GLBT Travelers - Sitges / Ibiza / Nice / Rome Hotel Recommendations

I am currently planning a solo trip to Spain, France, and Italy, and am thinking of Sitges, Ibiza, Nice, and Rome. If anyone has recommendations of good gay or gay-friendly hotels in those cities or nearby, that would be great! As I will be traveling by myself, it would be good to stay in places where I might be able to link up with other like-minded travelers. Thanks in advance for any advice!

I wish I had more helpful advice (they're all cities I've not visited) but I wanted to welcome you and thank you for de-lurking after all these years!

There's been a pretty robust discussion here about Sitges in the past - the threads might yield some decent information.

Thanks for the welcome FlyBalletGuy! I did find some very helpful Sitges info, and hopefully the board's collective wisdom will come thru on the other towns - thanks again!

I've been through Nice, but stayed in nearby Juan-les-Pins/Antibes and also in Saint-Paul de Vence (which I highly recommend).

But I wanted to suggest you take the uphill trek to Monaco from Nice. It's stunning. Monte Carlo is quite expensive, but you can go there for the day.

On Ibiza you want to stay in or near Ibiza town (on the eastern side of the island). Most if not all hotels are gay friendly and the Hotel Cenit (http://hotelcenit.com) in Figueretas appears to be particularly popular with travellers (never stayed there but have seen the rooms which are basic but ok).

This list (http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/gay/gay_hotels_i.htm) might help as well.

No matter where stay everyone meets at Es Cavallet beach during the day and Calle de la Virgen at night ;)

Why not Sitges & Ibiza or Rome and Nice?

Thanks so much guys - greatly appreciate all the advice!
@seattletravelguy - where did you stay in Antibes? Am thinking of St. Tropez now as well - so many choices :-)
@starflyergold - have you heard personally, by any chance, of any good hotels / B&Bs near Ses Salines / Es Cavallet?
Thanks again!

Thanks so much guys - greatly appreciate all the advice!
@seattletravelguy - where did you stay in Antibes? Am thinking of St. Tropez now as well - so many choices :-)

Stayed at the Garden Beach Hotel (link below). My room faced directly to the sea, and Cannes. There were quite a few business travelers there, but I really enjoyed it. Great breakfast spread in a dining area with lots of windows. The hotel plays host to a jazz festival in the summer.

Website: http://www.garden-beach-hotel-juan-pins.cote.azur.fr/page_en_1.html

@starflyergold - have you heard personally, by any chance, of any good hotels / B&Bs near Ses Salines / Es Cavallet?
Thanks again!

There are no hotels directly near Ses Salines as the area is a nature reserve. Technically Playa d'en Bossa would be the closest area but would still require a car/taxi or bus trip (6km).

The choice is near(ish) the gay beach or the night life or in between.

What's your interests of Ibiza vs. Sitges?


If you want a gay beach town with fun clubs: Sitges.
If you want an more-straight island with the best electronic music discos in the world: Ibiza.


I love them both, but really are different vibes.

Starflyergold is correct about Ibiza, though. It's a tiny scene. however.

Thanks for all the advice guys!
@dollaroff - am planning on going to both Sitges and Ibiza as both scenes sound great! In either place, do you have a preferred hotel?

Thanks for all the advice guys!
@dollaroff - am planning on going to both Sitges and Ibiza as both scenes sound great! In either place, do you have a preferred hotel?

No (and not trying to be difficult). Last year I stayed in a private flat with dragonfirebcn in Figueretas.


Just expect not much and you'll be fine. It's a resort island, so everything is just lower quality and higher prices.

http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/ is really a great site.

Thanks for all the advice guys!
@dollaroff - am planning on going to both Sitges and Ibiza as both scenes sound great! In either place, do you have a preferred hotel?

I think dollaroff forgot to mention his fav Sitges hotel, The Alenti (http://www.hotelalenti.com/) Small, modern, well-run hotel close to everything, only issue some have is that it's not on the beach. Not a problem for me as it's 1 block from the beach.

I think dollaroff forgot to mention his fav Sitges hotel, The Alenti (http://www.hotelalenti.com/) Small, modern, well-run hotel close to everything, only issue some have is that it's not on the beach. Not a problem for me as it's 1 block from the beach.

I was referring to Ibiza in my post.

