Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota Florida

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Sarasota, FL (2024 Updated)

Search and book Lesbian and Gay friendly hotels Sarasota, Florida.

Lesbiangaybisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the United States have evolved in recent decades. However, LGBT Americans may still face some legal and many social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, particularly in states with large conservative populations, such as in the Deep South; in rural areas; and in some Native American tribal nations.

U.S. federal law does not explicitly include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are included under “sex” as a prohibited ground of employment discrimination in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of Florida may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, and same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015.
The Florida cities were all highlighted for their year-round sunshine and lack of state income tax. Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota, Miami Beach and Oakland Park, ranked among the most-demand gayfriendly cities for LGBTQ travelers during the holidays.
Sarasota has a long history of being a  gay friendly town and in downtown we can find a few gay friendly bars as well as Purple Rhino or  8-Ball Lounge are the most famous gay  friendly bars in Sarasota, FL.
Sarasota is a city south of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast that was once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Today, it hosts a number of cultural institutes, notably the Ringling Museum of Art, which showcases old masters and modern art. It’s also the gateway to miles of beaches with fine sand and shallow waters, such as Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach.

Top attractions to visit in Sarasota

 Best Day Tours in Sarasota

See all tours in Sarasota on GetYourGuide.

 

1. Lido Beach Resort – Sarasota 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota

Lido Beach Resort
Lido Beach Resort

This beachfront Lido Beach Resort is on Lido Key and has 92 m of private beach. This resort provides free shuttle services to St. Armands Circle and rooms include free WiFi.

A microwave, refrigerator and coffee machine are standard in every guest room at the Resort Lido Beach. Most rooms provide a fully equipped kitchenette, and some suites have a beach view.

Two beachfront pools are available; 1 family pool and 1 adults-only pool. The Lido Beach Resort also has 3 hot tubs, a fitness center, and the Beachside Tiki Bar.

This casual, beachfront resort in Sarasota Lido Key is 0.7 miles from the shops and restaurants of St. Armands Circle and 0.6 miles from South Lido County Park.

Airy, modern rooms feature 32-inch flat-screen TVs, work desks, sitting areas and free Wi-Fi. Suites add private balconies and full kitchens.

A free shuttle runs to St. Armands Circle. Additional amenities include a 300-foot private beach, 2 year-round heated pools (1 for families and 1 for adults), 3 Jacuzzis, a 24/7 fitness center and business center, and a tranquil garden area with waterfalls and a reflecting pond. There’s also a seafood restaurant and a tiki bar.

Beachfront location on Lido Key, an island in the Gulf of Mexico with easy access to downtown Sarasota. Featuring 222 suites, kitchenettes and deluxe guest rooms. Short stroll from the renowned shops and cafes of St. Armand’s Circle. Beachfront pools – one for families and one for adults 18+ – hot tubs and oceanfront Tiki bar. Two restaurants – one on top of the hotel with panoramic views of Sarasota and the ocean – fitness room.

Although it looks a little dated, this is a good resort with excellent infrastructure and location for beach fun as well as dining and shopping!

The resort rooms are connected to a tiki-bar that are surrounded by 2 swimming pools, one for adults and the the other for the family. The bar/pool area leads one directly on to the soft sands of a beautiful beach on the Gulf of Mexico. The resort offers a restaurant (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and bar on the 8th floor with walls of glass and great views down the shoreline of Lido Beach.

The resort offers free shuttle service to the nearby (about a mile away) St.Armands Circle, a shopping and food Mecca with many restaurants and stores.

The resort is in a fantastic location, clean, 2 pools, 2 restaurants and a poolside tiki bar. The resort has a parking garage up to 7 floors, nice easy access to your car and getting your luggage to your room. Check-in was thorough and informative. The resort has one restaurant in the front, a cafe great for breakfast with indoor and outdoor seating. Second restaurant on the 8th floor (we didn’t eat there) The Tiki bar was crowded but a fun environment.

The room had a really big frig so bring a cooler, water, drinks and some food. It also had a microwave, small warming burner, small dishwasher and pots/pans kitchen utensils. You receive 2 water bottles and a bag of microwave popcorn daily with your resort fee.

