The Hottest Hotels to Stay in This Fall and Winter

Hotel Maya
LGBTQ travelers have discovered what locals know: Long Beach, Calif.'s Hotel Maya offers a fun and affordable weekend by the ocean that's uniquely SoCal, fusing both Latinx and beachy Cali vibes, Hotel Maya is a waterfront hotspot across the harbor from downtown Long Beach and minutes to the famed Queen Mary (don't miss Dark Harbor, the boat's ghoulish Halloween celebration); yet only 30 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport. The resort features numerous conference and banquet rooms (popular for same-sex weddings), an outdoor garden, a circular wall of waterfalls, and an impressive variety of tropical plants (and over 400 palm trees). A quick walk leads to a dock with water taxis that will take you across the bay for a few bucks. Its restaurant, Fuego, is in a spacious two-story room with walls that peel back completely to reveal the large deck area of the dining room and bay views. A bar is tucked off in the corner with cozy nooks to sample the region's largest selection of tequila.

Parker Palm Springs
You'll feel like Rat Pack royalty as you walk the grounds of the Parker. Its giant lawns, immaculate pools, and Jonathan Adler-designed villas and common areas tickle your artistic side while reminding you why Palm Springs, Calif., is a hub for creatives and celebrities alike. Now that United Airlines offers seasonal nonstop trips from Newark, N.J., to Palm Springs (from December to March), snow birds on the East Coast have no excuse to not visit this beautifully private desert oasis, in a city where LGBTQ folks predominate.

Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
This gloriously Instagrammable L.A. hotel (super close to West Hollywood's queer nightlife) has amazingly colorful Warholesque modern pop art, paintings, sculptures, neon signs, and more around every turn of the building. The lobby and restaurant art decor are actually dozens of one-of-a-kind pieces curated by the contemporary art gallery TheCoolHeART. Across from famed Beverly Center and near Rodeo Drive too, you can shop, party, or do the touristy things everyone loves (like the Hollywood Walk of Fame).

The Time New York
In the city that never sleeps, The Time is a chic, minimalist hidden gem nestled discreetly in New York's Theater District. In the heart of midtown Manhattan and a few minutes' walk to Times Square, Broadway, and the subway, The Time is an artsy and sophisticated boutique hotel with fun touches like a hanging pendant light with a tiny gay couple inside.