For Sitges, it's the Alenti (or if you want an ocean-front room, the Calipolis).

everything is just lower quality and higher prices.Not everything was lower quality IME. Especially in and out of capri pants.... ;)

Thanks all - much appreciated! Is anyone else headed to the Mediterranean this late spring / early summer?

Not everything was lower quality IME. Especially in and out of capri pants.... ;)

I was talking about hotels/apartments.

+1 to the Alenti. Especially if you can get the suite on the roof.

+1 to the Alenti. Especially if you can get the suite on the roof.

Actually, that's the room i'd take least. While the patio is nice, the room itself is tiny. It's also lacking enough seating for entertaining.

That time of year again and, like the OP, I'm doing the whole Sitges vs Ibiza debate. I don't think I can squeeze in both.

Can anyone report back from their experiences last year?

Here's my breakdown:

- Sitges: Been twice and find it hard to like. I know people LOVE it but I didn't think it was that beautiful (the beach) and the accommodations are pretty poor. I went to a foam party (fun) but the other clubs in general were lacking. I'm 34, pretty friendly (!), but couldn't seem to have a fun time. I also found it hard to do the whole pub crawl that seems to happen (this bar at this hour, this one at that), etc. I have no problem venturing out at 1am, so that wasn't it. I'd be willing to give it one more go - but I'd rather just stay in BCN and at the beaches there, or the W, than Sitges at this point. Convince me! (and hotel recommendations?)

- Ibiza: Never been. So curious to go. I'll be travelling solo after Madrid Orgullo (partner flies home), so I'd be looking for a friendlier scene. I'm a Huuuuuuge trance fan (Armin, Markus Schulz, etc) - that said, I don't have much desire to go to one of the huge events with tweaked out British girls everywhere. So while I love the music, that's not a big driver for me.

In case it helps, I love the Mykonos scene and the beach. Mykonos is great, friendly, you can say hi to anyone cos they are on holiday, and the bars are fun. Is Ibiza anything like this or totally different? I read the posts in this thread and a small scene is ok, I'd just want to meet people in a friendly environment in the evenings, while enjoying the beach in the day.

So...Sitges, Ibiza....or something else? Will be heading to UK for a few days, then Mykonos for 11 after. Thanks! :cool:

I'm going to Ibiza this summer for a friend's birthday. I'll be 38, he's turning 40 (Ibiza is just a short part of a much bigger trip for him, though not for me), and his partner is about 44. None of us have ever been, but we all like or love dance music and the big parties, so we're giving Ibiza a shot.

My friend's research indicates that, during summer weekends, at least one of the major clubs on Ibiza will have an event that targets the gay crowd. It may not be all-gay but the club should wind up with a pretty significant gay contingent. Real Girls With Hair may, however, be in residence too.

I'd welcome any comments on the accuracy of my friend's research and any suggestions for specific clubs, events, or other things to do in Ibiza.

at least one of the major clubs on Ibiza will have an event that targets the gay crowd...

SuperMartxe at Privilege (Friday)
La Troya at Amnesia (Wednesdays)

While these events are among the most gay friendly, there are TONS/LOTS of straight girls and dudes. No critical mass of shirtless/harness boys/men ala Circuit/Leather Party, none at all.

There is a gay weekend in Ibiza sometime in August...don't know the specific dates...

That time of year again and, like the OP, I'm doing the whole Sitges vs Ibiza debate. I don't think I can squeeze in both.

Can anyone report back from their experiences last year?

Here's my breakdown:

- Sitges: Been twice and find it hard to like. I know people LOVE it but I didn't think it was that beautiful (the beach) and the accommodations are pretty poor. I went to a foam party (fun) but the other clubs in general were lacking. I'm 34, pretty friendly (!), but couldn't seem to have a fun time. I also found it hard to do the whole pub crawl that seems to happen (this bar at this hour, this one at that), etc. I have no problem venturing out at 1am, so that wasn't it. I'd be willing to give it one more go - but I'd rather just stay in BCN and at the beaches there, or the W, than Sitges at this point. Convince me! (and hotel recommendations?)

- Ibiza: Never been. So curious to go. I'll be travelling solo after Madrid Orgullo (partner flies home), so I'd be looking for a friendlier scene. I'm a Huuuuuuge trance fan (Armin, Markus Schulz, etc) - that said, I don't have much desire to go to one of the huge events with tweaked out British girls everywhere. So while I love the music, that's not a big driver for me.

