London-based luxury travel advisor · LGBTQ+ specialist
Bespoke luxury travel for the LGBTQ+ community — exclusive hotel benefits, world-class cruises, and complex air bookings, handled personally from start to finish.
What I offer
LGBTQ+ friendly hotels worldwide, with exclusive VIP benefits through Virtuoso, Hyatt Privé, Marriott STARS, Hilton for Luxury and many more invitation-only programmes — at the same rates as booking direct.
Explore Hotels →From Virgin Voyages — the world's #1 LGBTQ+ cruise line — to ultra-luxury expedition voyages. Expert guidance, bespoke itinerary planning, and personal support from booking to disembarkation.
Explore Cruises →Multi-sector itineraries, open-jaw routing, ITA Matrix fares, mileage and status runs, and BA Gold Upgrade Vouchers. If it's complicated, it's exactly what I do.
Explore Air →As a gay man and experienced traveller, I understand instinctively what matters when planning a trip: the assurance that a hotel is genuinely welcoming rather than merely tolerant; the knowledge that your travelling partner won't be greeted with a second glance at check-in; the confidence that the destination and the ship are places you can be fully, freely yourself.
That understanding shapes every recommendation I make, every hotel I suggest, and every itinerary I build. It's not a policy — it's personal.
Our LGBTQ+ Approach →Hotel Programmes
Through invitation-only partnerships with the world's leading hotel groups, I can add complimentary extras to your booking — at the same publicly available rate. Your loyalty points are unaffected.
Benefits subject to availability and vary by property. All bookings made through Colletts Travel Limited as licence holder.
"Booking direct almost never gets you the best deal at a luxury hotel. A specialist advisor gets you the same rate — and adds the room upgrade, the breakfast, the credit."Lewin Higgins-Green · Independent Travel Advisor
Service 01 · Luxury Hotels
Through invitation-only partnerships with the world's leading hotel groups, I can add complimentary room upgrades, daily breakfast, hotel credits and welcome amenities to your booking — at the same publicly available rate you'd pay direct. Your loyalty points are always fully credited.
Why book through an advisor?
At luxury hotels, travel advisors like me have access to invitation-only programmes that layer exclusive benefits on top of the best available rate. You pay the same — and receive more.
I also call the hotel directly 72 hours before your arrival to confirm all benefits are in order, note any special preferences, and ensure your room is ready. It's the kind of service that makes a real difference.
Hotel Programmes
A selection of recent stays
I only recommend hotels I'd stay in myself — or that I have stayed in. Here is a selection of recent personal visits across several destinations, along with programme benefits available.
A personal favourite — a beautifully designed boutique hotel with rooftop views across the Acropolis. Genuinely one of the most impressive city views at any hotel I've stayed in. MGallery Collection — Accor Preferred benefits available.
A favourite: Hyatt's most distinctive city hotel, built into a row of canalside houses in the Jordaan. The design is extraordinary — no two rooms alike. Hyatt Privé benefits available.
A personal favourite — a stunning Andalusian hillside resort with sweeping views over the Costa del Sol, exceptional food, and an atmosphere that is genuinely hard to leave. Internova SELECT benefits available.
One of my favourites — a beautifully positioned, design-forward hotel that perfectly captures the best of Ibiza without any of the excess. The pool terrace is exceptional.
A personal favourite — a gem of a boutique hotel within Cartagena's walled city. Intimate, beautifully designed, and with some of the warmest service I've experienced anywhere.
A favourite — chic, social, and in an excellent location. One of Madrid's most stylish stays with a rooftop that rivals anything in the city. Hyatt Privé benefits available.
A personal favourite — an extraordinary building in the Financial District, with one of New York's most spectacular atria. Thompson Hotels · Hyatt Privé benefits available.
One of the best cocktail bars in London, extraordinary service, and a genuinely beautiful building. Unbound Collection by Hyatt — Hyatt Privé benefits available.
Grand Victorian splendour fully restored — the public spaces are genuinely breathtaking. Kimpton Hotels — IHG Destined benefits available.
Spectacular hilltop views over Rome, exceptional service, and a wonderful pool. Hilton for Luxury benefits available.