Lots of shops, restaurants and cool stuff! Lots of cool stuff in the Sarasota downtown area also. The entire area offers some views to walk/run/bike etc. You can even enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, avail to rent at the south end of the island park. Or jet skis and fishing opportunities.

ur room faced the Gulf of Mexico overlooking the pool and the beach. The room was incredibly spacious and modern. Our room had a kitchenette with a full size refrigerator, two burner cooktop, microwave, toaster and sink. A four-piece set of dishes and cookware. The property is in a perfect location 10-minutes from a state park where you can rent kayaks or paddle boards by yourself or with a guided tour. In the opposite direction it is a 15 minute walk to St. Armands Circle or you can take the handy shuttle that the resort provides.

You could spend your entire stay on-property enjoying the beautiful beach and pool! There is a family pool and an adults only pool. Cook for yourself or enjoy the two restaurants that are available and are quite good. The resort was ultra clean, the staff was friendly and welcoming, and the location is perfect. We would definitely return for another escape from winter.

Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota
Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota

How much does a room costs at Lido Beach Resort – Sarasota?

Prices start 474$/night for Junior King Suite with Beach View. The One-Bedroom Suite with Beach View is  533$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite features a kitchenette, private balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, large living area, and separate bedroom.

Where to book online – Lido Beach Resort – Sarasota – Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota FL  – you can find the best hotels deals in Sarasota during Food and Wine Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Sarasota FL on Booking.com or Hotels.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. Zota Beach Resort 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota Florida

Zota Beach Resort
Zota Beach Resort

Situated in Longboat Key, Zota Beach Resort features accommodation with private balconies. The property houses a private beach area, as well as an outdoor swimming pool. The restaurant, Viento Kitchen + Bar, serves Caribbean, local, and Mediterranean cuisine.

Zota Beach Resort provides guest rooms equipped with a flat-screen TV, private bathroom, and a desk. Select accommodation have a sea, pool, or resort view.

The property boasts 2,750 square feet of event space as well as an on-site business centre. Zota Beach Resort also includes a fitness centre. Staff are happy to provide information at the 24-hour front desk.

On a sandy beach along the Gulf of Mexico, this contemporary hotel lies 13 miles from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and 14 miles from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

Modern rooms offer coffee makers, mini fridges and Wi-Fi, as well as flat-screens. Upgraded rooms add beach views, balconies and/or pull-out sofas. Suites provide living rooms. Upgraded suites feature kitchens and dining areas. Room service is available.

Amenities include an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a gym. There’s also a trendy Caribbean-inspired restaurant/wine bar with a fireplace and an open-air lounge, plus a poolside bar offering cocktails and snacks.

Welcome to Zota Beach Resort. Beautifully located on the Gulf of Mexico, Longboat’s newest luxury beach resort features modern architectural touches along with stylish accommodations and distinctive dining experiences that reflect the relaxed ambiance of Florida’s West Coast. At Zota Beach Resort, you’ll enjoy relaxed beachfront luxury along with easy access to the upscale shopping, entertainment, and restaurants at St. Armands Circle.
You are also invited to indulge in a variety of resort amenities ideal for family vacations and romantic weekend getaways, including our sun-drenched outdoor pool area and chic wine bar. With over 2,700 square feet of beachfront event space, Zota Beach Resort is also an ideal choice for meetings, weddings, and special events.
We enjoyed our stay here. Very clean, nice resort that seems to cater to senior citizens, and it was refreshing to be with a more laid back crowd and enjoy the beautiful beach and pool. Staff are very friendly and helpful and our king ocean view room on the top floor was very nice with spectacular ocean views. As the weekend approached there were a few young gay couples which gave the beach a different vibe. I really wish there was a way around the valet parking. It is a pain and I didn’t feel like tipping someone every time we got in our car.

Zota Beach Resort continues to provide exceptional and amazing service!!! Jane and her beach and pool team do a great job to enhance the experience and make sure you have everything that you need!

I have never met a better concierge than Dan!! He was able to get us in the top new restaurant when it was totally booked!! He is a first ballot Hall of Famer when it comes to concierge services!

It is easy to see why Zota Beach Resort was voted the #1 beach resort in all of Sarasota and number 15 in all of Florida by Condé Nast! Even though we are now living in the Sarasota area we continue to return to Zota and to recommend it highly.

 The rate was reasonable for a beachfront property and included breakfast. The resort fee was typical but included daily valet parking, pool and beach chairs, WiFi, bottled water, daily papers including the WSJ, and other conveniences. The only catch is you do need to pay for an umbrella at the beach if you’re fair skinned like us!

