The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in the Philippines

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to the Philippines

Dining on crab in Palawan, Philippines Dining on crab in Palawan, Philippines

Visiting the Philippines for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to the Philippines, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in the Philippines based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting the Philippines for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to the Philippines before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting the Philippines for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in the Philippines for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

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

Kandaya Resort

Daanbantayan, Cebu
5-star Resort with prices starting at $72 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to the Philippines
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Agujo, Kandaya Resort has great rooms from $72 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love snorkeling, a bar, hiking, golf, and pet-friendly rooms at this relaxing hotel. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


View hotels on the map:

Santander Pebbles Beach Resort

Santander, Cebu
2-star Resort with prices starting at $36 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

A great place to stay is Santander Pebbles Beach Resort which has nice rooms starting at $36. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Liloan. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Coco Grove Beach Resort, Siquijor Island

San Juan, Siquijor
3-star Resort with prices starting at $75 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in the Philippines
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Coco Grove Beach Resort, Siquijor Island to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $75. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, scuba diving, and snorkeling, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.30 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Tubod. You'll also find a bar, laundry services, a hot tub, a game room, and a spa which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. We love relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Kids' club


Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu

Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $112 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $112, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, at Punta Engano, Mactan Island provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Amorita Resort Bohol

Panglao, Bohol
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $147 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to the Philippines
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Amorita Resort Bohol has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. The great rooms here start at $147 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Ester A Lim Drive, 1. Furthermore, it also offers snorkeling, a bar, laundry services, a hot tub, and a game room, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Seda Lio El Nido Palawan

El Nido, Palawan
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $244 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Seda Lio El Nido Palawan is 9.00 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $244, and it's located at Lio Tourism Estate. We also love the snorkeling, a bar, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a game room which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We love a fun pool bar, and this one is a nice spot to chill and relax by the pool.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Private pool
  • Infinity pool


Misibis Bay

Bacacay, Albay
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $91 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Misibis Bay because it has great rooms that start at $91. It has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Cagraray Island, Albay, Bicol. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, laundry services, and a hot tub at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Savoy Hotel Boracay

Boracay, Aklan
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $37 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to the Philippines
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Savoy Hotel Boracay offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $37 (before taxes). It's located at Newcoast Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.80/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, a game room, a spa, and a child pool which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. 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
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Mithi Resort & Spa

Panglao, Bohol
3-star Resort with prices starting at $133 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Bingag, Dauis, 135064, Mithi Resort & Spa has great rooms from $133 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, hiking, child care, and laundry services which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Villa Kasadya

Panglao, Bohol
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $55 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in the Philippines
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Villa Kasadya which has nice rooms starting at $55. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Daorong, Danao. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a bar, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, free parking, and laundry facilities. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in the Philippines?

Philippines Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$57

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to the Philippines. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in the Philippines based on data from 1612 hotels is an affordable $57. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in the Philippines.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $114
  • 4-star hotels: $82
  • 3-star hotels: $46
  • 2-star hotels: $35


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