An icon — the Pink Lady of Cape Town, at the foot of Table Mountain. Belmond Bellini Club benefits available, and one of the great hotel garden experiences in the world.
A hidden clifftop retreat on the Amalfi Coast — perched above its own private cove, with a dramatic setting that is genuinely unlike any other hotel on the coast. Virtuoso benefits available.
"You almost never get the best deal booking a luxury hotel direct. The upgrade, the breakfast, the credit — those come from knowing which door to knock on."Lewin Higgins-Green
Service 02 · Cruising
From Virgin Voyages — the world's #1 LGBTQ+ cruise line — to ultra-luxury expedition voyages and LGBTQ+ charter sailings, I can plan, book and look after your cruise with genuine, first-hand expertise.
Virgin Voyages
Adults-only, genuinely inclusive, and named Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers in Cruise Critic's 2025 Best in Cruise Awards. I've sailed Virgin Voyages many times since Scarlet Lady's first season, and it's the line I recommend most.
Explore Virgin VoyagesThe wider cruise world
Virgin Voyages is my headline recommendation for LGBTQ+ cruising — but there's a rich world beyond it, from full-ship charter sailings with Atlantis Events to ultra-luxury options with Silversea and Seabourn.
The world's largest gay cruise operator, chartering full ships from Virgin Voyages and other major lines. An unmissable experience for those seeking an entirely LGBTQ+ environment.
All-inclusive LGBTQ+ resort-style cruises where the community becomes the majority — an experience that is genuinely transformative for many travellers.
All-suite, all-inclusive luxury with outstanding expedition itineraries. Highly LGBTQ+ welcoming, with an intimate ship environment and exceptional service.
One of the most acclaimed small-ship luxury cruise lines in the world — intimate, inclusive, and exceptionally well-regarded by LGBTQ+ travellers.
One of the most consistently LGBTQ+ welcoming mainstream luxury cruise lines, with a strong record on inclusivity and a sophisticated onboard experience.
For the adventurous LGBTQ+ traveller — small, beautiful ships reaching the world's most extraordinary destinations with genuine scientific expertise aboard.
The luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group — all-suite, all-inclusive and genuinely LGBTQ+ welcoming, with dedicated LGBTQ+ gatherings on every sailing and a fast-growing fleet.
Service 03 · Complex Air Bookings
Multi-sector tickets, open-jaw routing, ITA Matrix fares, mileage runs, tier point runs, and BA Gold Upgrade Vouchers. If it can be booked, I can book it — personally, efficiently, and with a deep knowledge of how airline pricing and frequent flyer programmes actually work.
Who is this for?
The complex air booking service is used by a range of clients — from frequent business travellers seeking to maximise status and points, to leisure travellers with multi-stop itineraries that online booking tools simply can't handle.
I have Finnair Platinum (OneWorld Emerald) status myself and book extensively across the OneWorld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance networks. I understand how airline pricing, alliance rules, and frequent flyer accrual work in practice — not just in theory.
Services in detail
Multi-sector, multi-airline, mixed-cabin — anything that booking engines struggle with or refuse to price. If you've found an itinerary on Google Flights or ITA Matrix that you can't ticket yourself, I can handle it. Up to 16 sectors and beyond.
ITA Matrix (Google's flight pricing engine) can reveal fares that airline websites and OTAs don't show. I can take your ITA Matrix itinerary and fare construction and ticket it — including fares with complex routing rules.
Planning a run to qualify for or requalify status? I can help you find the most efficient routing for your target airline and alliance, advise on the best value options, and ticket the trip — quickly, even at short notice.
British Airways Gold Upgrade Vouchers (GUFs) can be used on BA-operated and some partner flights — but the redemption process is complex. I handle GUF bookings including partner airline options that are hard to find or book directly.
Fly into one city, out of another — or construct a genuine round-the-world itinerary across multiple alliances. Pricing and routing rules for these are complex; it's exactly what I specialise in.
Cancelled flight? Significant delay? I'll work directly with the airline on your behalf to rebook, reroute, and protect your connection — quickly, and with an understanding of your passenger rights.
My own credentials
I hold Finnair Platinum status (OneWorld Emerald) — the top tier of the OneWorld alliance, giving lounge access and priority handling across all OneWorld carriers including British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and more.
