Cheapflights.co.uk Struts its Top 10 Picks for Parading Gay Rights

LONDON, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Turn Your Vacation into a Celebration in Honour of Gay Pride this June and July.

Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK's leading website for flight price search and comparison, champions Gay Pride by paying tribute to the Top 10 landmark destinations that took a monumental stride for Pride as well as being this summer's holiday hotspots.

"It's no coincidence that some of the best Pride celebrations take place in some of the world's most popular summer destinations, which makes them perfectly suited to adventure lovers who want to experience a buzzing atmosphere in a sunny locale," says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

"The destinations in our list are not only some of this summer's most popular holiday picks, but are also important landmarks for having been among the first to champion the right to freedom of expression," adds Hallak.

Here we explore five of the destinations within Cheapflights' Top 10 Destinations to Celebrate Gay Rights.

Athens, Greece

While it may be having some economic problems, Greece is still one of this summer's hottest, literally and figuratively, holiday destinations with its isles making a serious come back in the popularity charts. Given its history of forward thinkers in philosophy, mathematics and other arenas, it's no surprise that some of the first-recorded mentions of same-sex relationships, unions and marriages trace back to Ancient Greece in 7th Century B.C. Though relationships between two men were eventually banned, thousands of years later, Greece is back on track. In 2011, more than 10,000 activists marched at the annual Athens Gay Pride parade to show their support for LGBT rights. Flights to Greece for June start from £130 return.

Netherlands

The Dutch have it so good. The bicycle is a legitimate mode of transportation; the government doles out 'vakantiegeld', or holiday money, annually for citizens to use on extended summer travel; and - of course - marriage and adoption rights for same-sex couples abound. Renowned for being the first country to legalize gay marriage in 2001, the left-leaning Netherlands was voted the largest supporter of same-sex marriage in 2006 by the European Union and is a premier destination for LGBT travellers and residents alike. Flights to Amsterdam for June start from £104 return.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Its association as a Gay Pride destination may not come immediately to mind, but Israel is a known leader in LGBT rights in the Middle East and is ahead of the curve when it comes to adoption, marriage and military equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-identified people. Homosexuals are allowed to serve open in the military (1993), same-sex couples have the same inheritance rights as couples of the opposite sex (2004) and individuals in a lesbian couple are able to adopt each other's children (2005). Flights to Tel Aviv for June start from £309 return.

Berlin, Germany

While Germany has a reputation for tradition on some topics, it also has a reputation for tolerance towards freedom of expression. As such, it's no surprise that it's one of the world's most progressive nations for same sex relations, which were legalised by East Germany in 1968 and applied throughout the country in 1994. Its capital, Berlin, is one of the most gay-friendly cities in Europe, and has a week of wonderful events including the Lesbian and Gay Street Fair, Berlin Pride Parade, Gay Night at the Zoo, and the CSD on the Spree when six rainbow ships cruise through the city. Flights to Berlinfor June start from £166 return.

Hawaii, United States

Though the US considers same-sex marriage legislation - or lack thereof - a thing of the 2000s, Hawaii was involved in heated debates on the topic since 1993. The Supreme Court of the 50th state to join the union made a big case in Baehr v. Lewin when it ruled that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is presumably unconstitutional. Today civil union laws are still pending for 2012, but the archipelago of islands is home to a diverse gay community, as well as host to thousands of gay travellers each year. On your way to the island, fly via New York and swing by the Big Apple's famous Gay Pride March on the 26^th. Flights to New York can be found for great prices, while direct flights to Hawaii for June start from £502 return.

For the full Top 10, visit http://news.cheapflights.co.uk/2011/06/top-ten-destinations-to-celebrate-gay-rights/

To search and compare flight prices to the destinations on our list, or prices on flights to India, Thailand, Las Vegas or other exciting locations visit Cheapflights.co.uk

About Cheapflights Media

Cheapflights Media is an international media network providing users with different ways to find low cost travel. Since 1996, Cheapflights Media has been helping consumers research, compare and save on domestic and international travel. Our flagship brand, Cheapflights, is one of thelargest flight deals publishers, delivering over 4 million deals daily.With brand-name deals on airline tickets from more than 300 partners and 600 airlines and a team of travel experts hand picking the best offerings, Cheapflights offers visitors a mix of deals they can't find anywhere else. There are currently Cheapflights sites for the U.K., U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia & New Zealand, France, Italy and Spain. For more information, visit http://www.cheapflights.co.uk.

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For further information please contact:

Rooster PR: Kate Eglinton

tel: +44 (0) 20 7953 8781

email:    kate.eglinton@rooster.co.uk