Best gay hotels in the world

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Although we just finished skirting the Mediterranean with the Villa Ragazzi’s intimate, stylish touch on perfect southern France, it’s now time for us to take a dip back down to Europe’s summer holiday basin once more with one of the most centrally located hotels in the entire world, regardless of queer denomination. Similar to AirBnB, misterb&b is an online service that allows you to rent short- or long-term spaces from gay and gay-friendly hosts around the world.

The B&B First Floor is a specifically gay-catering hotel that finds itself within perhaps less than a minute’s walk of the Colosseum and many of Rome’s most famous historical landmarks and – in direct contrast to the ancient importance of its surroundings – as a part of the heart of the city’s most famous LGBTQ+ district.

Even today, gay hotels and gay resorts are still popular in cities like

Types of Gay Hotels

Gay hotels generally fall into one of the following categories:

  • Clothing-optional resorts – Many gay resort towns like Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, and Maspalomas are known for having clothing-optional resorts.

    Set amidst scenic landscapes, this campground features rustic cabins, tent sites, and RV spots.

    It’s a social hub with amenities such as a heated pool, hot tubs, and various recreational activities including hiking, volleyball, and themed weekends. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, this hotel features chic rooms, a rooftop bar, an infinity pool, and direct beach access.

    The W Hotel is known for its lively atmosphere and exceptional service, making it a popular choice for those looking to enjoy Barcelona’s vibrant gay scene.

    The entire hotel is full of LGBTQ+ guests, and all staff are extensively trained to provide you with a welcoming and gay-friendly experience.

    Speaking of place, even though The Hacienda isn’t exactly central to any of the urban areas around it – which is a blessing rather than a hindrance in a lot of ways – Los Angeles itself is also within easy reach of guests staying at this establishment, so if you’d like to spend a little time inside the Sunset City while enjoying your space, separation, and the exclusive queerness of the resort serving as your temporary home, then this is the perfect place for you.

    The Woods Campground in Pennsylvania

    For those who love the great outdoors, The Woods Campground in Pennsylvania is a gay-friendly, clothing-optional retreat that offers a unique blend of nature and community.

    No matter where you’ve come from or where your holiday will take you afterward, queer people from all walks of life can share an amazing time here, and the fun only starts with the atmosphere and surroundings of the hotel itself. 

    The Bo Put district surroundings of the Alpha Gay Resort and Spa are among some of the most queer-leaning and international in the entire span of the Koh Samui island that it sits upon, and even if you’re not interested in dipping your toes into the comings and goings of the local nightlife, there’s more than enough activity going on at the hotel’s bar and restraint to keep you occupied.

    best gay hotels in the world

    With the right location, and the right magnificent, attentive gay hotel, you can easily enjoy a holiday away from all the strain that being LGBTQ+ in our modern society brings. These properties tend to feel like any other hotel you might stay at, but LGBTQ+ owners typically instill values of diversity and respect in their employees.

    There are even a wide variety of helpful guides available both here and on other LGBTQ+ community sites all through the internet that set out to help travelers choose the accommodation of their choice while aiming to be safe and proud at the same time in the city or continent of their choice, but sometimes it just isn’t enough.

    One of the strongest factors working in favor of the Baan Souy Resort’s strong general appeal is the sheer jaw-dropping beauty of its long, landscaped courtyards and common areas, perfect for those who associate time spent relaxing and soaking in local culture with nature and greenery rather than the depths of the city.

    Plus, the fact that you sleep at the property makes the time spent even more intimate than other elements of your trip. Kitted out with everything from an expansive pool area to a golf course, the Hacienda at Warm Sands is a pure gem of luxury and exquisite, queer-centric service, and new arrivals to the hotel will find it almost impossible to believe that a location this exclusive could be targeted to gay and LGBTQ+ crowds alone. 

    The truth is that the Hacienda at Warm Sands thrives off its strong connection to the international LGBTQ+ community just as much as it bathes in the sun of its Palm Springs location and that this factor brings it a level of overall appeal and regular draw that other hotels struggle to achieve even with stunning locations and much higher prices working in their favor.

    The philosophy is a hotel chain for the entire LGBTQ+ community, where two men, two women, a man and a woman, or any type of customer are equally welcome, without prejudice regarding their sexual orientation. During those times, the acceptance of LGBTQ+ people wasn’t what it is today, so many gay travelers needed a safe space to travel with their same-sex partner without fear of judgment or harassment.

    In many places like North America and Western Europe, the concept of a gay hotel might not serve the same need it once did, as LGBTQ+ acceptance is now more widespread.

    In fact, Axel Hotels doesn’t define itself exactly as a gay hotel but rather as hetero-friendly.

    misterb&b

    Next to Axel Hotels, misterb&b is definitely the other major player in the market. A few gay hotels even offer a men-only sauna on-site. Most gay hotels tend to be well-located within the most popular areas of the city.

    Staying at one of these properties might interest travelers who aren’t drawn to the concept of a gay hotel.

  • Gay-friendly hotels – A gay-friendly hotel is not necessarily LGBTQ+-owned or a gay hotel concept but still makes an effort to be welcoming to LGBTQ+ guests by respecting diversity, having non-discrimination policies, and/or offering sensitivity training for staff.

    The famous Walking Street red-light district is only a few minutes away, which is a unique opportunity if you’re adventurous and excited to see the ins and outs of Thailand’s bar, club, and party scene.