I fly extensively on British Airways, and book regularly on long-haul itineraries originated from Dublin, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Frankfurt to take advantage of lower fares — known as ex-EU departures, these can deliver significant savings on business class.
"If you've found a fare on ITA Matrix or Google Flights that you can't ticket — that's exactly the kind of problem I solve."Lewin Higgins-Green
LGBTQ+ Travel
As a gay man and frequent traveller, I know exactly what it means to need more than a hotel that says it's welcoming. Every recommendation I make is informed by personal experience, community knowledge, and a genuine understanding of what LGBTQ+ travellers need to feel fully at ease.
My approach
The LGBTQ+ travel market has grown enormously — but so has the difference between hotels that are genuinely welcoming and those that simply say they are. I know that difference, because I travel myself and I am part of this community.
Every hotel I recommend, I have either stayed at personally or vetted through networks I trust. Every cruise line I work with, I understand its culture and its clientele. The advice I give isn't pulled from a brochure — it comes from real experience.
Destinations I know well
Chueca is one of Europe's great LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods — vibrant, safe, and extraordinarily welcoming. I've stayed in Madrid many times and know its hotels and scene well. ME Madrid is a personal favourite.
Legendary for LGBTQ+ travellers — one of the most consistently welcoming islands in the Mediterranean, with extraordinary beaches, nightlife, and a truly accepting atmosphere.
One of the most LGBTQ+-concentrated communities in the USA, with Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa a standout. I've stayed here multiple times and know the area extremely well.
Maspalomas is one of Europe's great LGBTQ+ resorts. I've stayed at Seven Hotel & Wellness (LGBTQ+ focused) and Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, on separate visits.
One of Mexico's most celebrated LGBTQ+ destinations — I've stayed at Casa Cupula, a landmark LGBTQ+-focused hotel with spectacular views of the bay.
WeHo is one of the world's most iconic LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods. Kimpton La Peer is an outstanding base — I've stayed there and know the area well. IHG Destined benefits available.
Eixample — the 'Gayxample' — is among the most vibrant and welcoming urban LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods in Europe. An extraordinary city for any traveller, with a rich cultural calendar.
The world's #1 LGBTQ+ cruise line — adults-only, genuinely inclusive from the keel up, with drag cabaret, official LGBTQ+ meetups, and a community that feels like home at sea.
"Every place I recommend is one where you and your partner can simply relax and be yourselves — because that's the only standard I hold myself to when I travel."— Lewin Higgins-Green
LGBTQ+ Focused Hotels
Beyond welcoming hotels, there are resorts and properties specifically designed for and by the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some I have stayed at personally or that I recommend with confidence.
Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale. A beloved LGBTQ+ resort that I've visited multiple times — relaxed, warm, and a genuine community hub in one of America's great gay neighbourhoods.
Gran Canaria. An LGBTQ+-focused hotel in Playa del Inglés, with a genuinely welcoming atmosphere and proximity to Maspalomas — one of Europe's great LGBTQ+ resorts.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A stunning hillside boutique hotel specifically designed for LGBTQ+ guests, with extraordinary bay views and exemplary personal service.
Málaga, Spain. An LGBTQ+-focused hotel in one of the Costa del Sol's most historically gay-welcoming towns — relaxed, fun, and genuinely inclusive.
Virgin Voyages Specialist
Adults-only, genuinely inclusive, and the cruise line I sail on myself, again and again. I'll help you choose the right ship, itinerary and cabin, book it for you, and look after everything until you're home.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages does things differently — and that's precisely why it resonates so deeply with LGBTQ+ travellers. Adults-only, with no buffets and no children. No stuffy formal nights. Instead: drag cabaret, a resident drag queen (The Diva), official LGBTQ+ meetups fleet-wide, gender-neutral spaces throughout, and some of the most genuinely inclusive entertainment at sea.
Named Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers in Cruise Critic's 2025 Best in Cruise Awards, Virgin Voyages also offers 20+ restaurants all included in your fare, Wi-Fi included, gratuities included — and the freedom to be fully yourself.
The original — she pioneered the Virgin Voyages experience. Caribbean and Mediterranean sailings, and a perennial favourite with LGBTQ+ travellers.
