Red blotchy heat rash, sweaty armpits and smelly feet is never a good look. So, if you want to escape embarrassing body odour this summer then why not check these destinations where you can have a great time and still retain your cool.

San Francisco
While the rest of California bakes in summer the climate of San Francisco is much more moderate, thanks to its location at the end of a peninsula surrounded by the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean. Summer temperatures average out at a very pleasant 72 degrees in July and August and don’t be surprised if the fog rolls off the sea even in the height of summer cooling temperatures even further - so pack a jumper (or two)! If the chill does get too much then a short drive out of the city away from the coast is almost guaranteed to find you Californian sunshine, so you get the best of both worlds. Within an easy day trip is the stunning Yosemite National Park, or for wine lovers why not visit the Napa Valley wine region. Of course the gay visitors are so well catered for that you might not even notice the weather.

Mountain Retreats
Ski resorts might seem like an odd choice for a summer holiday but most are open for a short summer season and offer plenty of activities for intrepid travellers. Walking, mountain biking, tennis or golf are all on offer in beautiful surroundings, or the more sedate can treat themselves to a luxury hotel break when the prices - and temperatures - won’t rocket sky high. The choices are enormous, but resorts that offer summer skiing on glaciers include Tignes in France, Zermatt in Switzerland while the lake side setting of Zell am See in Austria is hard to beat and might have you coming over all Julie Andrews (like you need an excuse).

Bariloche, Argentina
Buenos Aires is the hottest gay destination around at the moment and the city is positively pulsating with a great gay vibe. If you want to catch up with the Argentinean jet-set this summer (their winter of course) then take the two-hour flight to the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Patagonia, but pack your salopets because this is where South America’s best ski resort is to be found! San Carlos de Bariloche has a distinctly Alpine feel as it was first settled by Germans and Austrians, who no doubt found the mountain terrain, reminded them of their homelands. The resort offers some of the best ski terrain anywhere in the world and attracts snow junkies from across the globe in search of some perfect powder. If skiing doesn’t do it for you then the impressive scenery of the famous Lake District crossing to Chile via a boat and coach is well worth the journey alone.

Iceland
The name of this country is rather misleading as the temperatures during summer are far from freezing thanks to the warming currents of the Gulf Stream. The capital Reykjavik is one of the cleanest cities in the world as much of the power is derived from thermal sources which also create the countries most visited tourist attractions, the Blue Lagoon. Visitors to this enormous natural geothermal spa can spoil themselves with a huge array of beautifying and relaxing treatments before returning to the colourful architecture and friendly atmosphere of Reykjavik to partake in some of the countries famous hospitality.

Denmark
If you want to escape the summer heat but still have a holiday that positively sizzles then Denmark could be just the place that you're looking for. The capital Copenhagen is well known as an extremely gay friendly destination and has been welcoming gay tourists to the city for decades and has a sizable, friendly and interesting gay scene. If the temperature - which rarely exceed the high 70s in summer - do get too much for you then you can always cool off at the gay beaches close to the city at Bellevue Strand and Tisvilde Strandman, which are both accessible by train from the cities main train station.


Want more? Then you're in luck! Part two of our Beat The Heat feature looks at Norway, Coastal Maine, Nova Scotia, St Petersburg and Sweden. Check it out.

Find out all the latest gay travel information by ordering the brand new 2008 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.