Monaco, Gay Monaco

Monaco, Gay Monaco

A famed location for the international jet set, thanks to lavish scenes in James Bond fi lms like “Golden Eye” and “Never Say Never,” Monaco is now open to all, including LGBTQ+ travelers with champagne taste and adventurer’s heart.

BY FRED W. WRIGHT JR.

Diehard James Bond fans would never forget Bond’s introduction to femme fatale, Xenia Onatopp at the Casino Royale Monte Carlo, Monaco. Bond, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, orders “Vodka Martini. Shaken, not stirred. And for you?” Onatopp, portrayed by Famke Janssen: “Same.” Bond: “How do you take it?” Onatopp: “Straight up. With a twist.” Onatopp: “Thank you mister …?” Bond: “Bond. James Bond.” Onatopp: “Xenia Sargadia Onatopp.” Bond: “Onatopp?” Onatopp: “Onatopp.” Super sexy. And stylish. Sassy, yet classy.

That is Monaco. Only these days, it is not only an exotically beautiful woman on the arm of the leading man. Attractive couplings engaged in sexy conversation include rugged debonair man with equally handsome man, and femme fatale woman with other femme fatale beauty.

Long distinguished as the second smallest citystate in Europe (the smallest is Vatican City), Monaco has enjoyed its niche as a prime tourist destination in the French Riviera, right along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Now it is enjoying the status as a 2021 “featured destination” for the LGBTQ+ community following a promotion in status by the IGLTA—the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association.

“We are so pleased to see Monaco elevate (its) commitment to inclusive travel...,” IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. “I've visited

Monaco several times since the early ‘90s, and they have unique, luxurious o erings to appeal to LGBTQ+ travelers, from the yacht scene to the Grand Prix. Over the years, I've also seen rsthand how Monaco Tourism has put in great e ort behind the scenes to better understand LGBTQ+ travel and support our market.”

IGLTA has been working with Monaco Tourism for about ve years. “Although Monaco’s laws might not be as progressive as those in some other countries, laws are not the only de nition of the experience an LGBTQ+ traveler will have in a destination. Monaco feels more welcoming than many places in the U.S., for example,” Tanzella said.

Is Monaco gay-friendly? Not so much if you are a resident. A review of Monaco laws shows they do not recognize same-sex marriage or enforce non-discrimination laws against fair housing, employment, etc. It is gay-friendly, if you are visiting. For tourists, the governing laws are those of France, so same-sex couples will not be arrested for holding hands or other forms of public a ection.

“At IGLTA, we promote destinations across the spectrum of diverse tastes within our LGBTQ+ family of travelers. Monaco is not a destination for those seeking LGBTQ+ nightlife, but what Monaco o ers is extraordinary luxury, beautiful architecture surrounded by sculpted gardens, and an environment that is safe for everyone. I have personally visited several times and found it to be a fascinating destination,” he said.

Monaco, with its resident royal family, has long held a kind of mystique for travelers. It’s only two square miles and surrounded on three sides by France. In fact, a day trip to nearby Nice, just 20 minutes away by train or rental car, is often on the agenda for travelers staying in Monaco. Nice does have a gay scene with bars, clubs, saunas, and more, concentrated near the Port, 'Le Petit Marais Niçois' (a reference to the Marais district in Paris), particularly along Rue Bonaparte, which any hotel concierge can direct you. The principality has enjoyed a status as the playground of the wealthy. Indeed, nearly a third of its approximately 38,000 residents are millionaires, according to one source.

Film goers have seen James Bond play among the rich at the Monte Carlo Casino (in 1995's GoldenEye and 1983's Never Say Never Again), and the casino was featured in the lm Ocean's Twelve (2004). Other allures feeding the Monaco image include the annual Grand Prix Monaco and other international events and festivals, some of which may be canceled or curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

As a result, the tourism officials in Monaco are promoting LGBTQ+ couples’ tourism for celebrations such as honeymoons, anniversaries, and marriage proposals.

Monaco is a nation with 139 nationalities that help give the diminutive destination a cosmopolitan air that helps make the country “...culturally diverse, inclusive, and welcoming,” according to Guy Antognelli, Monaco government Tourist and Convention Authority general manager.

The Monaco Government Tourist O ce in New York City promotes the principality as a leading upscale destination while developing marketing initiatives. It o ers personalized tourism advice and information for individuals, group and business travel as well as access to Le Club Diamant Rouge de Monaco for VIP travel within the principality, while “maintaining the principality as a safe destination to experience and stay over.”

French is the national language but English is spoken throughout. This factor makes Monaco user-friendly for American tourists. According to tourism officials, Monaco’s hotels registered 37,709 people arriving from the

SUMMER/FALL U.S. in 2019, representing 10 percent 2021 EVENTS of the total arrivals. JULY 1 – 31 Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival Once in Monaco, visitors tend to focus on the Monte Carlo Casino, o cially named Casino de Monte-Carlo, a gambling and entertainment complex. It includes a casino, the Opéra

JULY 1 – AUGUST 31 de Monte-Carlo, and the o ce of Les

Monte-Carlo Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

International Yet, there is always a choice in MoFireworks Festival naco. There are three other casinos.

SEPTEMBER 22 – 25 And GayTravel.com lists approximate-

Monaco Yacht ly 50 hotels there. One of the most Show popular hotels with a spectacular view For more information, is the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, visit iglta.org located in the Larvotto neighborhood. For ne European dining, travelers ock to the Louis XV Restaurant in the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo where the menu options range from grilled pigeon breast to homemade pink paper sorbet. The restaurant holds three Michelin stars and features a world-famous and legendary wine cellar (containing 400,000 bottles of many rare and valuable vintages from around the world). One LGBTQ+ resource within Monaco is the Lesbian-owned tour company Zoom the Solution (zoomthesolution.com) with which Tanzella has worked over the years, he said.

FRED W. WRIGHT, Jr.

Fred W. Wright JR. is a full-time freelance writer based in Seminole, Fla. A generalist, Fred writes about a wide range of subjects, from business to film, health to stress, history to senior citizens. Travel makes up about 75 percent of what he writes. His work has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines, including Tampa Bay Times (formerly St. Petersburg Times), National Geographic Traveler, Variety, Florida Trend, Bed & Breakfast Quarterly, and AAA Southern Traveler. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).