BootsnAll Travel Community

My partner and I are planning to do a RTW trip for a year or so. Have any of you done this with your partner? What kind of sleeping arrangements did you normally have? I'm not concerned about booking a double bed in Europe/Japan/Australia, but am more concerned about safety in less developed/progressive areas. I'd love to hear from anyone who has done this. Thanks!

When traveling, there are often times two males traveling together (generally non-gay, but who knows?)... I don't think it'll be a problem as long as there's a bit of discretion there.

You'll probably find it easier than a typical non-married straight couple; no one's going to ask you if you're married when you get a room together. I wouldn't fight too hard for a double bed in the more conservative parts of the world, but when told that they only have them, you can act disappointed and tell them you'll take the room...

Another way you'll have it easier is in the Middle East, you can definitely walk down the street holding hands, something that a male/female couple can't really get away with.

In many countries it's often fairly easy to confuse a double bed for a room with two beds especially when booking by phone in the local language. I'd suggest making this "mistake" when you book. If when you show up they want to put you in two single beds, you could try feigning confusion. Worst case, I wouldn't press it, and just push two single beds together.

I would definately agree that it could be easier than traveling as one man and one woman who are not married or even involved with eachother.

I don't think that most people will even think of you being gay in most countries. Outside the "western world" men seem to be more physical than in North America. For instance in many countries I've been to where the gay scene isn't prevelant I've seen men playing with each others hair, holding hands and generally not being paranoid about comming off as gay. I don't think that the people in the less developed countries are going to think you are gay since you want to share a bed. They will most likely think that you are trying to save money or something like that.

Just scope out how other men are interacting with eachother and assume its okay for you two to do that as well. (This isn't always the case--since you will most likely be recognizable as foriegeners, but normally that doesn't change the standards that much.) There are, of course, many countries (much of North America, Western Europe and Oceania, some parts of Asia...) where its relatively okay to just be blaitently gay, too.