Choosing a Destination
Choosing a honeymoon destination can be an exciting, yet overwhelming task for anyone. For a lesbian couple, there are unique challenges that can make it even more difficult. When we planned our wedding in 2015, we did a lot of research on honeymoon destinations. We really wanted to plan the trip of our dreams, and find a destination where we could be comfortable and open as a newlywed lesbian couple. It was also very important to us to be able to indulge and eat amazing meals. Since we eat a plant-based diet, this was another requirement that would make it difficult to find the perfect destination. After an extensive search, we decided on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia, and we stayed at the Anse Chastanet Resort, which is owned by a Canadian couple from Vancouver. St. Lucia is not specifically a gay destination and we were the only same-sex couple at the resort during our stay, but we had an amazing time celebrating our honeymoon.
LGBTQ+ Laws
Same-sex marriage is not legal, nor recognized on the island of St. Lucia, and while it was admittedly difficult travelling to a country that didn’t recognize us as married immediately after our wedding, we knew this would be the case for many tropical destinations we could have chosen. It’s something that we had come to terms with, as there were only 22 countries in the world (mostly European) that legally recognized our marriage at the time of our wedding, and we didn’t want that to stop us from going on our dream honeymoon. St. Lucia by no means has outstanding statistics when it comes to LGBTQ+ protection. They have “buggery” and “gross indecency” laws that specifically apply to men, but there are no laws against sexual activity between two females. They do have anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ+ people in the work place, but otherwise, there is not much protection by the government.
Airbnb vs Resort
Usually when we travel, we like to stay in an Airbnb and really experience the local culture of a destination. But we knew that after our wedding we would want something easy and relaxing, so we chose to stay at a resort. While it was important to us that we felt safe in St. Lucia as a country, it was even more important that we chose a resort that was inclusive and welcoming of all couples. Before booking at Anse Chastanet, we reached out to their customer service team to ask if they were lesbian friendly. There wasn’t anything on their website or social media that indicated their stance, and so we wanted to see what their management had to say. A representative responded to say that they were happy to welcome all people, and they are very inclusive of same-sex couples travelling to their resort. We also asked about plant-based menu options, and they told us that the chef was quite accustomed to creating specialty vegan dishes, including desserts. Happy with those answers, we booked a week long stay through Air Canada Vacations, and it was perfect.
Our Experience
When we arrived on St. Lucia, the island was an absolute dream. We were picked up from the airport in a private car, and after a long drive on some very bumpy roads, we made it to Anse Chastanet. The resort is nestled on a hillside looking out over the ocean and the beautiful Piton mountains. Lush greenery, quiet beaches, and warm weather was everything we could have hoped for after escaping winter in Canada. The staff was incredibly welcoming, and we had a feeling they had been briefed about a lesbian couple coming to enjoy their honeymoon. We really didn’t mind, as everyone was so kind and went out of their way to congratulate us and make us feel comfortable. The resort’s executive chef sat down with us at check-in to talk about creating special plant-based meals for us, and the resort staff went over all of the amazing amenities and activities we could enjoy throughout the week. We were even presented with complimentary experiences courtesy of Air Canada Vacations, including a couples massage and a private candlelit dinner on the beach.
We spent a blissful week enjoying the beauty of the island, and celebrating our brand new marriage. On our first night, there was a cocktail reception, and one of the resort’s owners made a point to personally welcome us and congratulate us on our wedding. She was also very happy to meet some fellow Vancouverites! Part way through the week, we took a sunset jazz cruise with other resort guests, and we celebrated with all of the fellow newlyweds. We swam in our private pool, relaxed on the beach, dined at the amazing restaurants, got couples massages, and kayaked in the ocean. It was an incredible week.
Your honeymoon is definitely a time when you will want to be able to hold hands, kiss, cuddle, and be yourselves without fear, and we absolutely felt like we could. We enjoyed all of the typical honeymooner activities, and nobody made us feel like it was out of the ordinary. (Even though we did manage to majorly throw off a couple of young guys who thought they were talking to two single straight women!) We feel lucky to have had such an amazing experience, and to have such beautiful memories of that trip.
How to Plan Your Honeymoon
When planning your honeymoon, we believe that every couple should enjoy the trip of their dreams! While there are specifically gay and lesbian travel destinations, it will really limit your options. In our experience, there are many establishments that are inclusive and welcoming, even if they don’t specifically advertise themselves as LGBTQ+ friendly. Just like anything else, we recommend doing your research. Look up the laws of the country you want to visit to help determine if you’re comfortable travelling there for your honeymoon. Read about the social climate in the country, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in the specific location where you want to go. If you’re choosing to stay at a resort or hotel, reach out to them and ask about their policies. And when you’re on your dream trip, be visible if you feel comfortable doing so. It’s important for staff and other guests to see same-sex couples at all types of travel destinations around the world.
We would love to know where other lesbian couples travelled for their honeymoon, and what your experiences were. Let us know in the comments!
NOTE: This post is in no way sponsored by Anse Chastanet Resort or the island of St. Lucia. We will always disclose partnerships and sponsored content.
