The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Scotland

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Scotland

Scottish Highlands Scottish Highlands

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Scotland? 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 Scotland, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Scotland 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 Scotland, 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 Scotland 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 Scotland for first time visitors.

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

Fonab Castle Hotel

Pitlochry, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $244 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Foss Road, Fonab Castle Hotel has great rooms from $244 (before taxes). It offers skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 79.3 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love hiking, mountain views, child care, laundry services, and golf at this relaxing hotel. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Inverlochy Castle Hotel

Fort William, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $661 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Scotland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Inverlochy Castle Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $661. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Torlundy. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, child care, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 114.1 km from the city center. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Cameron House on Loch Lomond

Alexandria, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $605 (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
  • Heated pool

We found Cameron House on Loch Lomond to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $605. 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 9.30 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Cameron House. You'll also find breakfast, outdoor tennis, hiking, child care, and laundry services which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 37.8 km from the center of town. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa

Aberdeen, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $178, The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, at North Deeside Road Pitfodels provides skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, breakfast, hiking, child care, and laundry services. It's located just 168.4 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Glencoe House

Glencoe, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $818 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Scotland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Glencoe House has a great guest rating of 9.50 out of 10, and offers room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, a bar, and breakfast. The great rooms here start at $818 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Glencoe. Furthermore, it also offers hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, child care, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 102.1 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Lovat Loch Ness

Fort Augustus, United Kingdom
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $217 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of The Lovat Loch Ness is 9.10 out of 10. This place has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $217, and it's located at Loch Ness. We also love the mountain views, child care, laundry services, golf, and city views which are great for visitors. And since it's just 133.9 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Luxury


Callander Meadows

Callander, United Kingdom
Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $137 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Scotland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Callander Meadows because it has great rooms that start at $137. It has a restaurant, a bar, hiking, mountain views, and golf, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 24 Main Street. Only 30.3 km from the city center, travelers will especially love pet-friendly rooms, city views, cooking classes, free parking, and horse riding at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop


Auchrannie Resort

Brodick, United Kingdom
4-star Resort with prices starting at $610 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Auchrannie Resort offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and a kid-friendly buffet which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $610 (before taxes). It's located at Auchrannie Road and has earned a guest rating of 8.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, rooms with kitchens, child care, laundry services, and golf which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 86.8 km from the city center. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Inn at Ardgour

Fort William, United Kingdom
Inn with prices starting at $172 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Scotland

Located at Ardgour, Inn at Ardgour has great rooms from $172 (before taxes). It offers skiing, a restaurant, snorkeling, a bar, and breakfast. It has a terrific 8.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find hiking, mountain views, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 111 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room


McInnes House Hotel

Kingussie, United Kingdom
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $154 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit

A great place to stay is McInnes House Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $154. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Newtonmore Road. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers mountain views, rooms with kitchens, golf, free parking, and kids meals. It's located just 120 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Glasgow, Pitlochry, Ayr, Callander, and Stirling.

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


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

Scotland Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$134

Travelers to Scotland 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 772 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $134. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Scotland.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $311
  • 4-star hotels: $145
  • 3-star hotels: $117
  • 2-star hotels: $97


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