The Worthington Guest House

The Worthington Guest House is a three-pearl, no-fuss hotel with outdoor hallways that face palm trees surrounding a kidney-shaped pool and a hot tub. Replicas of Michelangelo’s David statues are on the pool deck, where there are lounge chairs. Outside this yellow-painted hotel are parking spaces. A white fence surrounds this property that’s connected to two other sister hotels which all share facilities. Unlike the sister hotel the Alcazar Resort, the Worthington Guest House doesn’t allow pets in rooms. The best selling point of this gay-friendly, all male hotel is the clothing-optional policy on the ground floor. Gay men from various backgrounds and age groups return year after year for the affordable room rates and social setting with a popular Saturday afternoon happy hour in the courtyard. The property is laid-back, but loud conversations from the 24-hour pools and hot tubs can sometimes be heard in rooms. 

This hotel is on North Birch Road, a quiet location that’s two blocks from the beach and five minutes on foot from the gay beach on Sebastian Street. There are a few bars and restaurants in walking distance, but this isn’t an ideal location for travelers looking for a wild nightlife scene. The popular gay bars and clubs in Wilton Manors can be reached in 15 minutes by car. The Fort Lauderdale International Airport is a 25- to 30- minute car trip. Miami is a 45-minute car ride. Guests with cars can make use of free outdoor parking at the front of the hotel, which is limited, especially late at night. 

This hotel has four categories of rooms that are decorated in a simple maroon and white color palette, with rattan furniture, and wooden or cream-colored tile floors. Designs aren’t fancy, but rooms are clean -- although some have noticeably worn furnishings. King Deluxe Rooms -- unlike King Rooms -- have sitting areas. Junior Suites and One-Bedroom King Suites have kitchenettes with bistro-style dining tables, four-burner stovetops, dining tables, sitting areas, and large refrigerators. Windows mostly overlook the pool, which is open 24 hours a day and can be noisy. Bathrooms offer showers; some with rainfall showerheads. All rooms have safes, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, DVD players, MP3 radios, irons, free Wi-Fi, pool towels, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, microwaves, and hairdryers. The sister hotel, the Alcazar Resort, is pet-friendly. 

Between the three sister resorts there are three 24-hour pools, two hot tubs, and tropically landscaped patio areas with seating and a barbecue grill. The Worthington Guest House has a shaded pool and a 12-person hot tub. Sandwiches, salads, packaged snacks, and ice cream are sold in Cafe Torino, a small restaurant that’s located in the Villa Venice with both indoor and poolside seating. In the lobby, the hotel serves free breakfast in the morning that consists of oatmeal packets, cold cereal, fruit, and bagels. There are also Cybex cardio machines -- a treadmill, bike, and elliptical -- and free weights in the fitness center that has large windows facing the street. A vending machine is outside of the office and an ATM is in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Two computers and a printer are also available by the front desk.