The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Columbia

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Columbia

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $239 (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

Located at 5485 Twin Knolls Road, DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia has great rooms from $239 (before taxes). It offers room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.2 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and an indoor pool at this relaxing hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

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


Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbia

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $186 (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.

A great place to stay is Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbia which has nice rooms starting at $186. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, breakfast, and rooms with kitchens, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 8320 Benson Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, and free parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 4.2 miles from the city center. 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
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Sonesta Select Columbia

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $172 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Columbia
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

We found Sonesta Select Columbia to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $172. We loved that is has a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 8910 Stanford Boulevard. You'll also find an indoor pool, free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, and air-conditioning which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 3.5 miles from the center of town. Having an indoor pool means that you can swim and have fun any time of the year. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Hampton Inn & Suites - Columbia South MD

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $232 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $232, Hampton Inn & Suites - Columbia South MD, at 7045 Minstrel Way provides a fitness center, breakfast, laundry services, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. Its terrific guest rating is 8.70 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 a heated pool. It's located just 4.5 miles from the city center, too. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbia Columbia

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $232 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Columbia
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbia Columbia has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10, and offers a fitness center, breakfast, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and a free breakfast. The great rooms here start at $232 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 7055 Minstrel Way. Furthermore, it also offers pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, free parking, laundry facilities, and a heated pool, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 4.3 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.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Washington, Baltimore, Lancaster, Arlington, and Alexandria.

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


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

Columbia Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$212

Travelers to Columbia, Maryland 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 5 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $212. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Columbia.

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

  • 3-star hotels: $207
  • 2-star hotels: $232


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