7 Gay Resorts in Palm Springs: Party in the Disneyland of Gay Culture

Santiago Resort is the place where you think you’ve died and gone to gay heaven. Located at the foot of the secluded San Jacinto Mountains, this luxury private resort offers an escape from your hectic life. It may be a swimsuit optional resort, but that rarely means debauchery. You can still be naked and enjoy a chilled environment at the same time.

The property is stunning with native plants, cacti, and palm trees with an astonishing mountain view. There’re poolside day beds for afternoon napping and an outdoor mist cooling system to cool yourself down after a few hours laying in the sun. The rooms are spacious with flat screen TVs with DVD players, in-room microwaves and ritzy bath products from Gilchrest and Soames. There’s even a two-man rope hammock for you and your boo to cuddle in. As for the pool, it’s the largest heated pool in all of Palm Springs.

And boy are you spoiled at the Santiago Resort. Not only is breakfast free, but you get a complimentary “Stay n Splash” poolside lunch where you can order either specialty sandwiches, salads or wraps as you chill by the pool each day. (Just remember to place your order after breakfast.) There’s even a free pantry that’s open 24-hours and stocked every day. So if you get the munchies, you can get something to curb that hunger any time you want. And If you must leave this paradise, you can always borrow the resort’s bikes and do your own mid-century modern architectural tour ending with lunch at El Mirasol for some tacos and margaritas.

Dating back to 1956, the Bearfoot Inn is the only gay resort located in the historic Movie Colony neighborhood and within walking distance to East Arenas Road — the epicenter of Palm Springs’s gay nightlife. If you want to be in the middle of the bustling gay scene, then this is the clothing optional hotel for you.

The private rooms are equipped with a private balcony and a full kitchen so travelers with complicated diets and allergies can cook their own food instead of eating out or ordering from the hotel. Guests can count on little luxuries as well, like free continental breakfast, a heated saltwater pool or free access to the WorkOut Gym — the in-house state-of-the-art fitness facility so you can tighten up those abs before they hit the bars.

The Triangle Inn consists of just nine rooms, most equipped with a full kitchen and dining room. There’s also a four-bedroom house to rent for larger groups who want to be together under one roof.

This Inn is all about privacy with its walled compound where you can live your best life. Every day, you get a free newspaper and the staff is there to give you insider tips about Palm Springs. You can spend a day wandering around the Moorten Botanical Garden or Baristo Park. And just a block away from the Inn is the famed Palm Canyon Drive where a lively street fair is celebrated every Thursday.

Within the compound, there’s a pool, a Jacuzzi, and a large sundeck to get your tan on. After you’re done working on your tan, do a few laps in the pool or hit the gym so you won’t feel so guilty for indulging over your vacation. There are also bikes to rent and yoga classes to sign up for during your stay.

Think of East Canyon and Spa as a place to let your hair down and relax. It’s an award-winning, gay-owned premier hotel that now caters to all types of couples having previously only served gay men.

This hotel may be small compared to some of the others around town, but what it lacks in size, East Canyon more than makes up for it with its luxurious style. The 15 rooms are sleek and modern with large comfy beds, spacious bathrooms, a television, desk, and a living room if you book either the Grand or King suite. There’s also a nightly, complimentary happy hour starting at five o’clock by the heated pool. Enjoy a few glasses of wine or cocktails with the other guests. With a little liquid courage, you might even talk to that hot boy you’ve been ogling from afar and invite him for one-on-one time in the jacuzzi.

If you prefer pampering yourself over socializing, be sure to take advantage of the on-site spa and book a massage. Or better yet, get a facial to get your skin on fleek. Afterward, take a dip in the Jacuzzi or enjoy a good book in the reading room to keep that relaxing buzz going. For a night out, you’re just a short walk or Uber ride away from the Palm Canyon Theater if you want to catch a play. Before the show, enjoy a succulent farm to table meal at the ever-popular Workshop Kitchen + Bar. Then make a pit stop at Bootlegger Tiki or Truss & Twine for some craft cocktails before you head over to Arenas Road for some late-night dancing.

When you’re on holiday, anything goes. If you want to walk around au natural with no judgment, All Worlds Resort is the hotel for you. Located right in the middle of the historic Warm Sands District, it’s notorious for being Palm Springs largest gay men’s clothing optional resort.

But there’s more to this resort than being allowed to walk around in the buff. First of all, it’s massive and consists of two properties with five pools including a reflection pool, two hot tubs, cabanas scattered about the grounds, community showers, a volleyball court, and two playrooms for some adult fun. They also sell day and night passes in case you meet some new friends in town and want to invite them over to join the fun.

Sunday is a day for sinning. The resort throws a wild BBQ pool party with live DJs and Go-Go dancers with hot dogs and burgers on the grill. The resort is popping even after the sun goes down and is an awesome alternative if you tire of the bar scene. After all, why would you go out when you can chill by the pool with your boys san clothes?

Desert Paradise Resort is a camp, yet fun hotel situated in the historic Warm Sands neighborhood and within walking distance to an array of spirited gay bars, upscale restaurants, and a few casinos if you’re feeling lucky. With gay culture on their mind, the owners designed the resort suites to pay homage to popular gay icons like Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Madonna just to name a few. Each room has a painting of its namesake hanging on the wall, a California King bed, mirrored headboard wall, a large shower, and a flat-screen TV with 15 adult channels for your viewing pleasure.

Once you check in, take a walk around the property — an exotic, tropical oasis with 19 fountains and two koi and turtle ponds. Then, take a dip in the heated pool or Jacuzzi near the fireplace.

Owned by Ricardo Gomez and Robert Petro for nearly 17 years, Tortuga Del Sol is an award-winning hotel where guests can rip away the bonds that bind them and relax. Located in the Tahquitz River Estates neighborhood, it has as a Spanish/ Mediterranean vibe and a tranquil landscape with beautiful palm and citrus trees, a Zen garden and an unforgettable mountain view that will put your mind at ease.

And talking about a natural setting, you can be naked as a jaybird during your stay since the property is clothing optional. Take a swim in the heated pool or find some friends and enjoy the 10-man jacuzzi.

Don’t want to leave your fur baby at home? Well, you don’t have to because Tortuga Del Sol is a pet-friendly property. Plus, you can get points. No, not for bringing your dog or for being naked, but from the hotel’s reward program. So it pays to come back again and again and be a loyal guest.