Tropical Caribbean itineraries year-round from Miami and San Juan — perfect for winter sun.
The world explorer — from the Greek Islands to Southeast Asia and Australia.
The newest Lady, launched in 2025 — the only ship in the fleet that fits through the Panama Canal, sailing Alaska, the Pacific coast and Mexican Riviera, with Caribbean winters from Miami.
Why book through me
Four ships with very different itineraries and atmospheres. I'll match you to the sailing, dates and ports that suit how you like to travel.
From Sea Terraces to RockStar Quarters, I know which categories and locations are worth it, and which to avoid, from sailing them myself.
Flights to Miami, Barcelona or Athens, and pre- or post-cruise hotels booked with VIP benefits through my hotel programmes, all in one place.
Payments, changes, dining and Shore Things questions, disruption on the day. You deal with me, not a call centre.
My personal experience
I don't just recommend Virgin Voyages — I sail on them regularly, and have sailed multiple times across the fleet. Departures from Barcelona, Athens, San Juan, and Miami mean I know these itineraries, embarkation ports, and onboard experiences in depth across different routes and seasons.
My first sailing was on Scarlet Lady in August 2021 — her inaugural season — and I was genuinely converted. The design of the ship was effortlessly elegant, the service remarkable, the food outstanding, and the atmosphere unlike anything I had experienced at sea. I've been back many times since.
That repeated personal experience shapes every Virgin Voyages recommendation I make. I know which cabin categories work best, which itineraries suit which kinds of travellers, and what to expect at every stage. It's a very different kind of knowledge from reading a brochure.
"It's the one cruise line where I've never once had to think twice about being myself. That's what I want every client to feel from the moment they step aboard."— Lewin Higgins-Green
Ready when you are
Tell me roughly when you'd like to travel and what you're in the mood for, and I'll come back to you personally with the best options — usually within one working day.
Start your enquiryGet in touch
Tell me what you're looking for — a hotel, a cruise, a complex air booking, or a full itinerary — and I'll come back to you personally, usually within one working day.
Send an enquiry
I'm a London-based luxury travel advisor with a specialism in LGBTQ+ travel — luxury hotels, cruises, and complex air bookings. I work one-to-one with every client, personally handle every enquiry, and bring genuine personal experience to every recommendation I make.
I hold Finnair Platinum (OneWorld Emerald) status, Hyatt Explorist, and Hilton Diamond, and have access to Virtuoso, Internova SELECT, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Hyatt Privé, Marriott STARS & Luminous, Hilton for Luxury, IHG Destined, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Rosewood Elite, Belmond Bellini Club, Rocco Forte Knights, Accor Preferred and Meliá BRAVOS programmes.
Legal
How I look after the personal information you share with me. Last updated September 2026.
This website is operated by Lewin Higgins-Green, an independent travel advisor trading as Higgins-Green Travel and based in London. I am the data controller for personal information collected through this website. You can contact me about anything in this notice at [email protected].
When you send an enquiry, I collect the details you enter: your name, email address, phone number (if given), the service you are interested in, travel dates, destinations and anything you write in your message. If you choose to tell me about accessibility or other needs, I use that only to plan your trip. When you go on to book, I will also need details such as passenger names, dates of birth and passport information, which I collect directly from you at that stage.
I use your information to reply to your enquiry, prepare recommendations and quotes, and arrange and manage any booking you make. The legal basis is taking steps at your request before entering into a contract, performing that contract, and my legitimate interest in responding to people who contact me. I will not send you marketing unless you ask me to, and I never sell your information.
Bookings are made through Colletts Travel Limited as licence holder, so booking details are shared with them to issue and protect your booking. I also share the details a booking requires with the hotels, cruise lines, airlines and other suppliers delivering your trip, some of which are outside the UK. Enquiry forms are processed by Netlify, which hosts this website.
Enquiries that do not lead to a booking are deleted within two years. Booking records are kept for as long as needed to meet legal, accounting and insurance requirements, typically six years after travel.
You can ask for a copy of the information I hold about you, and ask me to correct it, delete it, restrict or object to how it is used, or transfer it. Email me and I will respond within one month. If you are unhappy with how I have handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.
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