In case it helps, I love the Mykonos scene and the beach. Mykonos is great, friendly, you can say hi to anyone cos they are on holiday, and the bars are fun. Is Ibiza anything like this or totally different? I read the posts in this thread and a small scene is ok, I'd just want to meet people in a friendly environment in the evenings, while enjoying the beach in the day.

So...Sitges, Ibiza....or something else? Will be heading to UK for a few days, then Mykonos for 11 after. Thanks! :cool:


It depends on what you want.
i think the beaches in Ibiza are better (but nothing like Mykonos), and there is a gay beach in Ibiza. In Sitges, you just walk out and there are gays / gay beaches everywhere.

Ibiza isn't like Mykonos. There are a couple of gay bars in Ibiza, but most of the gays come for the 2 mixed disco nights (SuperMartxe/La Troya), but even then, you'll be outnumbered 50:1 by the straights.


To summarize:

Best beaches: Mykonos
Friendliest people/easy to meet gays at night: Mykonos
Relax/do nothing: Mykonos or Ibiza
Easy to meet gays at night or day: Sitges
Easy to walk to gay beach: Sitges
Best electronic music discos: Ibiza

I'd be willing to give it one more go - but I'd rather just stay in BCN and at the beaches there, or the W, than Sitges at this point. Convince me! (and hotel recommendations?)

Hotels are not Sitges strongpoint, but there are 3 that I like:

Alenti - 90's contemporary, small, boutique, right in the heart of Sitges off Sin street. Excellent quality rooms and bathrooms. (Unlike many hotels in Spain that love the 1/2 piece of glass as a shower door, making the bathroom floor wet, the Alenti has real shower curtains!). Sisal floors, very comfy beds. Book directly on their website for best rate and avail that other sites don't always show. The Alenti has one of the more popular patio restaurants in town.

Calipolis - Large but not a chain, very clean, somewhat plain aesthetic hotel right on Avenue Sofia and across the street from Barbie (gay) beach. They have a pool too. Some rooms have a balcony and many have great views of the beach or the town. Tile floors, meh beds. They will deliver ice in a mini bucket to your room, a rare commodity in Spain! 1 block in from the beach.

Medium Park - Beautiful design hotel in the center of town. Unique rooms. Cool tile floors, comfy beds. Very nice pool and restaurant. Least expensive of the 3 i'm listing. Website is funky as apparently they don't load dates too far ahead so it might show sold out. About 3 blocks in from the beach.

For overall town gayness, shenanigans and easy walk to beach you can't beat Sitges. But I have done part of my visits at the W where the beach outside is excellent (eye candy too) and the gay beach a short stroll with everything BCN has to offer a taxi ride away, but I think Sitges has more personal charm. I can also recommend some of the best Burgers in Spain there too.

Thank you dollaroff and itsaboutthejourney. This helps a lot! I may give Sitges one more whirl.

Will be heading to UK for a few days, then Mykonos for 11 after. Thanks! :cool:

When are you going to be in Mykonos?

What are the best times in the summer to visit Mykonos anyway? I might try to go again the last week or 2nd to last week of August. The reason I ask if my bf and I went a few years ago for 10 days and it was around the Assumption of Mary which apparently brings out lots of families for the holiday. Although it was still a beautiful place, I felt like the only gay in the village.

When are you going to be in Mykonos?

July 18-29. A bunch of Aussie and US guys going for a few 30th birthdays. PM me if you are around?

What are the best times in the summer to visit Mykonos anyway? I might try to go again the last week or 2nd to last week of August. The reason I ask if my bf and I went a few years ago for 10 days and it was around the Assumption of Mary which apparently brings out lots of families for the holiday. Although it was still a beautiful place, I felt like the only gay in the village.

I've been in the height of summer (July/Aug) but actually prefer mid to late June (it's PRE summer, so you feel like something is coming but there's enough going on to have fun), or the first week in September (US Labor Day). That was superb. Prices came down a bit, you did get a sense that service staff were a bit exhausted from the summer but other than that, perfect time to go and without the super busy buses, ferries, bars, etc. Again, still lots going on. I've also been the 3rd week of September and enjoyed myself, but that was more of a romantic trip for some good sun rather than a partying / meet people trip!

Incidentally, I've been looking at the Mykonos 7-day forecast for a while now and it looks absolutely beautiful right now. Check it out. I think a June trip this year should have awesome weather if you want to avoid the crowds...