We’re off to Mexico! LGBTQ+ travelers feel the love at this top summer destination

More than 20 million tourists visited Mexico in 2021. It boasts nearly 6,000 miles of coastline, 35 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and it's Travel + Leisure magazine's 2022 Destination of the Year. It's a country as diverse as it is beautiful, from sweeping deserts in the north to lush rain forests in the south.

There is so much to do and see, and to round out this year’s Pride month, IHG Hotels & Resorts is spotlighting Mexican cities that need to be on every LGBTQ+ traveler's bucket list. 

"LGBTQ+ travelers are interested in the same things as every traveler – culture, history, gastronomy – and Mexico delivers on all of these," says John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. 

While the country's beach resorts and nightclubs have long been safe havens for the LBGTQ+ community – the legalization of gay marriage in Mexico City in 2010 was a turning point. 
"As laws have changed and visibility has increased, it feels much safer now to expand our range," says Tanzella. 

Acapulco 

A town that immediately evokes images of old-world glamour and mystique, made famous by the Hollywood elite of the 50s and 60s who escaped to this beach resort on Mexico's Pacific Coast. This lively, cheerful town is still a top attraction today, and there are many welcoming restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Tourists and locals take part in the area's famed cliff diving and deep-sea fishing excursions. Acapulco's Playa Condesa is a popular gay beach with stunning vistas, and it's just a 10-minute walk from the Holiday Inn Resort Acapulco. Holiday Inn Acapulco La Isla is another excellent choice. Guests can stay close to the airport and shopping district, but still having beach access via a shuttle that departs from the hotel hourly. 

Guadalajara 

For those who only know Mexico as a place of sea, sand, and sun – Guadalajara will come as a surprise in the best possible ways. The city proudly claims the title of being the cultural center of Mexico, hosting some of its biggest festivals and events. It's the birthplace of tequila and mariachi, and has a roaring nightlife of dance clubs and bars oozing with character (and some of that local tequila!). The corner of Prisciliano Sánchez and Ocampo in the city center is referred to as Guadalajara's gay village and has several restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shops. The Holiday Inn & Suites Guadalajara Centro Historico is less than a 10-minute walk to the area. For those looking to stay a bit further from downtown, the InterContinental Presidente Guadalajara and Candlewood Suites Guadalajara Gallerias are both great options near popular shopping hubs.

Mexico City

We arrive at this beautiful, bustling capital, also known as CDMX (Ciudad de Mexico). The city's Pride Parade, a massively joyous affair, is on June 25 and kicks off at The Angel of Independence, just a 10-minute walk from Holiday Inn Express Mexico Reforma. If you want to experience Mexico City but enjoy quieter surroundings, the InterContinental Presidente Mexico City is perfect. It’s in the exclusive Polanco neighborhood, and close to top restaurants, the Museum of Anthropology, and National Auditorium. Mexico City gained prominence for LGBTQ+ travel in 2010 after legalizing both same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. The city's official tourism bureau has even created a guide welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers. Whether your love is art, food, or architecture, this historic, lively city is an incredible introduction to all that Mexico offers. 

Monterrey

If you're seeking culture, beauty, and history but still crave the energy of a big city, Monterrey may be just the right vibe for you. It's the third-largest city in Mexico and home to the country's most well-known contemporary art museum, and there is no better place for a stroll than the historic Barrio Antigua, lined with colorful shops. Stay at the Holiday Inn Express Monterrey - Fundidora, near the city's famed Fundidora Park. 

Oaxaca 

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most vibrant and delicious places. Oaxaca is known for its variety of chilies, dozens of different kinds of mole sauces, fried plantains, and smoked meats served in a tostada. It's a food lover's paradise. It's also one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly places in the country. Not only is same-sex marriage legal here, but Oaxaca has also long been home to an indigenous gender-fluid community known as Muxes in Juchitan in the southern part of the state. Stay at Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca - Centro Historico, and plan a sojourn to Juchitán where villagers have celebrated the concept of a third gender since pre-Colonial times. 

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is the perfect beachside vacation for travelers looking for a quieter seaside escape than some of Mexico's other resort towns. While summers and holidays can get crowded – head to Puerto Vallarta during some off-season moments, and you can experience life like the locals. The Holiday Inn & Express Suites Puerto Vallarta Marina & Golf is in a central location to enjoy both the downtown nightlife at its famed “Zona Romantica,” home to all the LGBTQ+ nightlife and venues, but also convenient for daytime excursions to quaint beach villages like Sayulita, Bucerias, and San Pancho. 

Ensuring colleagues and guests can show up as their authentic selves at all our properties is important for IHG Hotels & Resorts, and it's a vital part of our promise to deliver True Hospitality for Good. For the last eight years, IHG has been recognized in the United States by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.” In 2022 it received that same recognition for the first time in Mexico.

"Being recognized by Human Rights Campaign for the first time in Mexico builds on our continued eight-year record in the U.S.," says David Rios, SVP of commercial & marketing for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean at IHG. "It's a significant recognition, allowing us to speak with one voice as a truly global company and use that voice to champion a diverse and inclusive culture within our corporate offices and our hotels."

To explore more of Mexico and book your stay, visit here.