For over 35 years the Spartacus International Gay Guide has proved to be the reliable companion for holidays and business trips and gained acknowledgement thanks to its serious and independent work. Every gay man knows it, needs it and uses it.

In this years guide there’s a new logo, new layout and a gorgeous cover cutie in Bel Ami Superstar Lukas Ridgeston. With On over 1,200 pages, 20,000 addresses and detailed information for more than 160 countries around the world it’s indispensable for the travel season.

We caught up with Spartacus’ editor in chief, Briand Bedford, to find out more about the gay guide, its cover models, insider tips to the hottest destinations, and where he likes to relax!

The 2006 edition of Spartacus is now in the shops. What are the new features for this year?
We have extended and expanded our information on Eastern Europe. In the former ‘East-Block’ countries it’s often difficult to find information on the gay scene – which is slowly developing in many of these countries. Most of the addresses and much of the information comes from friends and new acquaintances from these countries. Finding these reliable people is a long and difficult process.

The International Gay Guide is now in its 35th edition. What’s been the secret of its success?
The Spartacus International Gay Guide is a success mainly because of the team of people who work together to create a new guide each year. The people involved believe in what they are doing and have of a sense of solidarity with the gay community.

How has it changed over the years?
In 2001 (the 30th edition) we published the first Spartacus Guide in full colour. We have become politically involved with the gay movements in many countries and have increased our focus on the prevention of AIDS and HIV. We have also increased the number of countries with listings of gay places to 125.

The gay scene has also changed quite a bit too. There is a slow development of a type of gay scene in many Eastern European countries. Progress is however often followed by a backlash and we need to fight against the setbacks.

So what are you most proud of about the book?
I’m proud that with my work and with Spartacus itself we are able to help people develop their true characters and not have to hide their lives because they are gay. We help promote a healthy relationship between being gay and living as a gay man.

Spartacus is updated each year. How do you go about checking the resources?
Over the years I have built up a team of friends, acquaintances and people who want to help us. There are currently over 60 people who send me information, who check our listings and who point us in the right direction. On top of that there are translators who check the gay press in languages we cannot read. All our listed addresses are also sent several mailings each year in which they are asked to update their listed information.

It’s a big job! How many people do you have working on the publication?
Yes, it is a big job! We have 3 full-time staff in the office in Berlin, around 12 advertising sales staff based worldwide and as I have already mentioned, the fantastic people worldwide who help us with the updating.

I have to mention the gorgeous models that grace the covers and entice us in. Where do you get the guys from?
We have a real problem each year to find the ‘right’ model. Most of our cover photos are found from the guys working in our photo department in the office in Berlin. They are always looking for new material for the vast number of photo books which the company publishes each year.

There’s been an explosion in gay travel books. What is it that gives Spartacus the edge over other gay travel guides?
Spartacus is a name that people know and trust. It has been going for over 35 years now and will continue to do so in the future. Unlike other travel guides we do not have a limitation on our listings. We list everyone, from a small café to the biggest cruise liner for gay men – whether they advertise with us or not.

From your own experience, where would you say were the most popular gay destinations?
At the moment the most popular destinations worldwide are Cape Town, Rio, Berlin, London, Fort Lauderdale and Rome.

And what about the next big thing? Where would you say the next gay travel explosion is going to happen?
My ‘insider tip’ at present is Croatia. A second possibility is Las Vegas - which is going pink!

As well as the main Spartacus guide, there’s now a separate hotel and restaurant guide! What’s next for the brand?
At present we have our hands full with the three guides we publish: the classic Spartacus International Gay Guide, the Spartacus International Hotel and Restaurant Guide and the Spartacus International Sauna Guide.

This year also saw the launch of the new Spartacus International Traveller magazine.

You spend your working life telling us all about the gay places to go on holiday. But where do you like to go and relax?
I can’t really relax. For me a holiday is always filled with visiting new gay locations, meeting the owners and seeing the country. If I really don’t want to do anything I go to stay with my parents in McGregor in South Africa, about 90 minutes from Cape Town.

2006 Spartacus International Gay Guide, by Bruno Gmunder
Publisher: Bruno Gmunder
Published: February 2006
ISBN: 3861877252

Find out all the latest gay travel information by buying the 2006 Spartacus International Gay Guide. Get it online and save some money to put towards the other Bruno Gmunder guides - Hotel and Restaurant Guide and Sauna Guide.