ABTA reveals top LGBT honeymoon hotspots

From Brighton to Miami, ABTA has revealed some top honeymoon spots for LGBT couples who are ready to get hitched

Around 7,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples enter into a civil partnership each year. Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the UK, many such couples are expected to tie the knot and take a honeymoon throughout 2014/15. But while some destinations are openly LGBT-friendly, some may be less welcoming, and in others there may be serious safety issues to consider. With this in mind, ABTA has come up with 10 top locations for honeymooners (in no particular order):

Brighton, UK
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Cape Town, South Africa
San Francisco, USA
Greek Islands (Mykonos and Lesbos), Greece
Sitges, Spain
Miami and the Florida Keys, USA
Sydney, Australia
Phuket, Thailand (pictured)
Tel Aviv, Israel

There are also several things to consider before you go…

Do some homework

Countries that recognise same-sex unions are a good choice but there are also many countries that are very gay friendly even if legislation is not clear. Always check FCO advice before you travel and also research what is deemed appropriate behaviour to avoid getting on the wrong side of local laws or customs.

Let your travel providers know it's your honeymoon

Tell people it's your honeymoon or consider a honeymoon package, as you may be able eligible for romantic extras. Remember that to qualify for offers, some companies may ask to see documentation - a wedding certificate, for example.

Go with a reputable provider

Wherever you're going, your honeymoon is incredibly important so choose a holiday company with a good track record that is a member of ABTA. Mark Tanzer, ABTA's chief executive, says: "A honeymoon is a traditional way to start married life so we recommend couples research their options thoroughly: talk to a travel professional, who will be able to offer advice about destinations and experiences; check travel advice with ABTA and the Foreign Office and always book with a reputable company. There are some fantastic locations to choose from to inspire all newlyweds to get the most out of their honeymoon plans."

For more advice and LGBT honeymoon inspiration, visit www.abta.com

For LGBT travel advice from the FCO, see www.gov.uk