The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Africa

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to South Africa

Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

Visiting South Africa 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 South Africa, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in South Africa 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 South Africa 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 South Africa before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting South Africa for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in South Africa 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.)

Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town

Cape Town, Western Cape
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $1039 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Africa
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 76 Orange Street, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town has great rooms from $1039 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.60 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 scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


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Peach on Beach Boutique Guesthouse

Cape Town, Western Cape
Guest house with prices starting at $127 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Peach on Beach Boutique Guesthouse which has nice rooms starting at $127. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 12 Sceptre Crescent. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The kids will love the water park, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Mountain Manor Guest House & Executive Suites

Cape Town, Western Cape
Guest house with prices starting at $153 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Mountain Manor Guest House & Executive Suites to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $153. 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 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 17 Breda Street Gardens. You'll also find a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Marine

Hermanus, Western Cape
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $283 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Africa
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $283, The Marine, at Cnr of Marine Drive Hermanus & Main Road, 9 provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 9.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, child care, and laundry services. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Kensington Place

Cape Town, Western Cape
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $250 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Kensington Place has a great guest rating of 9.30 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and scuba diving. The great rooms here start at $250 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 38 Kensington Crescent. Furthermore, it also offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, laundry services, and city views, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Westin Cape Town

Cape Town, Western Cape
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $340 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Africa
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of The Westin Cape Town is 9.00 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $340, and it's located at Convention Square, Lower Long Street. We also love the snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and laundry services 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 relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Breakfast in the room


Villa Afrikana Guest Suites

Knysna, Western Cape
Guest house with prices starting at $279 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Villa Afrikana Guest Suites because it has great rooms that start at $279. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.90 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 13 Watsonia Drive Paradise. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, hiking, laundry services, golf, and free parking at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


First Group La Cote D'azur

Margate, KwaZulu-Natal
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $142 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Africa
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

First Group La Cote D'azur offers an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and scuba diving which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $142 (before taxes). It's located at No 1 Manaba Beach Road Manaba Beach and has earned a guest rating of 8.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


The Edward Hotel

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

Located at 149 OR Tambo Parade, The Edward Hotel has great rooms from $88 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a water park, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, and parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip 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
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms


Bayview Hotel

Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $88 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Bayview Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $88. Offering room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Corner Main & Gibb Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and golf. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road. 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
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in South Africa?

South Africa Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$117

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to South Africa. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in South Africa based on data from 2351 hotels is an affordable $117. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in South Africa.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $272
  • 4-star hotels: $114
  • 3-star hotels: $86
  • 2-star hotels: $89


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