The room was modern and immaculate. Our view of the Gulf and pool was gorgeous. I like to sit out on the balcony in the morning to drink my coffee and read the paper and it was perfectly situated. By the way, complementary (great) coffee to go was available in the restaurant in addition to the Keurig in your room.

Speaking of the restaurant, we ate there every day for breakfast. Weekends feature a generous and reasonable buffet, but there was enough variety on the daily menu that we didn’t tire of it during our seven days. We ate lunch at the pool bar and found the food and drink to be quite good. Happy hour at the pool featured nice specials on draft beer, wine, and house drinks.

As nice as the facility is, the staff is every bit as nice. Everyone we encountered from the valet attendants and front desk folks to the servers in the restaurants were as friendly and helpful as could be. I’d go as far as to say that the service rivaled that of the Ritz Carlton, without perhaps the hint of stuffiness!

The location is a short drive to innumerable restaurants both on Longboat Key and at St. Armand’s Circle. The concierge can help you with that as well.

This stretch of beach is quiet. The low rise neighbors keep the density low so you don’t see the crowds you will see at other beaches.

Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota FL
Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota FL

How much does a room costs at Zota Beach Resort?

Prices start 252$/night for King Room .The  King Room with Sea View is  344$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room features a balcony, view and microwave.

Where to book online – Zota Beach Resort – Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota FL  – you can find the best hotels deals in Sarasota during Sarasota Chalk Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Sarasota FL on Booking.com or Hotels.comor Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Limetree Beach Resort by Club Wyndham 3* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Sarasota FL

Limetree Beach Resort by Club Wyndham
Limetree Beach Resort by Club Wyndham

Discover 24-acres of quiet, pristine beach side property on the island of St. Thomas. These Caribbean vacation rentals include spacious Studio Suites and One-Bedroom Condos that allow you to relax and rejuvenate in blissful paradise.

Surround yourself with slightly swaying palm trees as you cool off on the private beach or enjoy gorgeous views of the postcard perfect tropical waters from your private balcony.

The outdoor swimming pool is the perfect spot to lounge around and soak up the sun.

Set on Lido Key, and overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, this laid-back beachfront timeshare resort is an 8-minute walk from South Lido County Park, 2 miles from Highway 789 and 4 miles from the Mote Marine Laboratory.

Relaxed condos offer full kitchens and living areas. All have free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs; some feature gulf views and separate living rooms. Minimum-stay rules may apply.

Parking is free. Other amenities include direct beach access and a hot tub, as well as an outdoor pool with sun loungers and gulf views.

This is the best place we have ever stayed in Florida. We had the best time! It is literally right on the beach. You walk from the pool patio onto sand. The clear and warm gulf water was magical. Collected tons of shells, the fancy ones too. The people were so nice and we made many friends. Looking into buying a week.

The unit is super nice too. Beautiful granite counters, and kitchens are fully stocked with everything you could ever need. Nice big bedroom, great bed. Bathroom was beautifully tiled everywhere. Lido Beach is totally my new favorite.

Units have everything you need and more besides, and Sarasota is only 10 mins away.. Only beef I have with the place is that they don’t let you take the sun loungers on to the beach but the they do have ones on the beach that you can book complete with an umbrella for $20 a day but there are only a limited number. Other resorts up and down the beach allowed their loungers on the beach. Staff very friendly and the place was spotless. We would highly recommend.

Even though the property is older, it is well kept, small enough to make it feel like home. Steps from the beautiful beach, it offers grills for cooking, a nice pool, the rooms are spacious, and the people were all very friendly-even welcoming us as we brought our bags to the room. Walking distance to wonderful restaurants/shops in St. Armand’s Circle. You can also go a few properties down to the Lido Beach Hotel for outdoor dining by the pool.

I have been coming here for years. It is right on the beach with excellent views of sunsets. The pool area is one of the prettiest on Lido Key, with palm trees surrounding you. St. Armand’s Circle is a bit of a walk but is nice to do after a meal. This is a true relaxing, quiet, beach getaway.

Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota Florida
Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota Florida

How much does a room costs at Limetree Beach Resort by Club Wyndham?

Prices start 450$/night for Studio Room.

This studio has a DVD player, microwave and sofa.

Where to book online – Limetree Beach Resort by Club Wyndham – Gay Friendly Hotels Sarasota FL  – you can find the best hotels deals in Sarasota during Sarasota Chalk Festival which  is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Sarasota FL on Booking.com or Hotels.com  or Agoda.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.