Vacationers of the Week: Kadie-Jo Mason and Gabii Findlay

Vacationer Magazine enjoys introducing its audience to interesting LGBTQ+ travelers via our franchise Vacationer of the Week. So, we’re traveling around the world – Down Under to be specific – to introduce you to LGBTQ+ couple Gabii Findlay and Kadie-Jo Mason.

Gabii and Kadie were born and raised in Portsmouth, a city located an hour and a half drive southwest of London. Currently, the couple live in Melbourne and plan to continue living in Australia for a couple of years before heading back to Portsmouth to settle down. 

We caught up with the LGBTQ+ travel content creators who talk about how a scenic road trip in Scotland and family trips to France (and eventually Thailand) sparked their wanderlust. They also reveal the places at the top of their bucket list, offer advice on how to stay safe as a traveling queer couple, and explain why you should check out the café and coffee shops in Australia.

Vacationer Magazine: At what age did you receive your first passport? What was your first trip?

Kadie-Jo Mason: When I was a baby, I think my first trip was to Spain with my family.

Gabii Findlay: The same… as a baby, I think it was to the Canary Islands with my family although I don’t remember it.

What trip or travel experience sparked your passion for travel? 

Kadie: I’m an explorer at heart but I completed the NC500 (616-mile scenic) road trip along the coast of Scotland in my car on my own.  After that, I had the travel bug!

Gabii: I’ve always wanted to travel. I’ve been lucky enough to travel a lot with my family, but I always wanted to explore more of the world. I remember as a kid, for most of the years, we went to France, and I really wanted to explore other places. So somehow, I convinced my family to book Thailand for the next year!

What inspires you to travel?

Meeting people around the world, the different cultures, and food are all things that inspire us to travel. We also don’t want to be old and regret not seeing the world while we are able. We want to have these experiences and share stories from them to future generations. We’ve had amazing memories and seen amazing things on our adventures, and we only have more to come! 

Please tell us how you identify yourself on the LGBTQIA spectrum. Tell us if how you identify influences the way you travel. If so, how?

We both believe you just fall in love with who you fall in love with. We know that unfortunately not everywhere is safe for LGBTQIA travelers yet. However, we think researching the place and finding out if you feel comfortable going there is really important. There are some places we would love to visit however they are just not safe for us, and in 2023 we are not going to hide ourselves just to visit a country. 

How long have you been traveling together? What was your first trip together? Would you recommend it to other LGBTQ+ travelers?

We have been traveling just under eight months together and this is our first holiday abroad with each other.  Although we have been together for five years, Covid ate up a lot of that time. The first year and a bit of our relationship; we traveled the UK. Our first trip was to Wales, UK. We stayed in a barn converted into an Airbnb. It was super cozy. We spent our days climbing mountains, and in the evenings sat by the fire playing cards and drinking hot chocolate. We highly recommend it. Wales is beautiful!

What are three things LGBTQ+ travelers should do when visiting Melbourne and or Australia?

We are living in Australia at the moment which is quite well known for being very LGBTQ+ friendly. Connect with other LGBTQ+ locals or travelers using Facebook or Instagram groups. Go to Pride celebrations (for example, Gay and Lesbian Sydney Mardi Gras), and check out the café and coffee shops Australia has to offer. Coffee culture is massive in Australia – like nowhere we have visited before. Most of the coffee shops and cafes are independent and use ethically sourced coffee.  Each place has a completely different vibe and or has something special about it.

What are your top three favorite places to visit? Why?

Philippines – for its island-paradise vibes

Japan – for the culture and the people

Australia – for the ultimate road trip or adventure 

What three places are still on your bucket list to visit? Why?

Canada – the nature is calling us!

South Africa – We want to do a safari so bad.

Nepal – for the culture and to visit Mount Everest

What’s one thing you never forget to pack in your suitcase?

Kadie: A waterproof jacket or raincoat

Gabii: Kindle! It saves so much room and weight in our backpacks versus having books and they always keep us occupied. They’re like our best friends on long layovers.

You’re going on a road trip. What singer or band is always on your playlist?

Kadie:  90s throwbacks!

Gabii:  Always Arctic monkeys! can listen to Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not over and over and never get bored.