The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Carlsbad

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Carlsbad

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

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

Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $191 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Located at 3200 Carlsbad Blvd., Tamarack Beach Resort and Hotel has great rooms from $191 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and child care. It has a terrific 8.78 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.2 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, a game room, and free parking at this relaxing hotel. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Free breakfast
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $359 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa which has nice rooms starting at $359. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 5480 Grand Pacific Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers parking, child care, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.7 miles from the city center. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

4-star Resort with prices starting at $424 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Carlsbad
  • Heated pool

We found Omni La Costa Resort & Spa to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $424. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road. You'll also find a bar, parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 6.7 miles from the center of town. Don't miss the pool bar which offers drinks and a fun area to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Park Hyatt Aviara

5-star Resort with prices starting at $878 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $878, Park Hyatt Aviara, at 7100 Four Seasons Point provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 9.18 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers parking, child care, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 5.5 miles from the city center, too. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $182 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Carlsbad
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $182 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 5500 Grand Pacific. Furthermore, it also offers parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and a hot tub, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 3.2 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel

3-star Resort with prices starting at $202 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

The great guest rating of Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel is 8.50 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $202, and it's located at 5805 Armada Drive. We also love the a bar, parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which are great for visitors. And since it's just 3.1 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Having a kitchen in the room is a great way to make meals and save money, too. 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


MarBrisa Carlsbad Resort

3-star Resort with prices starting at $195 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Carlsbad
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is MarBrisa Carlsbad Resort because it has great rooms that start at $195. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and rooms with kitchens, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.99 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1594 MarBrisa Circle. Only 2.9 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love child care, laundry services, a game room, a child pool, and a pool table at this convenient hotel. 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
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Kid-friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Fitness room
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


LEGOLAND r California Resort and Castle Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $236 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Heated pool

LEGOLAND r California Resort and Castle Hotel 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 $236 (before taxes). It's located at One LEGOLAND Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, child care, laundry services, and golf which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.2 miles from the city center. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone. 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
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara

5-star Resort with prices starting at $554 (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.

Located at 7210 Blue Heron Place, Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara has great rooms from $554 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, parking, and hiking. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find rooms with kitchens, child care, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 5.6 miles from the center of town. The room service is especially nice after a long day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Kid-friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Table tennis
  • Fitness room
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort

3-star Resort with prices starting at $310 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Carlsbad
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort which has nice rooms starting at $310. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 3075 Carlsbad Blvd. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and a game room. It's located just 0.1 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Spa
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Diego, Anaheim, Tijuana, and Irvine.

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


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

Carlsbad Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$267

Travelers to Carlsbad, 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 24 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $267. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Carlsbad.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $716
  • 4-star hotels: $355
  • 3-star hotels: $216
  • 2-star hotels: $153


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