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The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Diego

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to San Diego

San Diego, California San Diego, California

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to San Diego, California? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to San Diego, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in San Diego to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in San Diego, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting San Diego for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in San Diego for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $231 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
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Located at 660 K Street, San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter has great rooms from $231 (before taxes). It offers room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.5 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, snorkeling, snorkeling, a bar, and a bar at this relaxing hotel. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
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Tower 23 Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $367 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
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A great place to stay is Tower 23 Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $367. Offering room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and snorkeling, it also has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 723 Felspar Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 8.1 miles from the city center. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Omni San Diego at the Ballpark

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $255 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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We found Omni San Diego at the Ballpark to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $255. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 675 L Street. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.6 miles from the center of town. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Bay Club Hotel & Marina

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $180 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool
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With terrific rooms from $180, Bay Club Hotel & Marina, at 2131 Shelter Island Drive provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling. Its terrific guest rating is 8.90 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, parking, laundry services, city views, and a hot tub. It's located just 3.9 miles from the city center, too. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $348 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. The great rooms here start at $348 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 333 West Harbor Drive. Furthermore, it also offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.7 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Pacific Terrace Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $416 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in San Diego
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
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Location on Map

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The great guest rating of Pacific Terrace Hotel is 9.40 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $416, and it's located at 610 Diamond Street. We also love the parking, hiking, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub which are great for visitors. And since it's just 8.2 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $283 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Heated pool
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A cool place is Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa because it has great rooms that start at $283. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 3999 Mission Boulevard. Only 7.6 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, parking, child care, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $191 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
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Location on Map

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Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $191 (before taxes). It's located at 2051 Shelter Island Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, a hot tub, and a spa which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 4.1 miles from the city center. The kitchen in the room is great, because you can cook your own meals to save time and money. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $206 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
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Location on Map

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Located at 356 6th Avenue, Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter has great rooms from $206 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, scuba diving, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find parking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.4 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Fairmont Grand Del Mar

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $421 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
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Location on Map

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A great place to stay is Fairmont Grand Del Mar which has nice rooms starting at $421. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 5300 Grand Del Mar Court. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes. It's located just 15.7 miles from the city center, too. Don't forget to spend some time at the terrific pool bar where you can unwind and relax.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club
View Prices and Reviews


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Diego, Ensenada, Tijuana, Carlsbad, and Irvine.

For more terrific hotel ideas in San Diego, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Diego, Best Luxury Hotels in San Diego, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in San Diego, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in San Diego, Best Hotels for One Week in San Diego, Best Hotels for One Night in San Diego, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in San Diego, Best Party Hotels in San Diego, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in San Diego, or Best Business Hotels in San Diego.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in San Diego?

San Diego Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$226

Travelers to San Diego, California will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 117 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $226. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in San Diego.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $395
  • 4-star hotels: $265
  • 3-star hotels: $205
  • 2-star hotels: $191


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