Indulgence and decadence are here, there, and everywhere in Las Vegas, a glittering oasis in Nevada’s Mojave Desert. Vegas is aptly named “Sin City” for all the adult vices it promises to fulfill, and then some. Glitzy entertainment shows, fabulous casinos, freely-flowing alcohol, and nonstop party culture are what Vegas is famous for. With so much razzle-dazzle, it’s no wonder that the city turned to the pink dollar, and is one of the biggest LGBTQ+ destinations in the world. Today, there are a plethora of gay hotels in Las Vegas which cater to the traveling LGBTQ+ public.
From clubs to fetish entertainment, Vegas has tons of things designed for the LGBTQ+ set. The amazing “Fruit Loop” just east of the Strip is the wonderful gay area of Las Vegas. Whether it is on the iconic Vegas Strip or off of it, you cannot walk for more than 15 minutes without coming across a gay venue. However, other areas like Southridge, Kensington, and the area north of the University of Nevada also feature some of the best gay bars.
Gay Las Vegas is as much about wide-ranging acceptance as it is about having gay-friendly fun. Apart from Vegas Pride, the city also has Las Vegas Pride OUTside Hikes which are hikes for the LGBTQ community. The world’s largest annual LGBT sporting event, Sin City Classic, also takes place here. Gay Vegas is equally rambunctious, also hosting a DNA Fetish party, the Las Vegas CumUnion Party, and the Gay Rodeo.
If you’re heading out in Vegas, Nevada every day, the double-decker Deuce is extremely helpful for getting around. Deuce runs up and down the Strip from Fremont Street to Mandalay Bay 24 hours a day, with stops at almost every hotel on the Strip.
The Cromwell Hotel & Casino
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If you want some scaled-down accommodation, then head to the fashionable and gay-friendly Cromwell. The sleek and sexy hotel is, famously, the only standalone boutique hotel on the Strip in Las Vegas. Rooms feature low lighting, part of the hotel’s ambiance, and are dotted with thoughtful details. The bathrooms are beautifully designed and plush and feature a luxurious set of bath products.
Cromwell outside the room is a whole another world. There’s a compact, yet classy casino. The complimentary tea and coffee by the guest elevators is an absolute blessing. However, it’s the lobby bar Bound that’ll leave you truly spellbound. With a menu designed by world-famous mixologist Salvatore Calabrese, it’s on almost all lists of the best places to drink cocktails in Las Vegas. What’s more, the hotel is also home to Drai, the after-hours, beach, and night club which are a must-visit for any desert party devotee.
Clearly, you aren’t skimping on any Vegas fun staying at the Cromwell, while ensconced in an upscale, intimate gay hotel in Las Vegas.
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Sin City Hostel
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If you’re penny-pinching on your Vegas accommodation, it doesn’t mean that you don’t get to have any fun. You can have some good, old-fashioned fun at the super-gay-friendly party place that is the Sin City Hostel, the only hostel on the Vegas Strip. This much-recommended hostel features both double rooms and cozy dorms. A Jacuzzi pool is great for lounging around and meeting cute fellow travelers.
Sin City Hostel is not known as a ‘party hostel’ for nothing. It arranges for pub crawls to the hottest nightlife spots and best parties in town. And, after a late night, they put out a delicious free breakfast which is the perfect cure for hangovers.
If you’re looking to get out and explore wild Gay Vegas, try the cluster of clubs in Southridge including the relaxed gay cowboy bar, Badlands.
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Luxor Hotel and Casino
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Offering one of the best bargains on the Strip is the kitschy Egyptian-themed, gay-friendly Luxor, one of the most easily recognizable structures in Vegas. Larger-than-life statues of the Sphinx and the pharaohs greet you at pyramid-shaped Luxor. The hotel is as value-for-money as it is interesting. Rooms and suites, albeit dated, are comfortable and value-priced by Strip standards and can be reached by the intriguing, angled “inclinator.” Ask for the Tower rooms if you prefer space and a deep-soak tub, or the renovated Cleo rooms for a modern touch.
While being value-priced, Luxor doesn’t cut corners with the amenities. There’s a massive pool deck with four pools and bars. There are also tons of food options including restaurants and a food court, and a renovated spa and casino. Who would have thought one of the best spa hotels in vegas is pet friendly?
However, what makes Luxor one of the best gay hotels in Las Vegas is the hotel-hosted Temptation Sundays, the city’s longest-running LGBT pool party. Extremely popular with locals and out-of-towners, the party turns the Luxor into a gay destination during summers.
