These Hotels Are Going All Out For Pride!
| 06/22/22
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club – Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Brewster is a fabulous destination for an idyllic LGBTQ+ getaway in the Cape and for Pride Month, the 429-acre Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is showing off a collection of picturesque rainbow Adirondack chairs on the massive front lawn. When you settle into one of the rainbow-colored seats, the QR codes on the arms of the chairs will link to stories of instrumental LGBTQ activists, power players, and changemakers including Harvey Milk, RuPaul Charles, MJ Rodriguez, and others. By telling their stories and understanding our past, we progress into the future. The chairs will be open to the public to enjoy throughout the month on the Front Lawn, where locals and travelers can also enjoy the summer-exclusive Front Lawn experience with sail tents, live music on select dates, food, local beers, and more. Additionally, the resort has a special selection of Pride shirts for sale in its shop, and throughout June a portion of the proceeds from the shirts will be donated to Cape Cod Pride. Throughout your stay, visiters can treat themselves to this summer season’s oyster bed tours right off of the resort’s private Bay Pines Beach and inhale the joy of being outdoors with meandering days paddleboarding and kayaking on Blueberry Pond. Be sure to pack for the myriad of summer activities under the sun with the property’s six pickleball courts along with two tennis compounds, the Cape’s only Nicklaus Design golf course, private beach and five on-site pools. Indulge in the bounty of the ocean with savory lobster rolls and refreshing cocktails on multiple on-site restaurants and waterfront Beach Bar. The standout feature is the resort’s spacious accommodations for couples or grab the whole crew for a Pride-filled staycation in one of the one- to three-bedroom villas.
AC Columbus Downtown – Columbus, Ohio
More than half a million people join Columbus, Ohio’s annual Pride Parade each June. The march takes place in the city’s bustling Short North Arts District, where many restaurants, bars, and other local businesses gear up for the big day of celebration — such as AC Hotel Columbus Downtown, which is honoring pride this year by offering an incredible experience for guests who stay from June 17-19, the weekend of the 2022 Columbus Pride Parade. Locals and visitors alike can book the “Pride Parlor Package” to enjoy a two-night stay in addition to a themed champagne welcome amenity upon arrival and exclusive access to a Pride Parlor on the morning of the parade, where they can fulfill all of their glam needs. Guests can head up to the hotel’s eighth-floor Lumin Skybar to sip on mimosas, Bloody Marys, and other special Pride cocktails while being styled by artists from the renowned Paul Mitchell School in Columbus with anything from neon eyeshadow and rhinestone embellishments to airbrushed rainbows, fun braids and more! The goal of the Pride Parlor is to give a space for LGBTQ+ guests to express their unique style and feel (and look!) their best for the annual march. Visit the link here and use code 8LG to book.
Aruba Marriott Resort – Aruba
LGBTQ+ travelers will find a welcoming home base on the ‘One Happy Island’ at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. The 414-room beachfront resort is IGLTA certified and is a quick jaunt to many nearby LGBTQ+ friendly establishments. This June the hotel will be celebrating Pride month and it will be nothing short of eventful with bright, iridescent rainbow lights projected upon the palm trees at the hotel entrance and Pride Gelato popsicles available at Gelato & Co. Additionally, a specialty Pride celebration will take place on Friday, June 17. The resort will transform its quarterly Night Brunch experience into a Pride Night Brunch with live performances by local drag queens, themed cocktails, and unlimited Prosecco. The a la carte menu will serve up classic morning favorites along with other savory bites such as signature Dutch Style Pancakes, Sous Vide Eggs, and classic Chicken & Waffles, to Red Snapper, Prosciutto Ham bites, Panzanella, and fresh Pizza. Additionally, the resort offers its “Pride in Paradise Package'' year-round which includes luxe accommodations in Tradewinds Club, the resort’s adults-only hotel-within-a-hotel, a romantic dinner for two at the toes-in–the-sand restaurant Atardi, a reserved cabana at the H2Oasis adults-only pool, a sunset sail for two, and other exclusive amenities which can be booked using promo code 8LG. Between the beaches, restaurants, and hotel, Aruba is the ideal travel destination for a vacation in paradise to celebrate the LGBTQ community while promoting diversity and creating an inclusive environment.
Caribe Hilton – San Juan, Puerto Rico
One of the most LGBTQ+-friendly islands in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico feels like an international vacation with all the perks of staying close to home (no passport required). From the vibrant dining, shopping, and nightlife of San Juan to remote, white-sand beaches surrounded by palm trees - whether you want adventure or some R&R, Puerto Rico offers the perfect spot for you to let your rainbow flag fly high and proud. Centrally located just minutes from the heart of historic Old San Juan, Caribe Hilton is a beachfront oasis where LGBTQ+ travelers can enjoy a tropical escape just a short plane ride from most major US cities. Famous for being the birthplace of the piña colada, guests can dine at any of their eleven on-site dining options, opt for poolside mofongo-making (a traditional Puerto Rican dish), or unwind by the secluded beach and oceanfront swimming pools. Guests can also venture out to experience San Juan’s hottest restaurants & bars, rainforest excursions, local food & rum tours, and additional activities that showcase the island’s rich culture. The destination is brimming with LGBTQ+ inclusive events including annual Pride events and art festivals that largely take place in the heart of historic Old San Juan. Every June, Puerto Rico hosts a San Juan Pride parade from Parque del Indio to Parque del Tercer Milenio with rainbow-colored floats, people on stilts and roller-skates, go-go dancers, drag personalities, and live entertainment. www.caribehilton.com
Playa Largo Resort & Spa – Key Largo, Florida
The Florida Keys are a notoriously gay-friendly and favorited destination for queer travelers, offering a welcoming and inviting atmosphere throughout the entire region. Beginning with the Upper Florida Keys, just a 1.5-hour drive from Miami, gay travelers seeking a tranquil and relaxing experience can kick back in Key Largo, where they’ll be able to experience the area’s signature offers, like fresh seafood, outdoor and nature-based activities, without the hustle and bustle of other locales. For tranquil gay travelers, no other resort is as great of a fit as Playa Largo Resort & Spa, an Autograph Collection by Marriott resort. The award-winning luxury resort offers travelers a pristine pool lined with cabanas, one of the area’s only pristine white sand beaches with calm waters, multiple restaurants, a spa, and accommodation options to fit all group sizes, from solo travelers and couples, to large groups who can stay at one of the newly unveiled Ocean Residences luxury homes.
Southernmost Beach Resort – Key West, Florida
Those looking to paint the town will find exactly what they’re looking for in iconic Key West. Considered one of the ‘Gay Mecca’s of the country, there's no shortage of fun happenings on the famed Duval Street, especially during PRIDE month. Reminiscent of Nashville's southern charm, but with a hint of Las Vegas swagger, queer travelers can enjoy decadent drag queen brunches, beach bonfire parties, bar crawls, a colorful PRIDE parade, and more while staying in Key West. Your gateway to all the action: Southernmost Beach Resort. Situated along the southernmost limit of Duval Street, the resort boasts three palm-fringed pools, a tanning pier, private beach with lounge chairs and cabanas, signature restaurant, and two bars. Near all of the action, but in a world of its own, this luxe oceanfront oasis will leave you longing to stay.
