Vacationer of the Week: Meg Ten Eyck

Meg Ten Eyck is the true example of a boss! Our Vacationer of the Week is the CEO of Every Queer and EQ Consulting. If you’ve been in her presence, for even a brief period of time, you may be lucky enough to see the queer activist in her shine, educating those who are willing to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community.

Meg was born in Southern California, and since then, she’s been constantly on the move. In fact, she has lived in five states and attended 13 schools before graduating from high school. 

And now, at 34 years old, she’s managed to visit six continents and 62 countries, but she is far from satisfying her wanderlust or her innate curiosity to explore different cultures and make new connections with people around the world. 

We caught up with Meg who explains the importance of LGBTQ+ history, especially if you’re visiting her current hometown, New York City. She also reveals her top picks for things to do in the Big Apple, including her favorite bars for queer women. Meg discusses how travel brands can attract and maintain brand loyalty from the LGBTQ+ community, her process when planning a trip as a solo traveler, and much more!

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

Meg Ten Eyck: I got my first passport at 21 years old. I visited Mexico as a child before passports were required. 

What trip or travel experience sparked your passion for travel? 

I was always curious about other cultures and travel, but my true passion was sparked when I got a job in Seoul, South Korea. I moved to Korea and lived there for just over a year. During my time there, I traveled all over Asia and fell in love with documenting my travels online. 

What inspires you to travel?

I’m a naturally curious person and love learning about new cultures around the world. My favorite travel destinations are those that are very different from my experiences and culture in the US. I like being thrust outside of my comfort zone and forced to see from other viewpoints. 

Please tell us how you identify yourself on the LGBTQIA spectrum. Tell us if how you identify influences the way your travel.

I identify as a queer femme. When I travel, I have to consider how being a queer woman will be viewed in the context of the destination I’m traveling to. Sometimes I am more impacted as a woman than a queer person and other times it’s my queer identity that impacts me most. 

Are there extra precautions you take when traveling as a solo female?

At times, I make decisions like staying at high-end hotels, using private transportation, not drinking, and making sure I’m at the hotel by nightfall to protect myself – especially while traveling alone. I also rarely disclose my identity as a queer woman in areas where I feel unsafe because I never know what their reaction will be. Often queer women are erotized which creates a layer of sexual violence we have to be aware of while traveling solo. 

Is there a travel destination that most queer travelers would think isn’t safe to visit, but you’ve visited and enjoyed it? If so, where? What made it a memorable experience?

I went to Jordan in January and really loved it. The Middle East is not thought of as the most welcoming and affirming destination for queer women, but I had a beautiful experience. Everyone I met was welcoming of me and my gender-nonconforming traveling partner. Both of us were treated with the utmost respect and hospitality. Petra was one of the most amazing places I’ve seen and I highly recommend it. 

You’ve been in the travel biz for a while. What are ways travel brands can secure and maintain LGBTQ+ loyalty beyond outreach to secure “the pink dollar” during Pride month? 

Brands can reach the LGBTQ+ community authentically by including LGBTQ themes year-round in their marketing and product development. They should also hire LGBTQ creatives and strategists for their campaigns to inform the work they are doing. Giving back to local LGBTQ nonprofits and including local LGBTQ businesses in opportunities is also a great way to show support.

What is the most memorable travel experience you’ve had thus far?

I’ve had so many memorable experiences, it’s really tough to narrow it down but most of my favorite experiences have been the opportunities I’ve had to interact with local people in the LGBTQ+ community. Like the time a group of women took me to an underground lesbian samba club in Sao Paulo or the time my Argentinian friend took me under her wing and showed me the lesbian community in Buenos Aires. Those memories are the most special to me. 

What are three things LGBTQ+ travelers should do when visiting NYC?

It’s so important to preserve our history and pass on the knowledge of our people to future generations of queers. LGBTQ+ culture is still not taught in schools and the knowledge of our community is frequently erased in both physical evidence and policy choices. 

Visiting the Stonewall Inn and memorial park is a rite of passage for LGBTQ+ people. It’s one of the few historical landmarks where having a drink is paying respects. But it’s also often cited as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. After having a drink at Stonewall explore the West Village and Christopher Street area which is home to many LGBTQ+-owned businesses and famous people from recent history. 

I’d also encourage queer women to visit one of the three remaining lesbian bars in NYC, Cubbyhole, Henrietta Hudsons, or Gingers before the lesbian bar becomes extinct. 

Last but not least, I’d encourage LGBTQ+ people visiting from less welcoming and affirming areas to embrace the freedom that NYC has to offer queer people. For some, that might be the freedom to hold your partner’s hand while exploring the High Line or stealing a kiss over the dinner table at an LGBTQ-owned restaurant like ELMO. Regardless of what you choose to do in NYC, know that you can do it freely. 

What three words would best describe your travel style? 

Experiential. Thoughtful. Intentional 

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

At this point, I have favorites by category. My favorite beach destination was Zanzibar. My favorite European destination was Portugal. The country I keep returning to is Thailand. 

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

I can’t wait to go to Varanasi, India because it’s a holy city at the beginning and end of the Hindu life cycle. Hindu people carry the remains of their loved ones to the city to be ceremonially washed and burned on the banks of the Ganges River. It’s something I’ve seen pictures of for years and I can’t wait to experience it in person. 

I also really want to do the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal. I don’t want to summit Everest, just trek to the base. It’s a 16-day hike with tea houses and day treks along the way. 

I’d also really love to go to Antarctica. I want to see the glaciers and polar bears before they’re gone. 

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

My phone. It’s a lifeline for many things, translation, currency conversion, information, Uber, etc.

What’s the best travel tip or advice you’ve received from another traveler? 

Being open to new experiences and understanding that because something is different doesn’t mean it’s better or worse than any experience I may have had.