Queer travel expert Jack Kenworthy turns 250+ city adventures into your guide for safe, vibrant, and inclusively fabulous global journeys.
Phoenix may not seem like the ultimate travel destination, let alone somewhere to stake out a search for a gay hotel, but we can assure you that you’re missing out if you haven’t at least considered going there. But first, a little background information. Phoenix is the capital of the US state of Arizona and shares the rest of the state’s strong reputation for sun, heat, and southwestern culture.
This point of notoriety is so well known that the city’s surrounding area is known as the Valley of the Sun. Although Phoenix only has around 1.6 million inhabitants, its metropolitan form and melting-pot nature give it a different take on the suburban feel we all know. It’s a paradise of beach vibes away from the coast and an exotic mix-up for those hailing from the northern states.
Regarding the city in general, Phoenix is a hidden gem of tourism and spreads its arms open wide for exploration and relaxation. Equipped with more than its fair share of museums and historical monuments, the city also packs a geological punch with its surrounding mountains and unique land structure.
Suppose you’re up to venturing a little further outside of the city’s exact borders for fun. In that case, there are also four-wheel drive and ATV tours through the desert, as well as opportunities to take hot air balloon rides to see the region’s impressive range of sights and wonders from a little higher up.
But what about Phoenix’s gay community? While looking for gay hotels in Phoenix, it’s natural to be curious about what kind of attitude a place has toward queer travelers. If you’re looking for a specific district in the city that lends itself to queer tourism and LGBTQ locals, then Phoenix’s answer is undoubtedly the Melrose District.
Not only is the Melrose District home to some of the city and the state’s best art exhibitions, galleries, and culture hotspots, but it’s also a beacon for queer people everywhere, offering a vibrant nightlife and more than enough opportunities for even new arrivals to socialize and to ground themselves in the local scene.
Although we’re hitting on a largely unexplored queer gold mine here in Phoenix, our usual disclaimer still applies just for clarity’s sake. Obviously, in most cases, there aren’t going to be hotels out there marketed directly towards gay people or queer people in general.
We know that, and therefore we’d like to note that the hotels on this list follow the same logic. Most of them have been listed as accommodating, friendly, and unjudgmental to, for, and by queer people in general, as well as being highly rated in general.
So, with that said, it’s time to make our way down into the center of the Valley of the Sun. Good times and great people await, and it’s up to you to decide which of these top eight gay hotels in Phoenix is the right one for your next holiday!
In this article we will cover...
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
Also going by its full name – Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa – this lovely hideaway is nestled in the heart of the so-called paradise Valley Village and basks in the relief of the bright sun and breathtaking natural surroundings that most of Phoenix enjoy.
We have spoken and will speak a lot more about the heat and dry temperatures that Phoenix is used to experiencing, but for now, it suffices to say that resort and spa ensembles are a godsend when it comes to visiting the city or even the state as a whole.
It’s far better to be able to relax in comfort than have nowhere to turn from the sun, of course, and it’s in this avenue that one can expect the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain to excel.
Location-wise, the Sanctuary Camelback prides itself on its proximity to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Desert Botanical Garden. Like with the Arizona Sunburst Inn before it and the word ‘inn’, however, potential visitors might find themselves set a little back by the word ‘resort’.
A resort isn’t generally associated with the luxury of a professional, decedent kind, but the Sanctuary Camelback works well in dispelling this impression. Like many good resorts, the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain has an included spa facility, but the difference between this and other places of accommodation starts to show when it comes to the sheer range of other services provided.
There’s a golf course, a fitness center, a bar and restaurant combo, plenty of sun-tanning and shaded lounging areas, and – of course – a massive outdoor pool to spend your days in. The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain is also wheelchair accessible, meaning you won’t have any less fun if you need a little help getting around the grounds!
Four Points by Sheraton
Marked as LGBTQIA+ friendly by the owners and grounded in a very sound dedication to making all guests feel at home, the Four Points is a grassroots hotel that nonetheless does what it does with a definite air of professionalism, leaving guests satisfied and itching to return.
The rooms are well-maintained and reliable, meaning that you’ll always have the safety of personal space to come back to between doing what you need to do in the city or simply exploring what Phoenix has to offer.
Whether you’re staying for business or pleasure, the Four Points has your back and is there to provide whatever services you need, whether it’s laundry, pet care, or you’re looking for something to eat on the fly.
The last mention on this list is especially true, thanks to the rustic American restaurant on the hotel’s site – accompanied by a bar area and some lovely seating – and the wide variety of nearby eateries and restaurants.
A proper list of easily accessible places to get a bite to eat can be found on the hotel’s website, which is quite a useful resource!
If you’re not just looking for something to eat, however, the fact that the Four Points is located both centrally in the city of Phoenix as a whole couples well with the fact that it has unparalleled access to the Interstate that runs through it, meaning that you’ll have quick transit both to and from your accommodation and to wherever else in the city you want to visit.
