The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Hilton Head Island

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

If it's your first trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Hilton Head Island. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Hilton Head Island. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Hilton Head Island for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Hilton Head Island beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Hilton Head Island for your first trip!

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

Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Oak Resort Hilton Head

3-star Resort with prices starting at $427 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 41 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Oak Resort Hilton Head has great rooms from $427 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 5.4 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, golf, and an indoor play area at this relaxing hotel. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


View hotels on the map:

Marriott's Surfwatch

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $608 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Hilton Head Island
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Marriott's Surfwatch which has nice rooms starting at $608. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.99 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 10 Surfwatch Way. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers rooms with kitchens, child care, laundry services, a hot tub, and a child pool which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.4 miles from the city center. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

4-star Resort with prices starting at $273 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

We found Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $273. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, 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 130 Shipyard Drive. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 4.4 miles from the center of town. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. 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
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Coral Reef Resort

3-star Resort with prices starting at $213 (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.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $213, Coral Reef Resort, at 66 Pope Avenue (Check-In Only) provides an outdoor pool, a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, and hiking. Its terrific guest rating is 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers rooms with kitchens, golf, a hot tub, a game room, and free parking. It's located just 4.6 miles from the city center, too. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in. 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
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


DoubleTree by Hilton Hilton Head Island

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $193 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Hilton Head Island
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hilton Head Island has a great guest rating of 8.10 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $193 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 36 South Forest Beach Drive. Furthermore, it also offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, free parking, and horse riding, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 5.3 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The restaurant serves delicious food, too. 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
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Inn & Club at Harbour Town

4-star Resort with prices starting at $482 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of The Inn & Club at Harbour Town is 9.00 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $482, and it's located at 7 Lighthouse Lane. We also love the golf, a hot tub, a child pool, free parking, and horse riding which are great for visitors. And since it's just 6.4 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis


Island Links Resort by Palmera

3-star Resort with prices starting at $210 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Hilton Head Island
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Island Links Resort by Palmera because it has great rooms that start at $210. It has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a fitness center, a bar, and rooms with kitchens, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1 Coggins Point Road. Only 3.4 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love rooms with kitchenettes, golf, a hot tub, a game room, and a child pool at this convenient hotel. We always love having a pool, and the one here is really nice. 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
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


Hilton Beachfront Resort and Spa Hilton Head Island

4-star Resort with prices starting at $272 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

Hilton Beachfront Resort and Spa Hilton Head Island offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $272 (before taxes). It's located at 1 Hotel Circle and has earned a guest rating of 8.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, and a hot tub which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 4 miles from the city center. Having an indoor pool means that you can swim and have fun any time of the year. 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
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Marriott's Grande Ocean, A Marriott Vacation Club Resort

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $697 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Hilton Head Island
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 51 South Forest Beach Drive, Marriott's Grande Ocean, A Marriott Vacation Club Resort has great rooms from $697 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.90 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find parking, rooms with kitchens, child care, laundry services, and golf which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 5.5 miles from the center of town. We always love being able to cook meals in a hotel room, and the kitchen here was a nice touch.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $399 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort which has nice rooms starting at $399. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 23 Ocean Lane. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and golf. It's located just 4.1 miles from the city center, too. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Kids' club


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Savannah, Charleston, Hilton Head Island, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant.

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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$284

After analyzing 31 first time trip hotels in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $284. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Hilton Head Island.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $337
  • 3-star hotels: $272
  • 2-star hotels: $167


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