08 May 2026

Meet the creator of Ursus Travel where Derrick F. curates journeys for bears!

An interview with Derrick Fields, the creator of Ursus Travel. Through the agency, he curates journeys around the world for bears, by a bear!

Looking for an experienced guide who knows the ins-and-outs of places you’ve always wanted to visit? Look no further than Derrick Fields with Ursus Travel! Derrick has traveled around the world and lived in so many different countries that it’s hard to keep count. With all of those experiences, he’s more than qualified to share his wisdom on the best itineraries in countless cities with his own travel agency designed specifically for the bear community.

He also shares some of that wisdom in being a travel expert through social media and the blog on his website. He gives everyone tips on what to avoid when going on a trip, and what to look for that can make every vacation unforgettable too. You can also get a better look into his life experiences from around the globe on his blog.

With Ursus Travel, he provides tailored escapes for gay men, bears, and those that love them. From the heart of Spain to the soulful Mediterranean and lush Southeast Asia, find warmth and community on every path with Derrick’s help!

I had the chance to speak with Derrick about his life experiences in the travel world, food, wine, and so much more. Check it out below!

Bryce Quartz: Hey there, Derrick! Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. How have you been doing lately?

Derrick Fields: That’s a question! Haha! I have just come back to the United States after living abroad for about 17 years! I left the USA in January of 2009, the same week Obama swore into office, to do the US Peace Corps in Honduras. Then my life abroad just happened. I lived in South Korea, China, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, Malaysia, and most recently I lived 12 years in the center of Madrid, Spain.

I’ve just come back to the USA, version 2026, to launch my travel business. Imagine what that’s like. George Bush Jr. was president and the stock market had just crashed the last time I lived here (which is why I joined the Peace Corps and left the USA in the first place). But to answer your question, I am doing great! A little disoriented adjusting back to American life but I’m excited to get my bear travel agency launched.

Bryce: Before we jump into the good stuff, can you tell us where you’re originally from and where you live now?

Derrick: I grew up in suburbia around Atlanta, Georgia in this place called Marietta. I feel lucky to have grown up there because we were so close to Atlanta. I had access to gay culture and urban life which was important when you grow up in the bible belt.

I had people who mentored me and took me under their wing in Atlanta. Now, I am staying with family (also in Atlanta) while I launch the travel business. I have a husband and a dog in Madrid so the idea is to live between Atlanta and Madrid for the foreseeable future.

Bryce: You recently launched your own travel agency called Ursus Travel that caters specifically to the bear community. Just from reading some of the testimonials on your website, you provide unforgettable experiences! What got you into the travel space?

Derrick: A couple of things. Firstly, it just seemed like the next step for me. I have all of these life experiences around the world. I try to remind people that I didn’t just pass through these places, I LIVED in them. I got up everyday and went to work in Madrid, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Seoul, etc. But you better believe I was exploring these places on the weekends and holidays!

I have multiple encyclopedias of information in my head about these countries and cities. So for me, I want to use that information and give people amazing experiences. Even when I don’t know a place, I learned how to find out insider information about places by being a foreigner living in other countries. I know how to find out things about places in a way that a “normal” person wouldn’t think of… and it’s not Google or ChatGPT haha.

Secondly, when you are known as a world traveller amongst friends and family, everyone comes to you for information. I was planning, booking, reserving, charting out, plotting, curating, etc. for all my friends and family for several years. I was the “go to” guy. It was actually someone close to me that sort of suggested; “You’re so good at this, why don’t you do this for a living?” I ended up looking into it and realized it wouldn’t be that difficult to startup, so I gave my landlord in Madrid notice and came back to put it all together.

Bryce: Following that last question, was there something that directly inspired you to start a travel business specifically for the bear community?

Derrick: Yes! I did some research and realized that there is not really anyone out there that does bear focused travel on land as a full-on travel agency. As far as I know, I am the only gay bear travel agency that is for bears and by bears and focuses specifically on our community. There are a few companies that do cruises that are specifically for bears, but not land travel/adventures. So, I decided to go for it.

I feel more myself and comfortable being myself around the bear community. I don’t need to put on any show or wear any masks. I can just be me. It was a no brainer for me to do this for bears and those that love them.

Also, that last part of that last sentence is important. We focus on bears but we welcome everyone. I’m not gonna turn someone away because they don’t fit into a mold. That would go against everything the bear community is supposed to represent!

There’s something more specific that I think matters deeply to our community: I plan trips for bears, as a bear. You’re not getting a generic LGBTQ+ travel package that was designed for a broad audience and “technically” includes us. You’re getting someone who understands our culture, our humor, our comfort levels, and what it actually feels like to walk into a space and want to be there. I’m not an Instagram model and I don’t expect my clients to be either. You can come as you are.

Bryce: You lived in Madrid, Spain for over a decade, a beautiful city and country that everyone in the bear community should visit at least once. Can you share with our readers what some of the benefits are if they book a trip there with you?

