The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Fort Walton Beach

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Fort Walton Beach

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

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

Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach

3-star Resort with prices starting at $249 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Beach

Located at 1299 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach has great rooms from $249 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.40 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 parking, child care, laundry services, a hot tub, and a game room at this relaxing hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


Hilton Garden Inn Ft Walton Beach

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $257 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Fort Walton Beach
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Hilton Garden Inn Ft Walton Beach which has nice rooms starting at $257. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1297 Miracle Strip Parkway SE. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, free parking, and laundry facilities which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.5 miles from the city center. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Courtyard by Marriott Fort Walton Beach-West Destin

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $159 (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.
  • Beach

We found Courtyard by Marriott Fort Walton Beach-West Destin to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $159. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 414 Santa Rosa Boulevard. You'll also find free parking, laundry facilities, air-conditioning, a coffee shop, and a 24-hour desk which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1 miles from the center of town. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, 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
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Ft Walton Beachfront

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $189 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Fort Walton Beach
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $189, Best Western Ft Walton Beachfront, at 380 Santa Rosa Boulevard provides an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, free parking, evening entertainment, and table tennis. It's located just 1.1 miles from the city center, too. 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
  • Free breakfast
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Four Points by Sheraton Destin - Fort Walton Beach

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $176 (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.
  • Beach

Four Points by Sheraton Destin - Fort Walton Beach has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $176 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 1325 Miracle Strip Parkway Hwy 98 East. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, golf, a hot tub, free parking, and kids meals, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.6 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice. 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
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Holiday Inn Express - Fort Walton Beach Central

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $137 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Holiday Inn Express - Fort Walton Beach Central is 8.80 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, laundry services, and city views. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $137, and it's located at 127 Miracle Strip Parkway SW. We also love the free parking, laundry facilities, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and a microwave which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.2 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hampton Inn & Suites Mary Esther-Fort Walton Beach Fl

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $129 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Fort Walton Beach
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A cool place is Hampton Inn & Suites Mary Esther-Fort Walton Beach Fl because it has great rooms that start at $129. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, parking, breakfast, and laundry services, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 301 Hollywood Boulevard. Only 2.4 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love golf, pet-friendly rooms, laundry facilities, a private pool, and a multi-lingual staff 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fort Walton Beach-West Destin

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $170 (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.
  • Beach

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fort Walton Beach-West Destin offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, parking, a free breakfast, and laundry facilities which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $170 (before taxes). It's located at 540 Santa Rosa Blvd and has earned a guest rating of 8.80/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a beauty salon, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, a microwave, and a refrigerator which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.6 miles from the city center. 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
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Candlewood Suites - Ft Walton Bch - Hurlburt Area

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $120 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Fort Walton Beach
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Located at 407 Miracle Strip Parkway, Candlewood Suites - Ft Walton Bch - Hurlburt Area has great rooms from $120 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, rooms with kitchens, pet-friendly rooms, and free parking. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry facilities, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, a microwave, and a refrigerator which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.2 miles from the center of town. Having a kitchen in the room is a great way to make meals and save money, too. 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
  • Kitchen
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


TownePlace Suites by Marriott Fort Walton Beach-Eglin AFB

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $199 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is TownePlace Suites by Marriott Fort Walton Beach-Eglin AFB which has nice rooms starting at $199. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, and a free breakfast, it also has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 843 Eglin Parkway. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers pet-friendly rooms, free parking, laundry facilities, a heated pool, and air-conditioning. It's located just 2.9 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Pensacola, Destin, Pensacola Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach.

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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Fort Walton Beach?

Fort Walton Beach Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$178

Travelers to Fort Walton Beach, Florida 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 15 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $178. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Fort Walton Beach.

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

  • 3-star hotels: $245
  • 2-star hotels: $145


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