HE TRAVEL
Planning a getaway takes a gay
BY SEAN GALUSZKA
Travel should be a respite from our daily grind, a rewarding carefree experience. We all could use an emotional oasis, especially lately. Sadly, during a pandemic, travel can be a nightmare. My partner and I attempted a Hawaiian trip with disastrous results due to Hawaiian Airlines and the Hawaiian government “Safe Travels Program.”
Far from celebrating our engagement, we were harassed by police, refused service at the Queen Kapioloni hotel, quarantined for 48 hours, and forced to escape home on another airline. Wouldn’t it be nice to plan a trip and have a professional take care of every detail?
HE Travel, “the King of Gay Travel,” has been delivering flawless LGBTQ international and domestic travel tours since 1973.
Owner Philip Sheldon took up the mantle in 2001 from founder Hanns Ebensten who ran the first gay tour down the Grand Canyon. This and last summer, despite the pandemic, HE Travel sold out this tour with original partners Grand Canyon Expeditions, handling every detail from navigating your raft through the rapids to preparing all meals. They also recently completed successful tours to the Galapagos and Peru.
By aligning themselves with phenomenal local partners, HE Travel stays well informed and can adapt to frequently changing travel requirements. They can even schedule your rapid-result test as needed. HE Travel updates you on the status of your destination right up until your tour and even makes instant changes during your travels when things go awry.
“When we found out there would be a two-day delay getting a flight from Quito to Lima, we reserved rooms for our guests at the incredible hacienda near Quito that we use for our Cotopaxi Adventure Tour. Against the backdrop of the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano, our guests rode horses and hiked mountain trails instead of hanging out by the airport.”
From Colombia and Chile to New Zealand and even Antarctica, HE Travel tours are a true LGBTQ friendly escape.
“When Peru announced all transportation would be banned on Father’s Day, we rearranged our itinerary to visit Machu Picchu a day early. We also added a relaxing spa day at the finest resort in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.”
HE Travel offers small group tours for every level from “relaxing” to “soft adventure.” You could also arrange a Custom Tour for a romantic get away, an extension on a tour, or a holiday with friends. And for the more adventurous gay travelers there’s Adrenaline Club featuring white water rafting, mountain biking, paragliding, rock climbing, caving, zip lining, and more.
From Colombia and Chile to New Zealand and even Antarctica, HE Travel tours are a true LGBTQ friendly escape. Their team works tirelessly with partners around the globe to ensure both safety and fun on every trip. For further assurance, here’s a message from Phil himself:
“Since the start of COVID, no one has lost any money paid to HE Travel due to COVID restrictions. We have also intervened with travel insurance companies and airlines to ensure our clients are made whole with either refunds or credits.”
I wish my partner and I had known about HE Travel before booking our Hawaiian “adventure”. Luckily now, like you, we know better.
For more info visit: https://info.hetravel.com/julyaugust-2021
