5 LGBTQ+-Friendly Hotels and Resorts Around the World

LGBTQ+ travelers tend to look for accommodations and locations that are LGBTQ-welcoming. Based on a 5-point scale, with 5 being most important, 80% of LGBTQ+ travelers planning their next trip rated "destination is LGBTQ-friendly" a 4 or 5, according to Community Marketing & Insights — leaders in LGBTQ+ research since 1992 — 24th Annual LGBTQ Tourism & Hospitality Survey.

Whether you’re looking for a gay-friendly all-inclusive resort or an LGBTQ+-friendly hotel with fun outside activities nearby, there is a host of them across the world. We dive into some of the top LGBTQ+-friendly and gay-friendly resorts.

1. Axel Hotel Barcelona

The Axel Hotel Barcelona, located in Gayxample (the heart of the gay scene in Barcelona), is one of the top LGBTQ+ resorts in the world. The hotel is so welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community that it goes out of its way on its website to let guests know that it’s also “heterofriendly.”

The hotel’s website includes a LGBTQ+ community page which tells guests:

“In Axel Hotels we have supported from the beginning all those social causes related with LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) rights and pursuing LGBTQ standardization and promote integration and diversity as the basis of human rights. In Axel Hotels we engage with all associations, foundations and organizations combating discrimination in the international gay community, and participate in all those campaigns that look for social equality worldwide.”

While the Axel Hotel Barcelona is our favorite Axel Hotel, other LGBTQ+-friendly options include Axel Beach Miami – South Beach, Axel Beach Ibiza and Axel Hotel San Sebastián.

How to book the Axel Hotel Barcelona with points

You can use American Express Membership Rewards to book the Axel Hotel Barcelona using points by visiting the American Express travel portal. While the number of American Express Membership Reward points you’ll need will vary, rooms start at less than 13,000 points per night.

» Learn more: How to travel to Spain for cheap on points and miles

2. Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea Puerto Vallarta

It’d be hard to write an article about the top gay-friendly resorts without mentioning Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is a well-known LGBTQ+-friendly destination, with the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board having a page dedicated to LGBTQ+ vacation resources.

On its website, the Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea says that the hotel is “open to the entire LGBT community” and that its beach club — located right in front of the gay-friendly Los Muertos beach — “has become a hot favorite among the LGBT community.”

How to book Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea using points

You can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards® to book Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea by booking your stay through the Chase Travel portal. Though the amount of points you’ll need will vary based on room category and when you visit, standard rooms start at less than 10,000 points per night.

» Learn more: How to travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on points and miles

3. Seaglass Inn & Spa

Provincetown, Massachusetts is known as a premier LGBTQ+ destination, with the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce saying that the city has been a safe haven for gays and lesbians since the early 1900’s.

Lesbian travelers to Provincetown should consider staying at the Seaglass Inn & Spa, which was named by Orbitz as one of the six best resorts in the world for lesbian travelers. The hotel’s website prominently features a gay pride flag, letting guests know at the outset that it’s an LGBTQ+-friendly resort.

Before booking your trip, we’d recommend visiting www.provincetownforwomen.com, which features a social calendar for lesbian-friendly events, including:

• Single Women’s Weekend.

• Womxn of Color Weekend.

• Girl Splash Provincetown.

• Women’s Week.

How to book the Seaglass Inn & Spa with points

You can use your Capital One reward miles, American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou points to cover your stay at the Seaglass Inn & Spa.

To use your points to pay for the Seaglass Inn & Spa, book your stay with the hotel directly, and once the charge posts to your account, you can use your points to cover the cost of the stay (here’s a guide for how to use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature to use points to cover a stay booked directly with a hotel).

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

4. The Woods Cottages & Cabins at Russian River

The gay-owned The Woods Cottages & Cabins at Russian River is located north of San Francisco in famous Sonoma County. The Woods caters to adults, featuring a clothing-optional pool that sometimes features DJs and large crowds during the summer.

While you’d probably have an amazing trip even just staying by the pool, we’d recommend venturing outside the resort and exploring the greater Guerneville area, including wine tasting along the Russian River Wine Road and tubing down the Russian River.

If you stay at The Woods, drop by Big Bottom Market in downtown Guerneville and try one of their biscuits, which once appeared on Oprah’s annual favorite things list.

How to book The Woods Cottages & Cabins at Russian River with points

Similar to the Seaglass Inn & Spa, if you want to book points with The Woods Cottages & Cabins, you’ll need to book the hotel directly or through a travel portal like Booking.com. Be sure to pay for your stay with your eligible Chase, Capital One, Citi or American Express card, and then once the charge hits your account, you can use your points to cover the cost of your stay.

5. Santiago Resort

Palm Springs, California, is a well-known LGBTQ+-friendly city and, in 2018, became the first American city with an all-LGBT local government. Palm Springs has its own Pride weekend and hosts an annual White Party, an LGBTQ+ music festival.

Located just outside of downtown Palm Springs is the Santiago Resort, a private luxury resort for gay men featuring one of our favorite pools in the city.

The hotel has many amenities, including an outdoor heated spa, outdoor mist cooling system (important for those hot desert summers!) and “two-man” hammocks if you’re looking to nap next to your special someone.

While the resort isn’t all-inclusive, rooms come with continental breakfast, a 24-hour cantina with complimentary beverages and a poolside catered lunch, meaning you’ll just need to cover the cost of dinner.

While you can easily have a week's worth of fun just staying at the Santiago Resort and downtown Palm Springs, we’d recommend venturing out to nearby Joshua Tree National Park to take in the scenery (and if you’re looking for an overnight visit, we’d recommend The Darcy House, a gay-owned and friendly Airbnb with a pool, hot tub and hammock that are perfect for stargazing).

How to book Santiago Resort with points

To cover your stay with Santiago Resort using your points, you’ll want to book with the hotel directly and then, once the charge is posted to your account, use your Capital One, Chase, Citi or American Express points to cover the charge.

» Learn more: National parks in California to visit using points

The bottom line

Some of our favorite LGBTQ+ friendly resorts include Axel Hotel Barcelona, Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea, Seaglass Inn & Spa, The Woods and Santiago Resort.

Before picking an LGBTQ+-friendly hotel to stay at, we’d recommend first thinking about the type of vacation you’re looking for (more partying, relaxing or outdoor activities) and checking the hotel's website and online reviews to ensure it is LGBTQ+-friendly.

Depending on which credit card you have and how many points you have saved up, you may be able to use your credit card points to cover all or part of the cost of your stay.