Name: Jason Dorn
Company Name: Jason’s Travel Deals and the Relaxed Luxury Collection by JTD
Location: Oregon Native, currently resides on East Coast
What inspired you to start traveling?
I was inspired to travel from right here in the PNW! Started with a desire to better get to know the area and it grew from there. Now, I’ve been to all “four corners” of the world and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
How did you get into the travel industry?
I got into the travel business by accident. I had two best friends going through cancer and to keep spirits high during chemo treatments we would talk about where we would go when they were healed. Unfortunately, both lost their battles and I found myself with a lot of knowledge and surprisingly connections in the travel industry.
How do you choose destinations that are safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ travelers?
The world is a BIG place, and there are thousands of places an LGBT traveler can go, including those that aren’t LGBTQ friendly. (In fact, I’m in Casablanca today, where it is technically illegal to be gay) The most important thing to decide on where to travel is the motivation. Why do you want to go somewhere? Let’s talk about the do’s and don’ts, and what precautions you need to take.
Can you share a favorite queer-friendly destination—and what made it special for you?
A queer friendly destination… hmm. That’s a hard one. I mean we have the typical places such as P-Town, Puerto Vallarta and Palm Springs….but places like Sitges, Spain are a magical Gay hot spot. The sun, the beach, the sangria… and all the clubs, bars and meetings spaces in a very gay friendly city just 45 minutes from Barcelona.
What’s one common misconception people have about being queer and traveling?
A misconception I hear a lot (and this is a very polarizing statement) is that if you’re LGBT, you cannot visit certain places such as The Maldives, Dubai, Morocco….yes, you can. They are safe to visit and they want your money. The shop keep or the waiter appreciate the business regardless of the politics or religion, just don’t disrespect their laws by being overtly queer or breaking laws. It is really about being respectful and using common sense. Now, whether you want to spend money in Muslim countries is a personal one.
Have you ever felt unsafe while traveling, and how did you handle it?
Personally, I have never felt unsafe or nervous about being an LGBT traveler in any of the countries I have been to. Including those in the Middle East and countries where it is illegal to be gay. I believe just being a good human takes precedence (again… I am writing this from a lovely cafe in Casablanca)
How do you see LGBTQ+ travel evolving in the next few years?
LGBT traveling in the next few years will be picking up in more “experiential experiences” that just your jaunt to Puerto Vallarta. Group trips to amazing places like Iceland, Africa or the Galapagos Islands will start to be where you see the gay traveling community venturing into.
What are some Must-Have travel gear? Do you have a favorite?
I’m not a big “travel gear” guy, I don’t do a lot of extra things to carry around, but the one thing I swear by is my remote to ear buds thing called an “Airfly”. This allows you to Bluetooth from the seat back to screen on a plane to your ear buds. Also works great if you’re taking a walking tour with a headset!
What are your top 3 bucket list places you still need to see?
If I have three bucket list destinations still to visit, it will have to be hiking in 1) Peru, 2) exploring Antarctica 3) and a Safari in Africa. Luckily, I have a group of LGBT travelers that want to do a Safari in 2027, so I am headed out to vet suppliers in November in advance of booking.
Any advice for people to get the most out of their travel experiences?
Biggest word of advance I can give… don’t try to pack too much in. It’s great to take a tour or schedule a museum but remember the most magical experience might be sitting at a cafe with a glass or wine and watching the scene around you!
