Our favorite unique gay friendly hotels in Uruguay

01

Sofitel Carrasco

Montevideo

Our room was an oasis of elegance and calm, with a modern but tasteful style that reminded us of the Italian Riviera with its silk curtains and marble floors. This was definitely one of the most romantic rooms we stayed in during our trip to Uruguay.

Although far from a gay exclusive hotel, Sofitel Carrasco is definitely gay friendly. In fact, the staff at Sofitel Carrasco were ultra-professional throughout our stay. We were welcomed with open arms and when we checked into our double room with just one bed, nobody batted an eyelid.

Dinner in the hotel restaurant was fabulous. The French-inspired a la carte menu fit perfectly with the opulent decor, making us feel oh so posh dining here! The wine list was incredible too, packed with all kinds of delicious offerings from South America, Europe and beyond.

When we weren’t enjoying the high life in the restaurant and bar, we enjoyed working on our physique in the extensive gym here. With all kinds of machines and free weights, this was a great spot for observing some of the eye candy that comes to touch up their pecs and biceps throughout the day. 

02

Holiday Inn Montevideo

Montevideo

The rooms at the Holiday Inn are modern and comfortable, with lovely features such as large sofas and spa baths in the premium rooms. This makes Holiday Inn the ideal choice for gay couples traveling through the city who want a romantic oasis from the busy city outside.

The breakfast is particularly good at Holiday Inn Montevideo, with plenty of delicious meats, cheese, pastries, breads and juices to help fuel hours of exploring the city’s ambient streets. You'll definitely need to take some time and energy to find out why Montevideo is one of our favourite gay destinations in Latin America.

The facilities here include a gym, which gets filled with local and visiting hotties at all times of the day. Pump up those biceps before enjoying a well-earned refuel at the delicious restaurant, which specializes in Uruguayan and European classics. By night, the hotel bar becomes quite a classy affair with relaxing music and cocktails flowing freely. This makes for the perfect post-dinner drink before a night out enjoying the local nightlife scene, which can get seriously spicy.

The area around Holiday Inn Montevideo is super-central, so you’re not going to be stuck for cafes, bars, nightclubs and excellent restaurants. This place is even nicely positioned if you’re thinking about your next destination in Uruguay, with the Tres Cruces bus station just over a mile away.

03

Undarius Gay Hotel (men only)

Chihuahua

With the beach just a short stroll away, we spent our days here either mingling with gay boys down at the beach or meeting guys around this gorgeous boutique hotel. This is a super-chic hotel, with a real hideaway vibe that’s nonetheless incredibly modern and tasteful. You will not lack for privacy at Undarius, where you’re free to wear as much or as little as you like.

Our room was minimal in the coolest of ways, with neat little features such as our own bathrobes and a huge, comfy bed. Rooms come with a balcony overlooking the pool area, ideal for a pre-dinner drink to get warmed up before heading to the beach bars of Chihuahua, a buzzy hive of local nightlife.

We adored the outdoor patio and chill out area, which is centered around the gorgeous little pool at Undarius. The bar and restaurant are both open from early til late. Whether you’re after a strong caipirinha or a deliciously gooey cheese toastie, nothing is too much for the staff here.

04

Yoo Punta del Este

Punta del Este

The decor at Yoo is super modern, with plenty of natural light courtesy of the enormous veranda windows. We loved nothing more than chilling on the balcony as we ate a homecooked breakfast each morning, a refreshing change from the standard hotel buffet! The view from our balcony stretched far across the Atlantic, making every minute we spent there a romantic one.

One of the best things about staying at Yoo Punta del Este was the spa and wellness suite. After a day down at the beach, a long soak and a hot sauna will almost make you melt with relaxation. The gym is well-equipped, which meant we could work on our chest with the free weights in between sampling the delicious food at the on-site restaurant. 

Punta Shopping, a huge shopping center with plenty of amazing stores, was just down the street from our apartment at Yoo Punta del Este. I would be lying if I said that Seby and I didn’t indulge in a little retail therapy during our stay, but with shops this good we couldn’t resist.

05

Valizas Hostel

Barra de Valizas

The rooms at Valizas are clean, simple and quirkily decorated. We loved the traditional blankets and rugs, as well as the Uruguayan original art on our walls. The real draw to Valizas is the rest of the space though, with this hostel focused very much on the community. There is a sun terrace, a garden, chill-out room and plenty of spots to enjoy an al fresco breakfast and matecito. 

