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 $606 (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.
  • Heated pool

Located at 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach has great rooms from $606 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.00 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 snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes 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
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


View hotels on the map:

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $1138 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Dana Point
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel which has nice rooms starting at $1138. 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 1 Ritz Carlton Dr. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.4 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
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Blue Lantern Inn, A Four Sisters Inn

Inn with prices starting at $329 (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.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Blue Lantern Inn, A Four Sisters Inn to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $329. We loved that is has a fitness center, snorkeling, hiking, laundry services, and golf, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 34343 Street of The Blue Lantern. You'll also find a hot tub, free parking, bicycle rental, a tour desk, and air-conditioning which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.5 miles from the center of town. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, 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
  • Snorkeling
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $141 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Dana Point
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

With terrific rooms from $141, Best Western Plus Marina Shores Hotel, at 34280 Pacific Coast Highway provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, parking, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms. 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 laundry facilities, family rooms, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and a microwave. It's located just 0.5 miles from the city center, too. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. 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
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Plus Dana Point Inn-by-the-Sea

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $152 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

Best Western Plus Dana Point Inn-by-the-Sea has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10, and offers snorkeling, hiking, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub. The great rooms here start at $152 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 34744 Pacific Coast Highway. Furthermore, it also offers free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, family rooms, and air-conditioning, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.7 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. 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
  • Snorkeling
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Diego, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Tijuana, and Santa Monica.

For more terrific hotel ideas in San Diego, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Diego, Best Luxury Hotels in San Diego, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in San Diego, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Diego, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in San Diego, Best Hotels for One Week in San Diego, Best Hotels for One Night in San Diego, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in San Diego, Best Party Hotels in San Diego, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in San Diego, or Best Business Hotels in San Diego.


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

Dana Point Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$473

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 $473. 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: $872
  • 4-star hotels: $329
  • 3-star hotels: $141
  • 2-star hotels: $152


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