There are ample taxis, and if you’re hoping to hold an event at the Four Points, you’re in luck, thanks to the ample room for meetings and anything from weddings to birthdays.
Arizona Sunburst Inn
We’re starting sweet and simple with this one – welcoming our first gay hotel, the Arizona Sunburst Inn. Although the term ‘Inn’ doesn’t exactly stir up thoughts of much more than necessary transitional accommodation, it must be said that the Arizona Sunburst Inn is truly more of a resort and is marketed as such.
It’s also easy to see why this resort is recommended for gay travelers, as it is a male-marketed place of accommodation that excels in simple relaxation, making the best of its excellent location and reliable services. This might be a bit of a disappointment for our lady readers, but we assure you that there are plenty of locations with equal value and surroundings yet to come!
The Arizona Sunburst Inn provides a perfect mix between a more luxurious, all-needs-accounted-for accommodation experience and the classic bed and breakfast feel, meaning that while you won’t have to go out of your way to make things work for yourself while staying there, your time at the Inn will feel very much as though you’re relaxing at home away from home.
There’s an incredibly well-rated pool, an adjacent spa, a free, nutritional breakfast every morning, and that sense of hands-on, heartfelt care that one can’t get from larger, more commercial hotels.
Suppose you like to balance affordability with a more grassroots holiday experience as part of a road trip or local escape. In that case, you needn’t scroll any further – the Arizona Sunburst is the perfect hotel for this particular travel angle.
There seems to be no end to the number of pleasant surprises it offers, even when it comes to the mountainous, beautiful Camelback Mountain in the hotel’s nearby vicinity. Endless possibilities are afoot!
The Camby
Although The Camby’s full title – The Camby, Autograph Collection – may sound more like a museum than a hotel, we can assure you that it’s quite the optimal accommodation destination.
Located in the same fraction of Phoenix as the lovely Arizona Sunburst Inn, The Camby is just as LGBTQ-friendly as the rest of the hotels on this list, but it brings in a kind of luxury that rivals being called the very best on the list.
Although the price tag for The Camby is a little larger than some of the other options for gay hotels in Phoenix, guests can be sure that every extra cent will pay off.
Not only is The Camby’s location excellent – lodged right in between the untamed nature of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve and the stunning green of the Arizona Biltmore Estates – but it also has just about every service and allowance visitors could need. Need to bring a pet along to share the occasion with you?
No problem! Looking to keep up with your fitness routines? There’s an in-house fitness studio with every need accounted for! Not interested in going out tonight? There’s a restaurant downstairs and a delectable room service to call on 24/7!
The Camby’s inclusion of a pool makes for the perfect escape from the dry environment that Arizona’s capital is famous for, and with it, you’ll be able to feel cool and refreshed rather than just parched and exhausted.
A holiday spent suffering in the heat is a wasted one, after all, especially if you don’t come from a place with the temperatures that Phoenix natives are used to experiencing. Nevertheless, with the comfort of The Camby’s rooms, you’ll be able to stay safe and in touch with Phoenix’s opportunities.
Hotel Valley Ho
Located in the downtown portion of the Phoenix suburb Scottsdale, the Hotel Valley Ho combines the classic downtown showbiz feel with a more modern attitude to decorating, creating a fusion, contemporary accommodation style that is sure to impress and even more certain to leave guests with a stay to remember.
The Hotel Valley Ho is also publicly marked as queer-friendly, and the staff is well known for their strong dedication to the equal treatment of guests, which sounds good on all ends. Feeling safe and respected are important ingredients for a successful holiday or time out!
As we mentioned above, the neighborhood where the Hotel Valley Ho finds itself is wonderful – swamped up to the edges with excellent places to explore culture, nightlife, and creative productions – and one doesn’t even have to leave the hotel’s grounds to find something interesting to do.
The Valley Ho is connected with several interesting eateries, and there is, even more to be found in the surrounding area, regardless of whether you’re looking for somewhere to get something to eat or somewhere to find a drink.
But what about the insides of the hotel? All of the Valley Ho’s spaces are well-maintained and chic; reviews for the Hotel Valley Ho praise the staff – as described earlier – and the hotel’s offered free parking.
When it comes to the individual rooms, the Valley Ho is another hotel on this list to have both kitchenettes and hot tubs offered and if you’re looking to organize an event or relax the time away, there is respectively a meeting or event center and a spa to satisfy your needs.
Fitness and laundry also have their facilities, and the hotel is well known for the sheer availability and good positioning of its many seating and lounging areas.
Embassy Suites
Run as a franchise of the Hilton hotel company, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Scottsdale is – rather predictably – another gay hotel to find its home in the colorful, upscale Scottsdale neighborhood.