The owners here were amazing, super-friendly and of course extremely welcoming of gay travelers. We loved the inclusive, easygoing vibe of Valizas Hostel. Nothing was too much to ask, from the use of the bbq area to coffee and tea at any time, we were treated exceptionally well here.

Of course, the main draw of Valizas is the opportunity to stay just 100 yards from the beach. We loved strolling back and forth from the sea shores throughout the day, meeting new people and soaking up the bohemian vibe of the area that makes this part of Uruguay so special.

06

Alma de la Pedrera Villaggio and Spa

La Pedrera

Inside, each casita is even more gorgeous, with a modern yet super-chic aesthetic that wouldn’t look out of place in a design magazine. Think plenty of natural material, light and quirky art throughout. Waking up here in the morning, you just know it’s going to be a great day!

The communal areas of the Alma de la Pedrera Villaggio & Spa are just as lovely. There is a small garden and seating area for enjoying breakfast and coffee at any time. By night, this becomes your own private restaurant complete with woodfire oven that’s free to use as much, or as little, as you wish. An evening of homemade pizzas and delicious local wines is the way to go here.

The pool is small but beautifully clean and refreshing for a morning dip. Then there are the spa facilities, which include a sauna that left our muscles feeling like jelly after a long day sunbathing. When it comes to relaxation in style, Alma de la Pedrera Villaggio & Spa is as good as we found in Uruguay.

07

Posada La Viuda Del Diablo

Punta del Diablo

The rest of the inn is just as stylish, with the living room, dining room and outdoor patio area ideal for swapping tales with fellow guests over a cup of quality local café. Again, the unique furniture and art scattered across the inn made our stay at Posada de la Viuda a true pleasure.

Our days here were spent lazing around the pool sipping on cold beers or cocktails, sunbathing down at the beach and catching up on our reading. This place just made it so hard to do anything other than chill! We particularly enjoyed reading and chatting in the chic little living room, which is filled with books in dozens of languages to choose from. If you're more of an adrenaline-seeker then Punta del Diablo is also the most famous surfing town in Uruguay!

With the beach just 500 meters away, the location of Posada de la Viuda couldn’t be much better. The bus stop was also a short walk away, which made day trips super-easy but the truth is that we rarely felt like leaving this relaxing little hotel.

Of course, the staff at Posada de la Viuda were incredibly helpful and inclusive. Clearly, this place is accustomed to hosting LGBTQ guests. We were even told about the best places in town where one can scope out cute local gay guys…if that’s not great hospitality, we don’t know what is!

08

Il Tano Suites

Punta del Diablo

We love that all apartments at Il Tano have their own living room as well as a spa bath, making this aparthotel in Punta del Diablo ideal for gay couples seeking a little romance from their stay.

There is a lovely little bar and restaurant on-site that serve up fresh seafood daily. They also mix some devilishly good cocktails which are ideal to get things started before embarking on a tour of Punta del Diablo. The inhouse bar can actually get pretty wild itself, with live music and a convivial vibe that means you might just end up spending your whole evening here.

The owners are known for their hospitality at Il Tano, with nothing too much for them to do. Whether you’re after extra pillows, a cold beer or recommendations for the best things to do nearby, they’re always more than happy to help. We found the staff at Il Tano to be very open-minded and can confidently say that all gay guests will be completely welcomed here with open arms.

Be sure to make use of the bicycle service at Il Tano, which provides guests with free use for exploring this charmingly chilled little beach town.

09

Posada El Capullo

Colonia del Sacramento

The rooms here feature colorful examples of natural art and carefully restored furniture, making for a unique stay. The rest of Posada El Capullo is just as beautiful, with the hotel home to a pool, BBQ area and TV lounge for those nights when going out just isn’t on the cards.

Located in the heart of Colonia del Sacramento, Posada El Capullo is a great base for exploring this gorgeous little city and its atmospheric streets, particularly the UNESCO World Heritage rated historic quarter. The hotel is a short stroll from some of the most delicious restaurants and coolest bars in town, whilst the wilder nightlife options are also close. Gay couples will love this place, the rooms are really romantic and the city itself is absolutely dazzling! The sunsets alone will make you fall in love all over again.

The staff at Posada El Capullo are highly professional and discreet. Gay guests are common here, so welcoming LGBTQ travelers is like second nature to them! All in all, Posada El Capullo is very much a top gay-friendly hotel in Uruguay.