North Lido is Sarasota's official gay beach, also rated as one of the best gay beaches in Florida! Unlike Siesta Key beach, North Lido is more popular with LGBTQ locals. Locals didn't seem to bat an eyelid at all seeing two guys larking about in the water. We found it to be chilled and extremely relaxed.
The sand is comprised of 99% pure Quartz, so it's always silky in texture. We loved Siesta Key Beach because as a gay couple, we didn't feel out of place here at all. One of the reasons is because the sand is powdery white, like icing sugar. As well as being the title of an infamous(!) MTV reality show, it was ranked as the #1 beach in the US by Dr Beach. Siesta Key Beach is arguably the reason why most people know Sarasota. The only downside is that it's a good 15 minute drive to Bayfront Park, and longer to get to the beach or gay bars like Oasis or Purple Rhino. In terms of drinking and dining options, the Lakewood Ranch has a restaurant, coffee shop and a bar/lounge.
Nearby it has a Publix, several shopping malls and even a Whole Foods. The Lakewood Ranch is set in a 5 story building conveniently located by the Interstate 75, near the University Parkway exit. The staff are famous for being super welcoming towards LGBTQ travellers and gay couples, though we'd expect nothing less from the excellent Hyatt brand! It's not as luxurious as Zota Beach Resort, but for the price you pay, it's a steal! Beds are king-sized and super comfy. The rooms are a decent size with all the amenities you'd expect from a modern hotel. There are 122 rooms spread over 5 floors. We like the Lakewood Ranch because it's a decent medium budget option yet still has amenities that every good gay boy needs, like 24-hour gym, large outdoor pool with cocktail bar, and, it's pup-friendly! We also liked that they had the latest newspapers available in reception to read. In Sarasota, there are in fact 3 Hyatt hotels – The Hyatt Place Sarasota/Bradenton Airport, which is right by the airport, the upmarket Hyatt Regency Sarasota and the Hyatt Place Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch. It's famous for being a strong ally to the LGBTQ community and even has its own unique Hyatt HyPride initiative, which we love!
Pro tip: Publix delivers groceries for you (via the app).
Guests have free use of the resort's bikes, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and fishing poles. If you get lucky, you can even spot a few dolphins. The Turtle Beach Resort has an outdoor heated waterfront pool, which is a cool place to hang out during the day. The Turtle Beach Inn next door is the best choice for LGBTQ travellers because it's the hotel's adults-only section. They each range in style, from Victorian to Caribbean and French countryside.
Each one has a full kitchen, dining area and private outdoor space complete with large hot tub. You can rent out one of the 10 spacious cottages which are a mix of either studio, 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom. Turtle Beach is perfect for a group of friends travelling together. For the Bayfront Park, it's around 20 minutes away. It's also a similar distance to the Oasis club. In terms of location, Turtle Beach Resort is situated along Montego Bay, which is ideal if you want to be close to Siesta Key Beach – it's around 10 minutes drive south from the world-famous beach. It's famous for being gay friendly, recommended to us by other gay travellers and from Purple Roods LGBTQ website. The Turtle Beach Resort is a waterfront resort on the quiet end of Siesta Key, just a few minutes walk to Turtle Beach. In terms of location, Zota is a 25-minute drive north from Bayfront Park. What we loved most about Zota is the focus on marine conservation, especially during the sea turtle nesting season on Longboat Key beach between May and October. The main restaurant of the hotel is the Viento Kitchen and Bar, which specialises in local seafood – we loved the piña colada bread and the blackened jumbo shrimp, absolutely delish! In terms of food options, the Cascades pool bar has an inviting cocktail list and also serve up small plates, sandwiches and healthy salads. There are 187 rooms, each with a balcony with pool, sea or bay view – ie always a zota in sight! For a splurge, we recommend the rooms in the “South Tower” because they have much larger balconies.įor the gym gays (ourselves included!), Zota has an impressive 24-hour fitness centre, overlooking the pool. Surrounding the pool are firepits, long couches and cabanas for rent. The hotel is centred around the U-shaped courtyard pool area, which is overlooked by two six-storey buildings where the rooms are. The interiors have a beach feel with plenty of modern art displayed, making it seem more like an art gallery than a hotel lobby. Zota is a native American word for “blue waters”, which is the key feature of the hotel.
Zota is an exciting and luxurious resort with its own slice of private beach on the understated and laid back Longboat Key.