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Excalibur Hotel and Casino
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The gay-friendly Excalibur is one of the perfect hotels in Las Vegas to indulge in a bit of sightseeing in this sparkling city. Connected by numerous transport links including free trams and the Deuce, the castle-shaped Excalibur is truly a dream-come-true stay for the exploring kind. The hotel is even a pickup stop for this fantastic 3-hour, open-top, double-decker bus tour at night, which we highly recommend. This tour is the best way to see the razzmatazz of the Vegas Strip, including the dancing fountains at Bellagio.
The Excalibur’s castle theme isn’t lost on you, whether it is the fake drawbridge, the pastel-colored turrets, or the stained-glass imitations. Rooms are modern, if a bit small, but great for the value-for-money price point. Amenities at the Excalibit are fantastic for a budget hotel. It boasts of four, seasonally-open outdoor swimming pools, one of which is adults-only. There are tons of dining options. The hotel even has a small spa, where you can indulge in a massage or an aromatherapy shower.
The Excalibur even cares about your after-dark entertainment, and gays will love the saucy, all-male-stripper extravaganza “Thunder from Down Under”.
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Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
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One of the best gay resorts in Las Vegas is Encore, the younger sister property of the neighboring Wynn. From the brand which originally flagged luxury in Vegas, the all-suite property is regally decked in golds, greens, and reds and sprinkled with gorgeous floral bouquets everywhere. Rooms designed from light wood radiate understated elegance, and the contemporary art and chaise lounges add pops of color. What’s more, the suites are palatial, so-much-so that the executive-level ones are the largest in the city. However, the highest praise is reserved for the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer jaw-dropping views of Vegas.
Encore’s indulgent amenities make it one of the most romantic hotels in Vegas. Apart from temperature-controlled pools and jacuzzis, the hotel even has an opulent spa which features a mosaic-studded hammam. The European pool area with daybeds, cabanas, and the option for topless bathing is perfect for cute-sees. Do book an in-room massage when you want to wash off the day’s tiredness.
Fruit Loop, the gay area in Las Vegas is a mere 15-minute ride away. If you prefer something nearer, try the laidback gay bar of Fun Hog Ranch. You can even board the Deuce and SX buses to the cluster of gay bars in Southridge.
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Tropicana Las Vegas
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The gay-friendly Tropicana is easily one of the best-located resorts in Las Vegas. For one, its plum location at the corner of Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue is one of its best selling points. Its also a prominent Deuce bus stop, making traveling up and down the Strip easy. There’s even a pedestrian bridge connecting it to other hotels. Last but not the least, Tropicana is just down the road from the famous gay neighborhood of Vegas, Fruit Loop. This is also where the famous Piranha Nightclub lies; one of the best spots on Vegas’ gay scene. So, if you’re looking to have a great time in Gay Vegas, Tropicana is perfect.
One of Vegas’ oldest properties, Tropicana, since its facelift has been a favorite with travelers to Vegas, and it’s easy to see why. Rooms are done up in warm sunset hues, feature classy decor, and ooze coastal panache. Of the many dining options, the South Beach Food Court boasts of a fantastic and hearty breakfast spread. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even a massive spa as well as a two-acre pool complex with cabanas, daybeds, and swim-up gambling.
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Flamingo las Vegas
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The iconic, pink-neon Flamingo has been a Vegas fixture since 1941, and this legend is a force to reckon with even today. An expansive pool area, complete with cabanas and palms, is as great for relaxing as it is for people-watching. There’s a menagerie with flamingos nestled in the lush gardens, while the theatre is home to many famous legacy acts. A huge casino and multiple dining options literally make for an evening of absolute fun within the hotel itself. A bewitching spa completes this picture of perfection. Rooms at Flamingo blend retro-chic hues and midcentury-modern decor beautifully, complete with the brand’s magenta pop.
Gay travelers will love post-evening entertainment at Flamingo, particularly the X Burlesque show which is amongst the sexiest indulgences on the Strip. If one wants to head out for some exciting entertainment, Fruit Loop is a 10-minute car ride.
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Artisan Hotel Boutique
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The erotic, gay-friendly Artisan Boutique is great for a sexy rendezvous in Las Vegas. Located just five minutes from the Strip, the party hotel is extremely popular with those looking to engage in some ‘adult fun.’ The relaxed hotel emanates a suggestive and sensual vibe with a kinky twist. The place is dotted with erotic and classic art, rich, plush fabrics, gilt frames, and dark décor.
The intimate and quirky rooms tell a similar story, and some room packages have intimacy love kits and copies of the Kamasutra. The lack of an on-site casino is a welcome change for a Vegas hotel. The epicenter of fun here is the palm tree-lined topless-optional pool with daybeds, food, and drinks. What’s more, the hotel’s nightclub has guests partying till the wee hours of dawn, so sleep is elusive here. However, if you’re in Vegas to have decadent fun, sleep is the last thing you’ll look for.
