One Bed or Two: Realities of Traveling as a Lesbian Couple in Latin America
One key difference between straight and gay long-term traveling couples often boils down to the bed situation. It's not what you might think—it's the awkwardness that starts before check-in. Straight couples typically get offered a double bed first, or twins if unavailable. For LGBTQ+ couples on a budget, it's more complicated. Here's what it's like traveling as a lesbian couple.
Traveling as a Lesbian Couple Through Latin America
Let's explore common scenarios when two women arrive at a hostel they've decided to check into. Scenario 1: We're shown a twin room right away. We exchange a glance, considering factors like how tired we are from hiking with packs, the hostel's quality, and price. Then we decide if we'll push the beds together. Scenario 2: The owner apologizes for only having a double bed—we sigh in relief. If they offer twins the next day, we say the room is perfect and we're fine sharing. Scenario 3: We ask directly for a double bed, endure quizzical looks, but secure the room.
We often wish staff would casually ask, like offering sugar: "One bed or two, ladies?"
Most LGBTQ+ travelers are like straight ones—we visit the same sights, bars, and hotels. Traveling as a lesbian couple hasn't been a major issue for us, likely due to our discreet public affection. Stolen kisses and winks are manageable, but comforting each other during tough moments is harder without seeming like just friends.
We're not hiding in the closet. In Europe, we're open about our relationship. In Central America, homosexuality has low media visibility, and the closet remains common outside exceptions. This is changing; Mexico surprised us with its liberal attitudes toward gays and lesbians. Mindful of strong Catholic influences, we act as friends to avoid issues. Locals often miss clues we're a couple—like matching shoes, similar styles, and our intimate conversations—obvious to those from the U.S. or Europe.
Only one spot, El Amanecer Sak'ari in San Pedro, Guatemala, recognized us as a couple. They apologized for twin rooms and upgraded us to a double the next day as promised.
Our negative experiences are rare. On Caye Caulker in Belize, after a romantic hand-holding walk, a rasta yelled, "Why dose girls holding hands? What's wrong with dem?" A friend replied, "Dos two girls is husband and wife, dey don’t need no man." Sweet, in a way. Then the first shouted, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"
Costa Rica stands out as Central America's most gay-friendly. It lacks same-sex marriage but promotes tolerance politically. Its tourism industry markets to LGBTQ+ travelers, possibly due to maturity. Tolerance often ties more to hotel star ratings than policy.
International chains train staff for discretion, valuing the 'pink dollar.' Budget spots focus on green dollars, unaware of LGBTQ+ economic power.
This reflects our firsthand experiences—not expert advice. Women's experiences differ from gay men's. Share yours below, gay or straight, especially lesbian couples. Tips on LGBTQ+-friendly budget hotels/hostels in Latin America or worldwide welcome!
