The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Goleta

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Goleta

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

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $1082 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Beach

Located at 8301 Hollister Avenue, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara has great rooms from $1082 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling. It has a terrific 8.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 5.3 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, outdoor tennis, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and golf at this relaxing hotel. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $376 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Goleta
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta which has nice rooms starting at $376. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 6878 Hollister Avenue. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, free parking, laundry facilities, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.4 miles from the city center. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus. 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
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $376 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

We found Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $376. 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 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 401 Storke Road. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 2.6 miles from the center of town. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one. 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
  • Parking
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Plus South Coast Inn

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $339 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Goleta
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $339, Best Western Plus South Coast Inn, at 5620 Calle Real provides an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, a kid-friendly buffet, and breakfast. Its terrific guest rating is 8.36 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, free parking, and table tennis. It's located just 0.6 miles from the city center, too. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, 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
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hampton Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $379 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

Hampton Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, parking, breakfast, and laundry services. The great rooms here start at $379 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 5665 Hollister Ave. Furthermore, it also offers golf, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and laundry facilities, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.3 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Santa Barbara, Solvang, Camarillo, Oxnard, and Buellton.

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

Goleta Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$510

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Goleta, California. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Goleta, California based on data from 5 hotels is an affordable $510. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Goleta.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $1082
  • 3-star hotels: $377
  • 2-star hotels: $339


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