EDGE's Places to Go in 2017: Belmond

This feature is part of EDGE's third annual 7 Gay Wonders of the World. This year's edition is "luxury" so be sure to check out our other decadent picks for the year!

Sometimes it's not where you're going but how you get there. Since its original acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice nearly 40 years ago, Belmond has become a benchmark for luxury across land and sea.

With a current portfolio of 47 hotel, rail and river cruise experiences, a Belmond vacation is the ultimate bucket-list getaway, particularly with its newest offerings: two luxury barges set to embark in Champagne and Alsace in summer 2017.

Lilacs and Peonies
Meet Belmond Lilas and Belmond Pivoine, the latest additions to Belmond Afloat. Inspired by their namesake flowers, each vessel is outfitted with immaculate details inspired by the surrounding terroir.

Lilas features a colorful palette, plush linens and handcrafted ironwork and timber wood furnishings. Embroidered Parisian bed covers and marble baths offset Pivoine's serene tones of cr�me and champagne. Both barges feature heated pools on deck and plenty of space to take in the scenery.

Michelin Meals and More
Lilas will traverse the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, offering intimate access to northeast France's Alcase region. Highlights include Sipp Mack, the region's first organic vineyard; the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Strasbourg; France's oldest brewing site, Meteor Brewery; and private dining at the Michelin starred Villa Ren�e Lalique.

Tiny Bubbles
Cruising along the River Marne and Canal Lateral de Marne, Pivoine's itinerary includes the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial; Hautvillers Abbey, known worldwide as the birthplace of champagne and the site of Dom P�rignon's tomb; and a private on-board tasting with an ambassador from Champagne Laurent-Perrier.

Where Next?
Belmond is taking a multi-faceted approach to cultivating its relationship with the LGBT traveler. Tom Alderink, Director of LGBT Sales, North America, points out several key initiatives including a global partnership with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association and an LGBT Advisory Board comprised of LGBT-focused travel experts.

"Destinations such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Peru have been very popular with LGBT groups," says Alderink. "There is a whole world to see and experience and the LGBT community is embracing many of the Belmond destinations."