4* Silver Lake Pool & Inn

Staying aboard The Queen Mary is really a trip within a trip. The historic ocean liner remains permanently moored on the Long Beach waterfront, with original Art Deco details, wood-panelled staterooms, exhibitions and guided tours bringing its transatlantic history to life. Long Beach has its own LGBTQ+ community and nightlife, so there’s plenty to do without heading north every evening. Just remember that this is not a sensible base for West Hollywood or central LA sightseeing — Los Angeles distances are very real, and you’re a long way south. Restaurants, bars and events aboard the ship mean you can quite happily make the Queen Mary part of the destination rather than simply somewhere to sleep. GayMapper tip: perfect if the ship itself appeals, or you’re combining Long Beach with a cruise — less perfect if your holiday revolves around WeHo.

Hotel 850 SVB feels more like staying in an exceptionally stylish West Hollywood guesthouse than checking into a conventional four-star hotel. There are just 23 rooms, with a shared living room, kitchen and rooftop terrace creating a much more residential atmosphere. The location is excellent for LGBTQ+ travellers. You’re on San Vicente Boulevard, with the main Santa Monica Boulevard gay bars close enough to walk to, while Beverly Hills begins only a few streets away. Continental breakfast is served each morning and there’s a complimentary wine hour in the evening, which gives the place a friendly social element without turning it into a party hotel. GayMapper tip: a lovely couples’ choice if you want intimate boutique style and gay WeHo practically on the doorstep.

Chamberlain West Hollywood hides on a residential street between Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, which gives you a surprisingly peaceful base for somewhere so close to the action. The LGBTQ+ bars around the Rainbow District are an easy walk away, but at the hotel the mood is much calmer. Every room is a suite, with proper sitting space and private balconies, while the rooftop pool and bar come with sweeping views across LA and the Hollywood Hills. You can also walk to the Sunset Strip, with plenty of restaurants and cafés scattered around this part of WeHo. GayMapper tip: a particularly good choice if you want to walk to gay nightlife but would rather not hear it through the bedroom wall when you finally call it a night.

Ocean Lodge Santa Monica Beach Hotel has been sitting on Ocean Avenue since the 1950s, and its retro motel-style character is part of the appeal. More importantly, you’re just a few minutes from Santa Monica Pier and the sand. Rooms have been refreshed but remain fairly simple, with fridges and coffee makers rather than luxury-hotel extras. Restaurants line the surrounding streets, Venice is an easy trip south and the beachfront location means you can enjoy plenty of LA without getting into a car every morning. West Hollywood is another matter entirely, so don’t choose this expecting spontaneous nights on Santa Monica Boulevard. GayMapper tip: one of the better-value options if you want to wake up beside the Pacific and would rather spend your budget on the rest of the trip.

Silver Lake offers a very different version of queer Los Angeles from West Hollywood, and Silver Lake Pool & Inn puts you right in the middle of that more neighbourhood-based scene. Akbar is only around a seven-minute walk away, while Sunset Junction is full of independent cafés, restaurants, bars and shops. The Vermont/Santa Monica Metro station is also within walking distance when you want to head further across the city. The hotel itself is small and relaxed, with just over 50 rooms arranged around a leafy outdoor pool. Marco Polo serves Italian food and cocktails beside the pool, giving the place enough of a local following that it never feels sealed off from the neighbourhood. GayMapper tip: a great choice if you want LA with more Silver Lake attitude and considerably less West Hollywood gloss.

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is for the full LA luxury experience: huge rooms with terraces, a rooftop pool overlooking the city and Rodeo Drive just a few minutes away. This is Beverly Hills rather than West Hollywood, so you won’t walk from here to the gay bars. The upside is a much calmer, more polished setting, excellent service and a location that works beautifully for shopping, restaurants and a special-occasion trip. The La Prairie Spa adds another reason to linger, while the rooftop is one of the better places in Beverly Hills for sunset views. There are some properly Beverly Hills touches too: the concierge can arrange the hotel’s complimentary local house car, while selected Suite Ride packages even include use of a Bentley or Rolls-Royce during your stay. GayMapper tip: choose it when the hotel itself is part of the occasion and you’re perfectly happy taking a car to WeHo when it’s time to go out.