There's more to queer Europe than gay Paris. Until recently there was no good guide that catered to gay and lesbian tastes and needs. With Frommer's Gay & Lesbian Europe, gay and lesbian travelers can get the lowdown on transportation and lodging, sightseeing and shopping, food and nightlife. But there are also such issues as comfort levels and cultural expectations, finding gay-owned or gay-friendly establishments, meeting fellow gay travelers, and fraternizing with the locals.
If you're heading to Paris, you might want to know about the rustic gay restaurant that looks like a French farmhouse (complete with dog napping in the corner). Frommer's includes the sightseeing standards, plus extras like the Erotic Museum, Proust's hometown of Illiers-Combray, and Le Marais--the heart of gay Paris. You'll find gyms and bookstores, plus stores that specialize in chocolates, club wear, and gourmet foods. There's a full section on bars--gay, lesbian, and mainstream--as well as cabarets, supper clubs, dance clubs, sex clubs, gay saunas, and leather shops.
There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek cleverness here, with chapter headings like "London: The Queen's at Home," "The Czech Republic: Coming Out of the Past," and "Greece: Where It All Began." There's also sensitive and useful information about what's accepted where, from hotel reservations to public displays of same-sex affection. For anyone who's here and queer but wants to be queer and there, this is the guide to take. --Stephanie Gold
