The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in California

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to California

Big Sur, California Big Sur, California

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

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

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Los Angeles, California
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $818 (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
  • Heated pool

Located at 300 South Doheny Drive, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has great rooms from $818 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 232.4 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar at this relaxing hotel. The room service is especially nice after a long day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool
  • Saltwater pool


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The Village Lodge

Mammoth Lakes, California
3-star Resort with prices starting at $218 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is The Village Lodge which has nice rooms starting at $218. Offering an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, skiing, skiing, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1111 Forest Trail. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 50.3 miles from the city center. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club
  • Kids' club


Mccloud Hotel

McCloud, California
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $281 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to California
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Mccloud Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $281. We loved that is has skiing, skiing, room service, room service, and a restaurant, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 408 Main Street. You'll also find a restaurant, a bar, a bar, hiking, and hiking which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 304.7 miles from the center of town. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


Hotel Angeleno

Los Angeles, California
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $205 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $205, Hotel Angeleno, at 170 North Church Lane provides an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant. Its terrific guest rating is 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar. It's located just 231 miles from the city center, too. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa

Pismo Beach, California
4-star Resort with prices starting at $673 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in California
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa has a great guest rating of 9.30 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant. The great rooms here start at $673 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 2727 Shell Beach Road. Furthermore, it also offers a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 153.3 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Infinity pool


Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach, California
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $458 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach is 8.90 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a restaurant. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $458, and it's located at 1221 North Valley Drive. We also love the a restaurant, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which are great for visitors. And since it's just 244.3 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


Thunderbird Lodge

Redding, California
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $95 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to California
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

A cool place is Thunderbird Lodge because it has great rooms that start at $95. It has an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a casino, a casino, and a restaurant, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1350 Pine Street. Only 270.6 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a restaurant, a bar, a bar, rooms with kitchenettes, and rooms with kitchenettes at this convenient hotel. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, 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
  • Outdoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


1 Hotel San Francisco

San Francisco, California
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $407 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly

1 Hotel San Francisco offers room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $407 (before taxes). It's located at 8 Mission Street and has earned a guest rating of 8.80/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 149.5 miles from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms


Courtyard by Marriott Thousand Oaks Ventura County

Thousand Oaks, California
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $153 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 1710 Newbury Road, Courtyard by Marriott Thousand Oaks Ventura County has great rooms from $153 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 217 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco, California
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $169 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to California
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf which has nice rooms starting at $169. Offering room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 425 North Point Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a bar, parking, parking, laundry services, and laundry services. It's located just 150.9 miles from the city center, too. 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Fresno, Clovis, Mammoth Lakes, Visalia, and Oakhurst.

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


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

California Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$204

Travelers to 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 2001 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $204. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in California.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $590
  • 4-star hotels: $266
  • 3-star hotels: $179
  • 2-star hotels: $144


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