unique spirit of its’ people, this city is a must see! Book your tickets on AA.com by May 20th, 2010, for travel to Manchester May 13th through May 23rd, 2010. All travel needs to be completed by June 22nd, 2010, in order to enjoy this low fare. Hurry, this fare won’t last!  *Additional restrictions, taxes and fees apply.

FARE IS EACH WAY, BASED ON ROUND-TRIP PURCHASE

Click here to learn more about LGBT ManchesterMancunians are a proud bunch, and for very good reason. Theirs is a city that is vibrant, cosmopolitan, exciting, forward-thinking – and home to a thriving and world-renowned LGBT scene. And as you’ll find out within minutes of being there, it is among the friendliest cities in the UK. Manchester is also a byword for cool – from its legendary and iconic music progeny (from The Smiths to Simply Red, via Oasis, Lisa Stansfield, New Order and The Bee Gees to name but a few!) that makes it arguably the most musically prolific city in the world, to its buzzing arts scene, Manchester is truly an international city. Combining visionary architecture, a colorful history, world-class attractions – and not forgetting the UK’s first dedicated ‘gay village’ – we defy you to leave Manchester without a smile on your face.

Britain is alive with Pride and you should be too. Below is a listing of the pride events taking place in Britain throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2010. Prides in Britain promote diversity and equality so whether you are a bear, twink, lesbian, otter, muscle mary, drag queen or anything else that tickles your fancy come celebrate pride in Britain in 2010.

MAY 2010

May 1st – 23rd
Brighton Fringe Festival – Brighton, England

May 1st – 23rd
Brighton Festival – Brighton, England

May 13th – 15th
The Great Escape – Brighton, England

May 15th – 16th
Blackpool Pride – Blackpool, England

May 27th -31st

Bear Pride – London, England

May 29th
Birmingham Gay Pride – Birmingham, England

JUNE 2010

June 8th – 13th
Pride Youth Games – Manchester, England

11-13 June 2010
Torquay – Pride Torbay – Torbay, England

June 19th – July 4th
Pride London Festival – London, England

June 20th
Suffolk Pride – Ipswich, England

June 26th 2010

Pride Scotia – Edinburgh, Scotland

June 26th 2010
Swansea Pride – Swansea, Wales

June 26th
Gloucestershire Pride - Gloucester, England

JULY 2010

July 3rd
Pride London – Parade and rally – London, England

July 10th
Derby Goes Pink – Derby, England

July 17th
Northern Pride – Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

July 25th
Huddersfield Pink Picnic - Huddersfield, England

July 31st
Norwich Pride – Norwich, England

July 31st
Nottingham Pride – Nottingham, England

July 31st – August 8th
Pride in Brighton & Hove, Summer Festival Week – Brighton & Hove, England

AUGUST 2010

August 7th
Pride in Brighton & Hove, Parade and park party – Brighton & Hove, England

August 7th
Liverpool Pride - Liverpool, England

August 14th
Stoke Pride – Stoke-on-Trent, England

August 16th – 22nd
Pride Bristol, Festival – Bristol, England

August 21st
Pride Bristol, Parade – Bristol, England

August 20th – 30th
Manchester Gay Pride, Festival – Manchester

August 21st
Lincoln Pride – Lincoln, England

August 28th
Manchester Gay Pride, Parade – Manchester, England

August 28th
Cornwall Gay Pride – Truro, England

SEPTEMBER 2010

September 4th
Cardiff Mardi Gras – Cardiff, Wales

September 4th
Reading Gay Pride – Reading, England

September 5th
Barnsley Gay Pride – Barnsley, England

September 18th
Worcester Pride – Worcester, England

OCTOBER 2010

October 6th – 9th
Iris Prize – LGBT Film Festival - Cardiff, Wales

Gay Pride Calendar 2012

June 23rd – July 8th
WorldPride - London, England

(EuroPride will not be held in 2012 in recognition of WorldPride being in London)

Scotland certainly doesn’t come up short as a travel destination – ancient castles, exquisite Highland scenery, and the splendid cities in Edinburgh and Glasgow.  Now an online travel site is hoping to encourage gay and lesbian travellers and those tying the knot to head to Scotland. www.lovescotland.com launched in February 2010 and specializes in luxury vacations and civil partnerships, and hopes to promote Scotland as the destination of choice.

“Scotland is an amazing place to visit, and I can’t think of a more romantic destination for a wedding” say’s Love Scotland founder Ruth Cochrane “Scotland’s progressive laws and attitudes make it an attractive LGBT destination.  We’ve searched, sampled, tested and tasted the very best that Scotland has to offer to ensure that our customers are provided with bespoke, gay friendly holidays that could only be created with unique insider knowledge.”

Here are just a sampling of some of the fabulous tours that are available:

explore scotland

Enjoy this luxury scottish holiday and discover the culture, heritage and landscapes that made Scotland famous. Tours range from 4 to 10 days.

gourmet scotland

Experience the best in scottish local produce and fine dining with this luxury gourmet tour. Tours range from 4 to 10 days.

For more information about our luxury self-drive tours and fabulous Civil Partnership packages, visit www.lovescotland.com

A home away from home vacation presents endless opportunities to meet real Brits and reap money saving tips in England, Scotland and Wales

In the current economic climate, travelers in the know often stay in apartments, bed and breakfasts, as well as participate in home and hospitality exchange programs. Not only is a ‘homecation,’ a home away from home experience, an affordable way to live like a local, but it also helps to stretch one’s dollar on a vacation in Britain.

The British ‘homecation’ begins simply by trading in frequent flyer miles or by purchasing an affordable roundtrip transatlantic ticket. To help consumers get the best bang for their buck, VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, suggests the following value for money experiences.

Britain’s home and hospitality exchange programs present unique opportunities for U.S. travelers to swap homes with their British counterparts. Intervac, a preeminent home exchange program, offers travelers a diverse selection of apartments, country houses and cottages in England, Scotland and Wales.  Green Theme International Home Exchange Holiday Service welcomes travelers with eco-friendly homes equipped with water efficient toilets and showers, solar panels, fluorescent or LED lightings and in some cases, bicycles or hybrid cars. HomeExchange offers house swaps, as well as hospitality exchanges – travelers stay in homes with their host families at mutually beneficial times.

Self-catering apartments such as Club Suites and Soho Square and bed & breakfasts also present an affordable way for visitors to save money during their stay in England, Scotland and Wales – all while preserving an intimate, home-away-from-home feel. At Home London provides bed and breakfast to visitors in private homes in central London locations such as Belgravia, Chiswick, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Notting Hill. The Pembrokeshire-based Coastal Cottages operate affordable cottages along Britain’s beautiful coast. For unique places to stay, Unique Home Stays offers small and large luxurious self-catering cottages in Cornwall & Devon and throughout the UK.

Consumers can add to their ‘homecation’ by doing what locals do in their hometown. Britain’s farmers markets (Brecon, Edinburgh, Haverford West, Pimlico, Stroud and Winchester) provide endless opportunities to secure fresh, organic produce for home cooked meals, as well as savor local flavors. Locals also dine in gastropubs – fine British fare in pub settings at affordable prices – or they take advantage of the prix fixe lunch and dinner menus offered throughout the country.

Other lesser known secrets include paying just £5 (or approximately $10) to stand in the pit to watch a Shakespeare Globe Theatre production or to rent a cushion at the Rose Theatre to see a recent show. Or, they can also pay £2.50 (or approximately $5) to explore more than 3,000 private owned gardens which open to the public through the National Gardens Scheme. Or they can contact the BBC to secure complimentary tickets for a taping of a popular television show.