If you’re looking for a particularly steamy “Sin City” hotel, Artisan is one of the best gay hotels in Las Vegas to crash at.
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Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa
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Revel in solitude at Mediterranean-inspired Green Valley, one of the calmer gay resorts in Las Vegas. The resort beautifully blends Italianate architecture and verdant, picturesque vineyards with a Sin City vibe. Rooms are luxuriously modern and feature cream and deep-brown hues and dark cherrywood furniture. The views from rooms higher up are breathtaking – you can see the Colorado River on the horizon.
Green Valley’s sand-bottom pool is extremely famous around these parts. It is nestled on an eight-acre green backyard and features chic cabanas for lounging. On warm days, you literally never have to leave the poolside, what with the poolside dining service attentively and delightfully serving endless drinks and snacks. No wonder it’s got a rep for being one of the best gay hotels in Las Vegas. However, its the resort’s award-winning spa which is its hidden gem, complete with revitalizing body treatments and massages which will leave you rejuvenated.
Furthermore, the resort has a free shuttle (included in the resort fee), to the Strip. Head to the posse of gay bars in clubs at Fruit Loop or Southridge for a gay-tastic night out.
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Aria Resort & Casino
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If you want to avoid the general Vegas kitsch during your stay, head to the gleaming high-rise that is the Aria Resort. The lovely luxury gay-friendly hotel sits right in the heart of the Strip next to the Bellagio. In fact, a tram service runs to both Monte Carlo and Bellagio resorts from the Aria. What’s more, the wonderful epicenter of gay nightlife, Fruit Loop is a five-minute cab ride away.
The shiny, grand Aria offers a wealth of room options, all of which are understatedly luxurious. Floor-to-ceiling windows perfectly complement the dark color scheme, while the ensuite bathrooms with oval soaking tubs are the epitome of lavishness.
A gamut of 20 or so dining options ensures that you’ll never get bored eating here. Take note of the special Japanese stone sauna beds at the spa, where you can head to with your partner for relaxing after a long day. However, its the ellipsis-shaped turquoise pools with cabanas and loungers where you’ll want to spend your time. From lounging around to meet-cutes, the pool at Aria is perfect. To top that, Aria boasts of a casino and the Jewel nightclub, which is already a raging favorite for partying on the Strip.
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Palms Casino Resort
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Calling all LGTBQ party monsters to the slick, gay-friendly Palms Casino Resort, around a mile west of the Strip. Lauded as one of the best gay hotels in Las Vegas, the Palms boasts of a simmering pool scene and a nightlife that is the best in the city. Its summer pool parties are all the rage, while three nightclubs make the Palms an epic destination to drink and dance the night away.
Two pool complexes, one for relaxing and one for partying, make it easy to have fun as well as unwind at the same place. Rooms are stylish with all mod-cons and range from standard ones to opulent villas with Strip-overlooking, glass-enclosed pools. Spa-inspired bathrooms feature frosted glass showers and a luxurious deep soaking tub.
If you’re understandably tired from all the partying, drift into the Drift Spa for a massage, the perfect cure for a hangover and sore bodies. Follow it up with a steamy hammam session or a nap in the outdoor gardens.
If you want to take a break from the hectic party scene, head to laidback, country-style gay bar Charlie’s, which is a five-minute drive from Palms.
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Just So You Know:
- Famed gay singer and piano player Liberace is an enduring LGBTQ and Vegas symbol. Today, his home in the city, Liberace Mansion, is available for private tours.
Get Some Culture in Las Vegas:
- Las Vegas Pride: Every October, Vegas celebrates a week-long celebration filled with gay festivities. Apart from the parade, highlights also include Las Vegas Pride Festival and the glittering spectacle that is the Vegas Night Pride Parade. Actually, it’s one of the best fun-filled events for gay people in the USA.
- Las Vegas Pride OUTside Hikes – This is a lovely show of Pride in an offbeat setting. It invites the LGBTQ+ community for monthly fun outdoor activities like hikes.
Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Las Vegas:
- Badlands Saloon – A remodeled gay cowboy bar in Vegas.
- Charlie’s Las Vegas – This is an extremely popular gay cowboy jaunt, complete with line dancing.
- Fun Hog Ranch – A great gay dive bar with hangout attracting a fetish/leather/bear crowd.
- Piranha Gay Club – A trendy two-story Fruit Loop mainstay with amazing drag shows and an outdoor patio. This is the most popular gay club in this gay area of Las Vegas
Best Gay Saunas in las vegas:
- Entourage Vegas: Entourage is the “only gay bathhouse” in Las Vegas. Earlier called Apollo Spa, the Romanesque sauna features darkrooms, playroom, steam room, sauna, jacuzzis, and a half-sized Olympic pool.