The energy at the Embassy Suites is lively and luxurious, but the opportunities are endless – no matter what you want to try out or what you’re looking for in a hotel, the Embassy Suites are sure to provide it and to be reasonably cheap about it too.
Most of the Embassy Suites rooms have balconies looking over the Scottsdale Golf Club, which is excellent if you’re not feeling too wonderful about being surrounded by dusty mountains all day.
The picturesque setting of the Phoenix Mountain Reserve in the background and the palm tree-lined streets is surprisingly breathtaking, and one only needs to see the view once to understand why.
If things are still too dry for you even, despite this, you can always take a dip in the Embassy Suites’ pool or relax in the hot tub included with most rooms.
Plan on visiting Phoenix with an electric vehicle. You’ll be happy to learn that the Embassy Suites have charging stations available, which means that you’ll be free of one extra worry during the day, and just that bit more able to explore what Phoenix has to offer or get your business done.
The Embassy Suites tick off many other boxes, too, even those that most hotels in the area tend to neglect.
They’re both family-friendly and accessible for wheelchairs and combine an airport shuttle service with room service, golf course access, and a fitness center to keep your daily routines flowing even while you’re on holiday enjoying the new sights and sampling some of the local culture and landmarks.
The Clarendon Hotel & Spa
We’ve put quite a bit of focus on the relaxing and the tranquil when it comes to the gay hotels on this list, and this most recent addition keeps that trend to a tee. The Clarendon Hotel and Spa is a glass of water for those parched from traveling through or above the wastes of Arizona, and it’s publicly marketed as queer-friendly to boot. If that’s not a good start for a gay hotel, what is?
While the building that the Clarendon Hotel and Spa takes up is quite impressive and aesthetically pleasing, and the catalog of its options and services might be quite impressive, it’s much like several of the other hotels on this list in the fact that it’s surprisingly affordable.
More affordable, in fact, than some of the resort and spa ensembles we’ve already reviewed, even though it’s a high-rise hotel with more elevated access to what Phoenix has to offer.
The neighborhood of the Clarendon – the business-strong Midtown district – is definitely in an area that feels a lot more urban than some of the other hotels on this list, which could be the exact feeling that you’re looking for when visiting Phoenix for the first time, rather than a property on the city’s outskirts.
With the more packed surroundings comes a wonderful variety of eateries, shopping centers, and other significant destinations, including several country clubs and parks to provide a break from the city streets. Not interested in any of that? No problem!
There’s also the Phoenix Art Museum nearby, the Heard Museum, and several bars where you can easily enjoy the city’s unique atmosphere. Phoenix is a wonderful place for those with the right springboard to enjoy it!
Hyatt Regency Phoenix
Although Hyatt hotels worldwide have gained a reputation for being expensive and reserved for only those looking to experience the cusp of luxury, things are just a little different when it comes to the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
Visitors can still expect to be met with the same level of exquisite lavishness and all-inclusive comfort, but the Regency’s price tag is a little lower, and its location is a little more focused on practicality and making it worth its while than being for show.
But how exactly is the Regency Phoenix worth its while? We think the main points are proof enough, so let’s start on the list. Not only does the Hyatt Regency have a full-sized, well-tended pool with a massive sitting area, but it also provides its guests with access to public transit.
On top of this, the rooms are incredibly stylish, and some even have hot tubs, kitchenettes, and separate living zones. If you’re looking to make your stay in Phoenix a bit more luxurious, or if you intend to invite people over during your stay, this is the perfect spot for you.
The Hyatt Regency Phoenix is located right in the center of the city’s Downtown district, meaning that visitors there have unparalleled access to Phoenix’s night scene and the bars and cafes that make up a good part of the hustle and bustle the area experiences.
If that isn’t the kind of thing for you, or if you’re looking for something a little more tourism orientated, then you’ll be equally pleased by the fact that the Arizona Science Center is within a paltry distance, as well as the Herberger Theater Center and even the Phoenix Convention Center if you have anything specific in mind to visit.
Gay Hotel Map Of Phoenix
Feeling a bit lost while planning your journey to Phoenix? No worries, darling! Our detailed LGBTQ+ tailored map is here to guide you. We’ve pinpointed all the vibrant gay-friendly bars, exhilarating clubs, extravagant parties, cozy hotels, relaxing saunas, and soothing massage parlors to ensure you find the perfect spot.
And these aren’t just any spots; we’re talking about the creme de la creme of locations in the heart of the city’s vibrant gay scene. Think panoramic views, easy access to nightlife, and all the amenities to make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
But hold on to your feather boas! These hot spots are fabulous; they vanish quicker than a drag queen’s five o’clock shadow. Don’t delay; book now to secure the best deals and locations. Remember, the early bird catches the best deals in Phoenix! So, pack your rainbow flag, and get ready to experience the ultimate gay-friendly holiday in Phoenix.
