4* Hard Rock Hotel at Universal

There are Orlando hotels with pools, and then there’s the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, whose 800,000-gallon lagoon comes with waterfalls, caves and a waterslide. Add a private lake, watersports, climbing, trails and two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses and suddenly missing one afternoon at Disney doesn’t seem such a tragedy. The location near Lake Buena Vista keeps Walt Disney World close, with complimentary scheduled park transport adding convenience. Rooms are light and contemporary, selected categories have balconies, and Four Flamingos by Richard Blais gives dinner a little more ambition than standard resort fare. This works best when you want Orlando to feel like an actual holiday rather than a military operation involving four theme parks and a spreadsheet. There’s plenty here for adults who simply want a pool day and a cocktail. GayMapper tip: Build a resort day into the itinerary – otherwise you’re paying for one of Orlando’s most impressive pools without actually enjoying it.

Not every Orlando trip revolves around Mickey Mouse. If UCF, Winter Park or the eastern side of the city is part of your plans, Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando/East UCF Area makes a refreshingly straightforward base, with restaurants nearby and free parking taking one expense off the list. Rooms are bright and comfortable, with larger suites available when you want a little more space. Breakfast is included, as is WiFi, and there’s an outdoor pool and fitness centre for downtime between outings. You’ll want a car here: Downtown Orlando and its LGBTQ bars are across town, and the main theme parks are farther south-west. But for road trips, visiting friends or combining Orlando with somewhere beyond the tourist corridor, that can work perfectly well. GayMapper tip: One of the most practical choices on the list if free parking and breakfast are more useful to you than resort bells and whistles.

Orlando gets much more interesting once you leave the theme-park bubble, and Hotel Beauden, Autograph Collection gives you a proper base for doing exactly that. The former Grand Bohemian has been reinvented with Art Deco-inspired interiors, local artwork and a prime Downtown location beside the Dr. Phillips Center. Upstairs, Altira Pool + Lounge combines rooftop swimming with skyline views; downstairs, Libra and Bar Libra handle dinner and cocktails. There are also nightly performances around the Steinway piano in the Garden Rotunda, giving the hotel an unusually sociable feel for a luxury city stay. This is also the GayMapper choice that makes the most sense if Orlando’s LGBTQ nightlife is part of your plans. You’re already downtown, with gay venues and queer-friendly neighbourhoods such as the Milk District a short rideshare away rather than a cross-city expedition from Disney. GayMapper tip: Stay here if you want to discover that Orlando is actually a city – not merely an airport attached to some theme parks.

Aventura feels almost suspiciously grown-up for an affordable Universal hotel. The sleek tower, minimalist rooms and rooftop Bar 17 Bistro give Universal Aventura Hotel a much cooler, more urban feel than the cartoon-heavy resorts you might be picturing. Volcano Bay is within walking distance, buses and walking paths connect you to the other Universal parks, and hotel guests get Early Park Admission to selected attractions. Back at base there’s a good-sized pool, fitness centre and market-style food hall – particularly handy when everyone wants something different after a day in the parks. The real treat is heading upstairs after dark for a cocktail and watching Orlando light up below you. For a proper LGBTQ night out you’ll still hop in a rideshare towards central Orlando, but this is very much a Universal-first stay. GayMapper tip: Probably the sweet spot at Universal if you want park perks and stylish surroundings without paying premium-resort prices.

Hilton Orlando is a bit of an Orlando Switzerland: it doesn’t force you to pick sides. Universal, Epic Universe, SeaWorld and International Drive are all convenient, while scheduled transport can also get you to selected Disney parks. That flexibility comes wrapped in a proper resort. The pool complex has a long lazy river, waterslide and a separate adults-only pool, while the eforea spa gives you somewhere quieter to recover from both theme parks and children belonging to other people. Dining ranges from handmade pasta at Trabucco to poolside cocktails, sports-bar food and a 24-hour market. More than 1,400 rooms mean this is a substantial operation, but the recently refreshed accommodation keeps things feeling contemporary. It’s particularly useful for trips where different days are devoted to different parts of Orlando. GayMapper tip: A smart all-rounder when your itinerary includes a bit of everything – and the adults-only pool is a very welcome escape hatch.

There’s something gloriously ridiculous about swimming underwater while the music keeps playing. Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando leans enthusiastically into the rock-star theme, with memorabilia everywhere, a huge palm-lined pool and plenty of energy around the bars and public spaces. The location is hard to beat for Universal Studios Florida: you can walk or take the water taxi, and qualifying stays include both Early Park Admission and Universal Express Unlimited at participating attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. That last perk can be worth a serious amount of money – and queueing time. The Palm gives you a proper steakhouse dinner, while Velvet Bar is an easy place to migrate to when you’re not quite ready for bed. CityWalk is close by too. GayMapper tip: Don’t judge the room rate in isolation – price up Express Unlimited separately and suddenly Hard Rock can look much more attractive.