10 great hotels for LGBTQ+ travelers
"Is that hotel… you know?"
To gear up for Pride Month, we spoke to Pol, the creator of the Spanish-language website GayGlobalTravel, about his favorite LGBTQ+ friendly hotels in global gay capitals.
Travel is my passion. For the past few years, I've been writing about the world's best gay-friendly hotels and destinations on my blog. It keeps me busy – new LGBTQ+ friendly hotels are popping up all the time. Some hotel chains are simply queer-friendly, while others cater especially to queer guests, but all focus on providing an inclusive and respectful experience in cities known for their LGBTQ+ communities.
Looking for the best places to be yourself and have a blast? Read on!
Madrid
Our journey starts in the heart of Spain's capital, a must-visit for all LGBTQ+ travelers. Book your stay at Room Mate Óscar, a sophisticated hotel with a Bauhaus-like facade and avant-garde interiors by designer Tomás Alía. Choose a room overlooking Plaza de Pedro Zerolo, named after the influential gay rights activist.
Neighborhood:
Wake up in Chueca, the capital's queer quarter, and enjoy close proximity to the most popular LGBTQ+ friendly bars, clubs, and restaurants. On the square in front of your hotel, live music fills the air during Pride.
Amenities:
✔️Gay-owned ✔️Impressive city views ✔️Year-round rooftop pool ✔️Breakfast till noon
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Madrid.
Barcelona
We continue our voyage in Barcelona, home of Dalí and the capital of Catalonia. Axel Hotel & Urban Spa is one of the city's most popular hotels among LGBTQ+ visitors. Soak in city views and sun rays by the rooftop pool – a great place to recover from a whole night out dancing at Metro Disco.
With Sitges and Ibiza close by, it's no surprise that "Barna" has long been welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community – and the nightlife doesn't disappoint!
Neighborhood:
The Eixample area gets its nickname, Gaixample, thanks to an influx of queer residents in the '90s and early '00s, but you'll find LGBTQ+ friendly life all around Barcelona, especially in the Gothic Quarter and Poble-Sec, and on the clothing-optional Platja de la Mar Bella.
Amenities:
✔️Rooftop terrace ✔️Peruvian restaurant ✔️Meet hotel guests and locals alike ✔️Soundproof rooms
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Barcelona.
Paris
Our next stop is the Grand Pigalle Hotel, a queer-friendly boutique hotel as charming and elegant as its settings. Book a room with a balcony overlooking the tree-lined Av. Frochot or views of Parisian rooftops and Montmartre.
Neighborhood:
It's easy to find LGBTQ+ friendly bars and clubs in Montmartre and Pigalle, Gay Paree's former beating heart, and you're less than half a mile from the Moulin Rouge. After a short metro ride to stroll through the fashionable gay district Le Marais, head back to your hotel and choose a bottle of fine wine to enjoy at sunset on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, but keep it classy – just the one!
Amenities:
✔️Romantic Parisian views ✔️Fine wine ✔️ Innovative cuisine at the Michelin-starred Frenchie
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Paris.
London
Our party keeps popping in a city where everyone is different, so anyone can fit in: London! Here you can stay at The Mandrake. It's popular with LGBTQ+ and hetero visitors alike thanks to a quirky and provocative style, comfortable accommodations, and top-tier entertainment in its various spaces like the Masha Hari Theater.
Neighborhood:
Turn left out the front door and walk a few minutes and you'll find yourself deep inside SoHo, the center of London's vibrant and lively LGBTQ+ scene.
Amenities:
✔️Eye-popping interiors like an open-air hanging garden ✔️Excellent bars and restaurants ✔️DJs and live music
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to London.
Miami
Sunny skies, sandy shorelines, and beautiful bods – what more could you ask for on the East Coast's Gay Riviera? Book your stay at AxelBeach Miami, a charming hotel that rocks a '40s look with its striking vertical piers and neon lights.
Neighborhood:
South Beach has held onto its reputation as the epicenter of Miami's LGBTQ+ club scene, and its Architectural District is a local cultural gem that's known for its abundance of Art Deco buildings, such as The Carlyle and Cardozo. Here, nobody's too primitive to share the stage with Estrogen Rockettes, and you're within walking distance from the area's popular LGBTQ+ sands and Birdcage-esque city life.