Derrick: Absolutely! The biggest one is simple: I lived there for twelve years. I’m not selling Madrid from a brochure; I literally KNOW the neighborhoods, the hidden bars, and the places that look unremarkable from the outside and turn out to be exactly where you want to spend your afternoon. All my friends are still there! That kind of knowledge can’t be replicated.

Madrid is one of the most welcoming places I’ve ever experienced, and I know exactly how to build a trip around that energy. The logistics are handled and the itinerary has real texture between day trips, wine bodegas, Sunday markets, and boutique hotels. You just show up and enjoy it.

Madrid has been waiting for the bear community to discover it properly. I’d love to be the one who makes that introduction. Also, it’s good to have a plan for reference, but some places are meant to be experienced in the moment.

Spain is a prime example. Part of the experience is not being rushed and just wandering around the city from coffee shop, to tapas bar, to just hanging out in the plaza. Having a plan is great but don’t forget to leave time for wandering aimlessly. The Spanish are experts at that, especially on weekends.

I also wanna mention the hosted group experiences very briefly. My vision for Ursus is to also occasionally invite others to join me on travels. For example, this autumn from October 25th to November 2nd I am going to take a group to Madrid and the surrounding area for a curated experience. It will be our inaugural homecoming trip.

It won’t be your typical experience as a “group trip.” It will be more like you’re invited to come travel with me and see a place the way I do it. There is no strict itinerary but there are things we won’t miss, such as small towns, castles, monasteries, wine tastings, etc. Check it out on my website. It is going to be awesome and there are only 8 spaces!

Bryce: Traveling is a huge part of our community, whether it’s to attend a bear run or with a small group of friends, however there are many who may feel hesitant to go somewhere new. What are some of the misconceptions around traveling somewhere new and how would you demystify them?

Derrick: The biggest one I hear is “I don’t speak the language.” But in my experience, language is almost never the barrier that people imagine. Locals appreciate even a few words of effort, and genuine curiosity translates universally. I’ve travelled through countries where I spoke nothing and had some of the most meaningful connections of my life.

For our community specifically, the other big hesitation is safety. “Will I actually be welcome there?” It’s a fair question. But for example, Spain in general isn’t just tolerant, it’s genuinely celebratory, and I’d never put a destination on my roster that I couldn’t personally vouch for. Even in smaller towns and cities in Spain, I have never felt in danger. You just need to be aware of where you are and follow your instincts and intuition. Not trying to say anything bad about the USA, but I feel safer in Spain than I do in Atlanta.

Then there’s “it’s too complicated.” The flights, the hotels, the neighborhoods… That’s exactly what I’m here to dissolve. When you book with me, the complexity disappears. You get a curated experience in a place someone already knows deeply. The only thing left to do is show up curious. New doesn’t have to mean uncertain, it just means you haven’t been there yet.

Bryce: Whenever I travel, I want to find the best food spots and try new dishes. Do you incorporate that into your trips and what are some of your own personal favorite dishes around the world?

Derrick: I’m a bear! Of course! Haha. I travel to eat! I have no problem giving suggestions on food and dining to the people who book with me.

As far as my favorite dishes from around the world, I would say Thai food is up there pretty high. I lived there for two years and still never tried everything. There are different cuisines from each region within Thailand as well so it is quite endless. In Ratchaburi, the small town where I lived, there’s a dish most people don’t know about or haven’t tried. It’s a fried fish with a spicy green mango salad poured all over the top. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Then there’s Spain. If you go to Spain, you have to try Asturian food from the north. Try a dish called cachopo. It will change your life. It’s a flattened beef steak stuffed with Iberian ham and cheese and then battered and fried.

You also have to try all the different embutidos… what we call charcuterie. There are endless cheeses and different types of cured sausages and meats to try in Spain and every region has it’s own different options. Try morcilla achorizada. No way to put it into words. It is a soft cured sausage that melts in your mouth. If you pair it with the right wine, it is heaven!

Bryce: I know you can’t share all your secrets here, so people will have to book a trip with you to get all the good stuff, but can you share with us some of your favorite destinations and why?

Derrick: Sure! Now I love my Madrid, but outside of that there is a special place in my heart for deep Spain and almost no one ventures to the smaller cities and towns. Some of my most memorable travel experiences have been in places like Leon, Spain. It is one of the places that still has the free tapa culture.

A long time ago the bars in Spain gave real food as tapas with your drink. You could have a couple of beers or glasses of wine and your dinner was basically free. Leon is one of those places that has preserved that tradition. Not only that, but every bar has multiple options for you to choose from so it isn’t like you have to take whatever they put in front of you. The city has history, architecture, and the people are super friendly. It is one of the more unknowns of Spain that has still retained its traditions.

Logroño, Spain is another place I wouldn’t sleep on. It is right in the heart of wine country La Rioja.

