3* Blanc Kara

Hotel Gaythering is the most unapologetically LGBTQ stay in Miami Beach: gay-owned and operated, adults-only, sociable and built around its own gay bar. Guests also get access to the men-only, clothing-optional wellness sauna with a Jacuzzi, cedar sauna and private relaxation spaces. The location at the western end of Lincoln Road puts restaurants and shops nearby, although it isn't directly on the beach. Complimentary bikes and beach gear make getting to the sand easier, and the main South Beach gay nightlife is reachable without having to base yourself amid the Ocean Drive crowds. Rooms range from spacious kings to cheaper men-only Crate rooms, and there are deliberately inexpensive rooms above the bar for anyone who doesn't mind some noise. GayMapper tip: If meeting other gay travellers matters more than having an ocean view, this is the obvious Miami choice. Light sleepers should avoid the rooms directly above the bar.

Just around the corner from the LGBTQ beach at 12th Street, The Marlin Hotel gives you one of South Beach's best combinations of location and small-hotel character. There are only 33 rooms and suites inside the restored Art Deco building, so it feels a world away from Miami's sprawling resorts. The Marlin also has some genuine history: the building once housed a recording studio used by major music artists. Today the rooms are contemporary and comfortable, with Ocean Drive, Twist and Palace all very close. What you don't get is a swimming pool, so this works best if you're happy for the Atlantic to do that job. GayMapper tip: A strong choice if you want gay-beach convenience without staying in a big resort — just remember there is no hotel pool.

Miami doesn't have to mean Miami Beach. EAST Miami sits inside Brickell City Centre and gives you a much more urban base surrounded by restaurants, shopping, high-rises and the nightlife of Brickell itself. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies, while four pools sit on the outdoor deck. Quinto is the hotel's South American restaurant, but the standout is Sugar, the lush rooftop bar high above the city — worth remembering even if you're staying somewhere else. South Beach and its LGBTQ beach and bars sit across the bay, so this isn't a hotel from which you'll casually wander home from Twist at 2am. GayMapper tip: Excellent for an urban Miami stay, business trip or a few nights before or after a cruise. If the gay beach is the main reason you're coming, stay in South Beach instead.

The Setai, Miami Beach does South Beach luxury in a noticeably calmer way. The Asian-influenced Art Deco design, serene courtyard and immaculate oceanfront setting make it feel more secluded than its Collins Avenue address suggests. Three beachfront infinity pools are kept at different temperatures, with full beach service beyond them, while the spa and high-end restaurants complete the resort experience. You're still in South Beach, but around 20th Street, so the LGBTQ beach and traditional gay nightlife sit several blocks to the south rather than outside the door. GayMapper tip: One for a serious luxury splurge — especially if peace, service and the beach matter more than having the gay scene around the corner.

Few Miami hotels put you closer to the places LGBTQ visitors are actually likely to use. Hotel Victor South Beach sits on Ocean Drive at 11th Street, with the gay beach around 12th Street, Twist on Washington Avenue and Palace just down Ocean Drive. The handsome Art Deco building has a pool overlooking the ocean, stylish rooms and a proper spa with a hammam, sauna and treatments. The former Versace Mansion next door adds a little only-in-South-Beach glamour, while restaurants and bars surround you in every direction. GayMapper tip: One of the strongest locations on the whole list if gay beach by day and gay nightlife by night are your priorities. Ocean Drive can be lively, so don't choose it expecting total tranquillity.

At the quieter northern end of Ocean Drive, The Betsy South Beach manages to feel sophisticated without disconnecting you from everything that makes the neighbourhood fun. The LGBTQ beach at 12th Street is only a couple of blocks away, so you can be on the sand quickly without sleeping in the busiest part of Ocean Drive. There are two pools, including one on the rooftop, direct beach access and LT Steak & Seafood, but it's the cultural side that gives the hotel its personality. The Betsy has its own library, rotating art and literary programming and live jazz in the Piano Bar virtually every night. GayMapper tip: A particularly good choice for couples who want a polished, grown-up hotel close to the gay beach but don't want their entire stay to feel like a party.