Cocoon Hauptbahnhof has fully embraced the Bavarian Alps – in a deliberately playful rather than traditional way. Expect timber, mountain-lodge references and even a cable-car cabin in the lobby, all just a few minutes from Munich Central Station. Rooms range from compact doubles to larger “Stadl” categories, with some of the more unusual options adding features such as infrared cabins or extra living space. The Almbar and leafy Almgarten keep the Alpine theme going downstairs, alongside a substantial breakfast using plenty of regional and organic produce. The Hauptbahnhof location is excellent for airport trains, day trips and Oktoberfest. Glockenbachviertel sits farther south-east, but Sendlinger Tor is only one U-Bahn stop away and the gay scene is also perfectly manageable on foot. GayMapper tip: A fun choice if you want something with more personality than the usual station hotel – especially useful if you're arriving by train.

You don't come here for street-level views. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero occupies the top 11 floors of a 48-storey tower, so even breakfast can come with the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and city spread out below you. The rooms are elegant and understated, with sky-high windows doing most of the decorating. Orafo now serves California-influenced Italian food downstairs, while a 2026 addition, Weather Permitting, has brought a seasonal pop-up bar to the 40th-floor terrace. There’s also a 24-hour fitness centre and an extensive programme of in-room wellness options. The Financial District puts Chinatown, the Ferry Building and Embarcadero close by. For LGBTQ nightlife you’ll travel towards the Castro or SoMa, but the reward here is that extraordinary elevated setting. GayMapper tip: This is one time when “high floor requested” is unnecessary – every guest room is already way up in the sky.

Cheshire Motor Inn provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. Not the place for a long holiday, many people use this motel for just a few hours at a time...The property is around 4.2 km from High Museum of Art, 4.4 km from Piedmont Park and 5 km from FOX Theatre. The property is 7 km from Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and 8 km from NEW World of Coca-Cola. The reception at the motel can provide tips on the area. Atlantic Station is 6 km from Cheshire Motor Inn, while Atlanta History Center is 6 km away. The nearest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, 25 km from the accommodation.

This is one of those New York locations that makes sightseeing remarkably straightforward. Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Times Square sits close to Bryant Park, with Times Square, Broadway, Macy’s, Penn Station and the Empire State Building all comfortably walkable. Rooms are modern and practical, with comfortable bedding, good workspaces, Smart TVs and free WiFi. There’s a fitness centre downstairs, while nosh! serves breakfast with Starbucks coffee before switching to light bites and cocktails later in the day. For LGBTQ nightlife, the main Hell’s Kitchen gay-bar area around Ninth and Tenth avenues is farther west and north, but still easily reached on foot or with a very short taxi ride. GayMapper tip: Best for travellers who want an ultra-central sightseeing base with the gay scene accessible rather than directly outside the door.