The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Connecticut

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Connecticut

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

The Farmington Inn

Farmington, Connecticut
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $180 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Connecticut
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 827 Farmington Avenue, The Farmington Inn has great rooms from $180 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast. It has a terrific 8.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 9.2 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a spa and wellness center, free parking, and a tour desk at this relaxing hotel. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


The Whaler's Inn

Mystic, Connecticut
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $387 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is The Whaler's Inn which has nice rooms starting at $387. Offering a restaurant, a bar, breakfast, free parking, and family rooms, it also has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 20 East Main Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a multi-lingual staff, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, a refrigerator, and wedding services which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 42.1 miles from the city center. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Norwalk Inn and Conference Center

Norwalk, Connecticut
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $123 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Connecticut
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

We found Norwalk Inn and Conference Center to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $123. 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 8.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 99 East Ave. You'll also find rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, and free parking which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 54.1 miles from the center of town. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too. 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
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Delamar Greenwich Harbor

Greenwich, Connecticut
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $581 (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

With terrific rooms from $581, Delamar Greenwich Harbor, at 500 Steamboat Road provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers hiking, child care, laundry services, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 66.9 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental


HYATT House Shelton

Shelton, Connecticut
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $172 (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.

HYATT House Shelton has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10, and offers a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, breakfast, and rooms with kitchenettes. The great rooms here start at $172 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 830 Bridgeport Ave. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and an indoor pool, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 36.5 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. 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
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Residence Inn by Marriott Stamford Downtown

Stamford, Connecticut
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $298 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Connecticut
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Residence Inn by Marriott Stamford Downtown is 9.40 out of 10. This place has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $298, and it's located at 25 Atlantic Street. We also love the a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services which are great for visitors. And since it's just 62 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Having an indoor pool means that you can swim and have fun any time of the year.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


New Haven Hotel

New Haven, Connecticut
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $207 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

A cool place is New Haven Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $207. It has a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and breakfast, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.34 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 229 George Street. Only 28.5 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, a game room, and laundry facilities at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hilton Mystic

Mystic, Connecticut
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $223 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Connecticut
  • Heated pool

Hilton Mystic offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $223 (before taxes). It's located at 20 Coogan Boulevard and has earned a guest rating of 8.20/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers city views, an indoor pool, free parking, kids meals, and evening entertainment which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 42.1 miles from the city center. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


The Bevin House B&B

East Hampton, Connecticut
Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $199 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 26 Barton Hill Rd, The Bevin House B&B has great rooms from $199 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a casino, breakfast, hiking, and a free breakfast. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a game room, free parking, bicycle rental, family rooms, and a heated pool which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 10.4 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Refrigerator


Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale

New Haven, Connecticut
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $221 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Connecticut
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale which has nice rooms starting at $221. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 155 Temple Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and a multi-lingual staff. It's located just 28.4 miles from the city center, too.

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


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Montauk, Danbury, Lenox, Springfield, and Sturbridge.

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


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

Connecticut Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$204

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Connecticut. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Connecticut based on data from 69 hotels is an affordable $204. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Connecticut.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $257
  • 3-star hotels: $210
  • 2-star hotels: $168


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