Immediately following the Opening Ceremony will be one of the hottest parties of the year. On no fewer than six dancefloors, DJs will heat up the night with the sounds of Pop, House, Electronic, Techno, and Indie music.

Stage acts and great music will revive tired bodies, excite the senses, and create a great party atmosphere. COLOUR presents the Gay Games Opening Party on July 31 at Lanxess Arena, Cologne.

If you haven't already joined Zoom Vacations' tour to Cologne for the Gay Games, call us at 773 772-ZOOM (9666) or simply email us.

People always ask us which is the better time to come to Rio, over New Years or for Carnival. Every time our answer is the same: there is no place we'd rather spend New Years than Rio de Janeiro. However, Rio's Carnival is something everyone must see and experience in their lifetime.

So it all comes down to this: which is the best time for you to travel!

Whatever you decide, one thing is certain: No one shows you Rio quite like Zoom Vacations. Here is a selection of photos from the trip that aren't usual Samba parade photos you so often see of Rio's Carnival. Zoom Vacations traveler, Dan Cytrynbaum took some wonderful shots of the trip, which appear towards the end of the slideshow. Enjoy!

Car pollution is damaging the macarana marble of the Taj Mahal, so cars are not allowed near the entrance.  Instead, we take golf carts from our hotel, which is 600 meters from the monument.  

Photos of the Taj Mahal do not do justice to the structure, grounds, and overall experience of visiting it in person.  One of the best times to come is at sunset, when in soft, warm light it is perhaps more romantic than ever, so we arrive at the entrance gates just as the sun is going down.

There are thousands of people here, mostly Indian.  Before our group even enters the compound, we are delayed by taking photos of the spectacular sandstone entrance gate buildings themselves. If the Taj Mahal were not here, these buildings alone would be the attraction, but that is not the case.

Upon entering the gates, the Taj Mahal reveals herself, perfectly framed in the gate's arches.  The affect is as if she is coming towards you, like a lover from whom you've been separated by time and space. Beholding her, she is more beautiful than you remember or imagined from photos.

• You ask the question, he'll provide the answer!

• Question:

Kelly from San Francisco writes, "Your trip to China looks incredible, but is China very gay friendly?"

• Answer:

Dear Kelly,

While the cities in China generally don't have a huge gay scene, it is open and embracing enough that our groups feel very, very comfortable.

It is a non-issue for our guides, and especially during our trip last May, we had a hilarious time with them. Plus, in Beijing and Shanghai there is actually really good gay nightlife options. People are incredibly friendly and easy to talk to, and most of the local gay people we met speak excellent English.

Everyone knew we were a gay group, and no one seemed to care. People did enjoy how much we loved their country, and it made them feel good to see us having so much fun in their respective cities.

Zoom Vacations' Facebook community is growing! Check back often to see destination travel videos and photos. You'll also learn a travel tip or two, and have the opportunity to interact with others in our Zoom Community.

Who will you meet? Well, you know, the kind of people who desire meaningful vacations in comfortable settings where you can truly be yourself, and enjoy incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences that would be difficult, impractical or impossible to do on your own.

If you are new to Club Zoom, here's the scoop. You will receive discounts and special offers on many of your favorite hotels, retail outlets, and services around the country! And the best part is, it's free! It is simply our way of saying, "thank you" for being a part of Zoom Vacations.

Simply click on the link below to get the codes necessary to redeem these offers.

RETAILERS

• Allen Brothers (fine steaks)
• Universal Gear (men's fashions)
• David Barton Gym, in NYC, Miami, and Chicago!
• NYC Restaurant: Paris Commune

HOTELS

• Bali: The Saint Regis
• Chicago: The Amalfi Hotel
• Chicago: The Homewood Suites
• Chicago: The Hotel Allegro Chicago
• Chicago: Avenue Hotel Chicago
• Dallas: The Melrose
• LA: The Grafton on Sunset
• LA: The Marina del Rey Hotel
• Mendocino: Stevenswood Spa Resort
• NYC: The Standard Hotel
• Portland, OR: The Jupiter Hotel
• San Francisco: The Hotel Monaco and the Serrano
• South Beach: The Raleigh