Island House
Thirty-nine rooms, Key West's largest guesthouse pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room, restaurant and bar. Day passes bring visitors into the social mix beyond overnight guests.
Read the full profile →
Key West · checked October 2026
Key West gay resorts, compared
Two operating clothing-optional LGBTQ+ stays: Island House for a men-only social hub, Alexander's for a quieter and more inclusive Old Town guesthouse.
Researched by the Hotel Terracotta editorial desk · Resort status, prices and review totals rechecked October 2026 · How we work
Quick answer
Island House or Alexander's?
Choose Island House when a men-only pool, bar, restaurant, spa facilities and day-club social scene are the reason for the trip. Choose Alexander's for personal hospitality, quiet Old Town access and an LGBTQ+ welcome beyond men only. Clothing is optional throughout Island House's resort environment; at Alexander's, it is limited to the sundecks.
| Property | Guest rating | Price / night | Rooms | Guest policy | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island House | ★ 4.6 (737) | On request | 39 | Men only | Lively / social |
| Alexander's Guesthouse | ★ 4.9 (1,475) | $161–623 | 17 | LGBTQ+ adults | Calm |
| Equator Resort | Closed | — | — | Formerly men only | Closed January 2024 |
Tripadvisor ratings, review totals and price snapshots checked October 2026. Equator Resort is included only to prevent confusion from old directory pages; it is not a booking option.
Two different holidays
Choose social facilities or a quiet guesthouse
The properties share a destination and an LGBTQ+ identity, but almost every practical detail differs.
Alexander's
Seventeen rooms, breakfast, cocktails and an exceptionally strong service record. It welcomes LGBTQ+ adults of any gender and works best as a calm Old Town base.
Read the full profile →When Island House earns its rate
Stay here when the pool, wellness facilities, food and social scene will be used repeatedly. Otherwise, confirm current day-pass terms and compare lodging separately.
Compare day-access options →When Alexander's wins
Choose it when staff, included breakfast and cocktails, a quieter room and walking through Old Town matter more than a full clothing-optional resort environment.
Check the trade-offs →The phrase is not enough
Where clothing is optional matters
Island House: the clothing-optional resort and day-club environment is central to the stay. It is men only, and the pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room, restaurant and bar make the property a destination rather than only a room.
Alexander's: clothing is optional on the sundecks, not across the entire guesthouse. This is the better match for travellers who want an LGBTQ+ hotel with some optional space rather than a dedicated nude-resort experience.
Neither policy is a quality ranking. Alexander's has the higher rating and broader welcome; Island House has the deeper on-property facility list and more deliberately social design. The right choice depends on how much of the trip will happen at the hotel.
For etiquette, phones, consent, pool behavior and packing, read the first-time clothing-optional guide before arrival.
Price and practical details
Compare the complete Key West stay
Alexander's published snapshot stretches from $161 to $623. Island House supplies rates on request, so a fair comparison requires the same dates and full totals.
$161–623
Alexander's range
Breakfast and cocktails add value, but street parking can be a constraint. Compare the exact room and cancellation policy.
On request
Island House
Ask for the complete stay total and current inclusions. Premium pricing makes sense only if the resort facilities are part of the plan.
Day access
Island House alternative
Visitors who want the social facilities without sleeping on property can check current day-pass eligibility and price.
Do not book an old listing
Equator Resort closed in January 2024
Equator once served travellers who wanted a quieter men-only clothing-optional stay near Duval Street. It closed permanently in January 2024, but old travel directories and archived booking pages can still surface in search results.
Do not send payment through a page that presents Equator as currently operating. Choose Island House for a men-only social replacement or Alexander's for a calmer LGBTQ+ alternative. The closure profile preserves the status and replacement logic.
If Key West pricing or inventory does not work, compare the three operating properties in our Fort Lauderdale gay resort guide.
Questions
What gay resorts are open in Key West?
Island House and Alexander's Guesthouse are the two operating clothing-optional LGBTQ+ stays in this comparison. Equator Resort closed permanently in January 2024.
Is Island House Key West clothing optional?
Yes. Island House is a men-only clothing-optional resort and day club with a pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room, restaurant and bar.
Is Alexander's Guesthouse clothing optional?
Clothing is optional on the sundecks, not throughout the entire property. Alexander's welcomes LGBTQ+ adults of any gender.
Which Key West gay resort is best for a social stay?
Island House is the stronger social choice because its pool, bar, restaurant, spa facilities and day visitors create a livelier on-property scene.
Which Key West LGBTQ+ resort is quietest?
Alexander's is the calmer choice, with seventeen rooms, breakfast, cocktails and a quiet Old Town guesthouse rhythm.
Is Equator Resort in Key West still open?
No. Equator Resort closed permanently in January 2024. Old directory and booking pages should not be treated as current availability.