The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Bloomington

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Bloomington

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

Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bloomington Airport

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $147 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Located at 3202 East Empire Street, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bloomington Airport has great rooms from $147 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and a kid-friendly buffet. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 4.3 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and an indoor pool at this relaxing hotel. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $133 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Bloomington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington which has nice rooms starting at $133. Offering room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 10 Brickyard Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.2 miles from the city center. The restaurant serves delicious food, 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
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Residence Inn by Marriott Bloomington

3-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.
  • Heated pool

We found Residence Inn by Marriott Bloomington to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $244. We loved that is has room service, a fitness center, a bar, rooms with kitchens, and laundry services, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 2160 Ireland Grove Road. You'll also find a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a spa and wellness center, and an indoor pool which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 2.3 miles from the center of town. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Bloomington Normal Airport IL

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $99 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $99, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Bloomington Normal Airport IL, at 2403 E Empire St provides a fitness center, a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, laundry services, and a free breakfast. Its terrific guest rating is 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers an indoor pool, free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, and air-conditioning. It's located just 2.8 miles from the city center, too. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint! It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hawthorn Suites Bloomington

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $134 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Bloomington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Hawthorn Suites Bloomington has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10, and offers a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast. The great rooms here start at $134 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 1 Lyon Court. Furthermore, it also offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a free breakfast, an indoor pool, and free parking, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.7 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Eastland Suites Extended Stay Hotel & Conference Center

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $123 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Eastland Suites Extended Stay Hotel & Conference Center is 8.70 out of 10. This place has a fitness center, a bar, breakfast, rooms with kitchens, and laundry services. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $123, and it's located at 1801 Eastland Dr. We also love the golf, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, and evening entertainment which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2.4 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Comfort Suites Bloomington

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $139 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Bloomington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Comfort Suites Bloomington because it has great rooms that start at $139. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, laundry services, and a free breakfast, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 908 Maple Hill Rd.. Only 2.1 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk at this convenient hotel. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Plus Bloomington East Hotel

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $104 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Best Western Plus Bloomington East Hotel offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, and golf which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $104 (before taxes). It's located at 604 1-2 I.A.A. Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers bowling, free parking, mini-golf, car rentals, and laundry facilities which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.2 miles 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
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


Vrooman Mansion Bloomington

Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $193 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Bloomington
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 701 East Taylor Street, Vrooman Mansion Bloomington has great rooms from $193 (before taxes). It offers parking, breakfast, rooms with kitchenettes, a free breakfast, and air-conditioning. It has a terrific 9.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a microwave, wedding services, and a library which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.7 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Kitchenette
  • Microwave


Fairfield Inn & Suites Bloomington

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (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 Fairfield Inn & Suites Bloomington which has nice rooms starting at $178. Offering room service, a fitness center, breakfast, child care, and laundry services, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1014 Wylie Drive. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a free breakfast, an indoor pool, free parking, laundry facilities, and family rooms. It's located just 2.3 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Champaign, Springfield, East Peoria, and Normal.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Bloomington, make sure you also see Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Bloomington, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Bloomington, Best Hotels for One Week in Bloomington, Best Hotels for One Night in Bloomington, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Bloomington, or Best Business Hotels in Bloomington.


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

Bloomington Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$151

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Bloomington, Illinois. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Bloomington, Illinois based on data from 11 hotels is an affordable $151. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Bloomington.

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

  • 3-star hotels: $156
  • 2-star hotels: $147


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