Amenities:
✔️ Rooftop bar overlooking historic architecture ✔️ Pool and jacuzzi surrounded by palm trees ✔️ Fitness room and sauna
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Miami.
Berlin
We're back in Europe at Axel Hotel Berlin, one of our favorite queer-oriented chains. The gay scene in Germany's capital is hip, quirky, and envelope-pushing, but it never leaves a bad taste in the mouth – and this hotel is smack dab in the heart of things.
Neighborhood:
Welcome to Schöneberg, Berlin's historically gay neighborhood! You're just a stone's throw from the KaDeWe department store and Berlin's best LGBTQ+ bars and cafes. Plus, the hip Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain are easy to reach on public transport or by bike.
Amenities:
✔️ Lounge bar with stained-glass windows ✔️ Georgian restaurant ✔️ Wellness club
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Berlin.
Amsterdam
The rainbow-friendly hotel The Hoxton is a dream come true on your trip to Europe's gay capital. Book one of its cozy rooms with modern comforts on The Nine Streets and get to know this open city's inspiring gay scene.
Neighborhood:
Enjoy the romantic charm of walking out of your hotel onto the Herengracht Canal. Pink Point and the Homomonument are quite close, as are Warmoesstraat (if you're interested in a cold beer) and Reguliersdwarsstraat (if you're looking for a… tall glass of water).
Amenities:
✔️Brasserie-style restaurant with cocktails ✔️Romantic canal views ✔️Breakfast brought to your room ✔️Live DJs
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Amsterdam.
NYC
In New York, the motherland of skyscrapers, I recommend The Standard, High Line for its stylish accommodations with floor-to-ceiling windows, gorgeous views of the Hudson, and easy accessibility to LGBTQ+ hangouts.
Neighborhood:
Located in the historically gay-friendly Meatpacking District (no pun intended): not only are you on the edge of Greenwich Village and two steps from Chelsea, but getting to Hell's Kitchen (where the real party is these days) is as simple as taking a scenic stroll up the High Line.
Amenities:
✔️Drag brunches, bingo, and themed happy hours ✔️ Impressive city views ✔️Rooftop dance club ✔️Steakhouse ✔️ Beer garden ✔️Outdoor plaza with rotating art exhibits
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to NYC.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is Florida's LGBTQ+ capital and a magnet for queer travelers thanks to its sandy beaches, inclusive parties, and enviable weather. Rest your head at the Grand Resort and Spa and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere on prime real estate.
Neighborhood:
You're just a hop and a skip from Terramar St. Beach's LGBTQ+ sands and the busier Sebastian Beach. Here, there's no pressure to conform to Miami's muscle-beach standards – all aboard the body-positivity ship! When you're ready to step away from the water, Wilton Manors' LGBTQ+ nightlife and restaurants are a short drive.
Amenities:
✔️Clothing-optional pool and jacuzzi ✔️ Award-winning spa ✔️Fitness room ✔️Club room ✔️Continental breakfast
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Fort Lauderdale.
Bangkok
Finally, for the best of Southeast Asia, you must stay at the SO/ Bangkok, where attentive staff always make you feel like a VIP. Thailand's capital is a magnet for transgender visitors, since it's more accepting of trans people than many Asian nations, and you'll find a huge queer scene here in the capital.
This luxury hotel is within arm's reach of the city's best LGBTQ+ nightlife, so book a room overlooking Lumpini Park and strap in for the ride (literally, if you're into that sort of thing).
Neighborhood:
Your luxe stay is just a ten-minute walk from Bangkok's exciting LGBTQ+ friendly party area, Silom Road. Arguably the queerest street in town is the alleyway Silom Soi 4, but you'll find one of Asia's most famous gay clubs, DJ Station, on Silom Soi 2. Weekday? No problem.
Amenities:
✔️ Top-tier bars and restaurants ✔️ Award-winning spa inspired by a mythological forest ✔️ Rooftop pool with one of the best pool bars in town and monthly parties
For more cool spots, check out WayAway's guide to Bangkok.
Any time of the year is a great time to visit somewhere new, so get those vacation days ready and snag some cheap tickets on WayAway. And Spanish speakers can check out my blog to learn more about the best destinations. Happy travels!
