4* Loews Miami Beach Hotel

A few blocks south of the busiest part of Ocean Drive, Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach gives you easy access to the action without putting you right in the middle of it. Palace, Twist and the gay beach are all walkable north, while South of Fifth begins just to the south. Behind the Mediterranean Revival exterior you'll find airy modern rooms, leafy courtyards and a rooftop pool and sundeck. El Patio handles food and drinks downstairs, Bar Habana adds a little evening atmosphere, and Kimpton's complimentary evening social hour is still a nice touch. GayMapper tip: A particularly good compromise if you want South Beach nightlife within walking distance but would rather retreat somewhere calmer afterwards.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Biltmore Hotel is the outlier on this list — and that's precisely why it can make sense for the right trip. Set in Coral Gables rather than Miami Beach, this grand historic resort feels more like a destination in its own right, with a huge swimming pool, 18-hole golf course, spa, tennis and extensive gardens. Its Spanish-style architecture and old-school resort atmosphere are a complete change from South Beach, with several restaurants and plenty to keep you occupied on site. What it absolutely isn't is convenient for Miami's gay beach or South Beach nightlife; you'll be relying on taxis or rideshares whenever you want to head over there. GayMapper tip: Choose the Biltmore for the resort, golf and Coral Gables experience — not if your Miami holiday is going to revolve around the LGBTQ scene on South Beach.