Apart from Spain and Europe, in Thailand I always tell people not to book the typical islands when they head down to the south of the country. Places like Phuket are just overdone and have been overdone for a long time. Try any of the smaller islands in Thailand like Koh Tao, Koh Chang, or the national park island of Koh Lipe. They are cheaper and you will feel like you’re actually experiencing something unique.

Thailand is very safe and you don’t really have to worry about safety when you venture off the beaten path. It is also very welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. I taught Business English in a Thai university and in one of my classes, I had three ladyboys, two lesbians, and three gay guys.

Bryce: I’m not a wine connoisseur myself, but my partner is, and he actually loves wine from Spain! Since you include wine tastings in your itineraries, I’m curious: what are some of your own personal favorite wines and destinations associated with them?

Derrick: Now this is a question I love. I actually briefly studied to be a sommelier (I’ve lived a lot of lives haha). My absolute favorite wine in Spain is a red wine from a region called El Bierzo. It is in the northwest closer to Galicia which sits at the top of Portugal. There’s nothing like it.

I mentioned Logroño, Spain earlier for the food. It is located in La Rioja community (in Spain we don’t call them provinces, we call them “communities”). It is famous for its wine and I have never had a bad glass of wine from La Rioja.

Apart from that, you can never go wrong with Ribeira del Duero. It is another wine region that is incredibly common in bars around Spain. Other notable mentions would be the Basque wine Txakoli. It is a white wine that can be dangerous because it is so good and goes down so easy. Lastly, you have to try a glass of Albariño wine. Super refreshing in summer with a nice aromatic fruity vibe to it.

Bryce: The blog you have on your website is very insightful, giving a glimpse into your life and experiences. I think everyone reading should check it out! You also post insightful videos on social media about your experiences and provide travel tips. How often do you update your blog, and what kind of content can we expect to see on your social media in the future?

Derrick: For my blog, I try my best to update it weekly with content that I feel is insightful not only for the bear community, but for everyone. My life story and the stories I have to tell are pretty insane. At this moment I’m working on a series of posts about how I ended up in each of the different countries I have lived.

I also try to give tips on where to go and where not to go. A lot of places nowadays are just overdone and
you will feel like you’re being herded around like cattle. I love Cataluña, but I don’t spend much time in Barcelona for this very reason (lo siento mis amigos catalanes).

You just feel like you’re one of the millions of tourists there. There are much better, and for me, more interesting places to go in Cataluña like Girona.

I actually had to start from zero again on my social media about a week ago as Instagram mistakenly deleted my page for “violating community standards.” Turns out, anything “gay bear” is a huge red flag for Meta. I had posted a photo announcing my group trip to Spain this autumn with phrases like “join the pack” and
“an intimate autumn in Madrid,” etc. Their AI bot flagged it for inappropriate behavior haha.

But you can expect me to post my travels, my clients’ travels, tips, group trips, things to watch out for in the travel industry, things like that.

Bryce: You are clearly quite a travel savant, and I look forward to learning more about you and your experiences from your blog and social media. Outside of travel, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

Derrick: This is gonna be a total shocker but, I love Anthropology haha. It is what I studied in university and anything about culture, archaeology, history, etc. is like crack for me. I can read or watch National Geographic for hours and I’m good.

I was also a massage therapist in Atlanta, Georgia before I went to university. It was the first thing I did career wise and I still love doing it. I have a list of clients in Atlanta that goes back 23 years. When I’m in town I always let my loyal regular clients know. I keep a massage table and sheets in the trunk of my car. If I’m not booking trips I’m either at the gym or giving a massage haha.

Lastly, music. I LOVE music and can talk about it all day long.

Bryce: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me! Is there anything you’d like to leave our readers with today?

I’ve spoken a lot about Spain and Thailand today but I can book you a trip pretty much anywhere you wanna go. Just let me know and I’ll get to work. I can just as easily book you a trip to Portugal, France, Greece, Italy, or anywhere in South East Asia. Remember, I’m a world traveller so the more exotic the destination, the more I’m into it haha.

On a more serious note, travel changed my life. It also saved my life. I was not in the best place when I hit the road all those years ago, but I landed and I found my place. We make a lot of excuses as to why we shouldn’t do things. A lot of those things never get done because we tell ourselves they will “happen one day.” Sometimes you just have to take the plunge and get out!

I haven’t mentioned it in this interview but part of what I do is for people who are in transitional places in their lives. I have noticed I attract people who are at a crossroad. For example, people who broke up with their partner of 20 years, or they lost their partner, or they got divorced, or they got old and realized they never… “fill in the blank.”

Those are exactly the type of people who the group trips are for. People who want to have a life experience but don’t want to do it alone. It’s so much more fun making new friends and having these experiences with others.

I really hope I get to meet you all! Thank you so much! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to read what I have to say. Lots of love!