The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Dana Point

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Dana Point

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

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

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $913 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Located at 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach has great rooms from $913 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.5 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, hiking, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms at this relaxing hotel. The pool bar here is a fun spot to relax while you unwind on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa

4-star Resort with prices starting at $535 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Dana Point
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa which has nice rooms starting at $535. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 25135 Park Lantern. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, child care, laundry services, and golf which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.4 miles from the city center. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $190 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Beach

We found Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $190. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, parking, and breakfast, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 34280 Pacific Coast Highway. You'll also find laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, laundry facilities, and family rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.5 miles from the center of town. The restaurant serves delicious food, 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
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Blue Lantern Inn A Four Sisters Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $486 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Dana Point
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

With terrific rooms from $486, Blue Lantern Inn A Four Sisters Inn, at 34343 Street of the Blue Lantern provides a fitness center, breakfast, hiking, laundry services, and golf. Its terrific guest rating is 9.17 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a spa, and free parking. It's located just 0.6 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Riviera Beach & Shores Resorts By Diamond Resorts

3-star Resort with prices starting at $281 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

Riviera Beach & Shores Resorts By Diamond Resorts has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, parking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes. The great rooms here start at $281 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 34630 Pacific Coast Highway, Capistrano Beach. Furthermore, it also offers child care, a hot tub, a game room, a pool table, and table tennis, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.4 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time. 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
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Table tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Diego, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Carlsbad, and Long Beach.

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


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

Dana Point Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$481

Travelers to Dana Point, 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 5 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $481. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Dana Point.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $913
  • 4-star hotels: $535
  • 3-star hotels: $384
  • 2-star hotels: $190


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