Join me on the Beaches of Normandy next May, when we will explore World War II (1939-1945) and the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June 1944 to August 1944, resulting in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. Code named Operation Overlord, the battle began on June 6, 1944, also known…
Introduction: Many of you already know Brand g’s resident photographer and trip host, Troy Bermel, aka co-owner Jeff’s husband. He is an indispensable part of Brand g trips, capturing the magic and the merriment, much of which he starts as his alter ego, Squeeky. Let’s begin! What’s your favorite part of working with Brand g?…
This piece is authored by Johnathon Gallagher A trip to Scotland or Ireland doesn’t require the same amount of preparation as exotic locales like, say, Africa(no big Merly Streep hats needed) or the Galapagos (no g-strings and snorkel masks), but they’re still foreign countries, and a little bit of pre-departure groundwork can definitely make your…
Audrey Hepburn said, “Paris is always a good idea.” This is especially true in Springtime, when the city shrugs off its winter blues and fills with all my favorite C’s; Culture, Cuisine, Chic Parisians and Can Can. Who doesn’t love to get their legs in the air? Simply put, I LOVE Paris – it’s a…
Bali is an incredibly popular LGBT-friendly destination that makes an ideal stopover at the beginning or end of a trip to Vietnam or Cambodia. Every year, more than five million people visit this island paradise. Just a three to four-hour flight away, Bali has a very relaxed attitude in comparison to its neighboring Muslim country,…
Introduction: Many of you already know Brand g’s co-owner, Brian Van Wey. He has spent the last decade – along with co-owner Jeff Gundvaldson – building Brand g into an industry leader with care and thoughtfulness and a willingness to let me humiliate him on a regular basis. So, let’s begin! What’s your favorite part…
Like Lindsay Lohan, Vietnam and Cambodia have an image problem. For many Americans, their frame of reference is the Vietnam war, and they still picture these countries – filled with fascinating historical sites and lush scenery – as ravaged and war-torn. Generally speaking, nothing could be further from the truth – over the past 45…
Who doesn’t want to ponder the pyramids? Stare at a sphinx? Caress a camel? (Not in a weird way.) Egypt has been high on traveler’s lists for decades. But for the last few years, the government of Egypt was in some turmoil, and, for the safety of their guests, many cruise lines and tour companies…
Introduction: Many of you already know Brand g’s co-owner (and Anderson Cooper’s younger, cuter brother), Jeff Gundvaldson. He has spent the last decade – along with co-owner and honorary gay Brian Van Wey – building Brand g into an industry leader with care and thoughtfulness and a willingness to let me humiliate him on a…
Millions of dollars in deposits and final payments from our guests flow through the Brand g pipeline each year…and believe it or not, we don’t take that money and go shopping for Bentley’s, or roll around in piles of cash in a suite at the Four Seasons. Fun as that sounds. We also don’t use it…
Someone has to be a trailblazer. Or a sacrificial lamb. Before I begin, let me state that I have no underlying health conditions or I probably wouldn’t be flying just yet. Because I work from home and can work from anywhere, I typically go back to St. Louis every three months to see my elderly…
We hope you find these tips from guest blooger Renee Josephine as helpful as we did! Packing for vacations can be quite the chore (think of all those outfits!). Often, we try to pack more than our luggage can hold, or we manage to forget one thing or another, like an important medication or a…
Introduction: Many of you already know the Scottish sprite, AKA our beloved Johnathon Gallagher, the man who hosts Brand g trips around the world. He’s committed to ensuring that you have a grand time, whether you like it or not. What’s your favorite part of your job? Connecting with the guests – even the drunk…
As we enter our 10th year, Brand g has a lot to celebrate. We’ve grown from a two-man company offering one vacation to a five-person staff hosting 12 different trips around the world each year. But we couldn’t do it without the hard work and talents of these fairly awesome individuals. They’re not in it…
(above photo courtesy of nature.com) We have established a web page with the most current information available (updated constantly), as well as information on how Brand g is handling this still somewhat fluid situation. Check it out here: https://www.brandgvacations.com/coronavirus-covid-19/
We hope you enjoy this fascinating post from guest blogger Ali Rennoll! — Eric Poole Vietnam has emerged from the shadows of an oppressive past to become a rising star in the LGBT tourism world. According to Taiwan news outlet TTR Weekly, Vietnam has surged up the LGBT-friendly tourism rankings to take on a +30…
It is commonly said that the person who leaves for a trip is not the same person who returns. Travelling is one of the most transformative human experiences. Even if you prepare for it reading, researching and asking people for advice and tips, more often than not, the reality surpasses any preconceived notion. The trip…
Who doesn’t love some showtunes on the Seine? Or a little drag on the Danube? On a Brand g European river cruise, every night is opening night. Our cruises always include two featured acts (occasionally three) who provide nightly entertainment throughout the cruise. These entertainers have become so popular, some guests leave dinner early to…
24-year-old Instagram models in onesies making fun of everyone over 30. Leather men eating dinner in assless chaps. These are the images that many people conjure when picturing a gay cruise or land tour. And while those aren’t entirely objectionable (who doesn’t love a little eye candy), those are people you will rarely meet on…
In the past, all that’s been required for a jaunt to Europe is your passport, with that delightful police-lineup photo that looks like you’re fresh from a night out with Charlie Sheen. But starting January 1st, 2022, Europe will require Americans and other foreigners to take an extra step prior to arriving on the…
“I’m going to India.” “Ewww….really?” Sadly, you get that response a lot when you tell people you’re traveling to this amazing country. After all, the only images many people have are those of overcrowding, pollution, poverty, and hurling from some delightfully unsanitary water or food. But, as our guests can attest, while India is not…
Okay, so you’re ready to start applying for credit cards to earn hundreds of thousands of miles/points! (If you haven’t read our simple primer for earning credit card bonuses, check it out, here: https://bit.ly/2NXMtJz Now, here are some tips to make the most of your time and effort: Do multiple card applications on the same…
We hope you enjoy this guest post by frequent Brand g guest and world traveler, Neal Williams. It’s filled with incredibly useful tips! — Eric I don’t remember the first overnight trip I ever took as a child with my family, but I do remember the one suitcase I shared with my brothers. It was…
We’ve all seen the social posts. Friends posing in their glamorous business class seats, holding a glass of champagne, with some caption like, “Our home for the next 12 hours.” Sure, you want to slap them. But better yet, why not join them? International business class tickets can be hideously expensive. But there are simple…