The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Idaho

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Idaho

Idaho Idaho

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

Selkirk Lodge

Sandpoint, Idaho
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $91 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Idaho
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Road, Selkirk Lodge has great rooms from $91 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, skiing, skiing, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 9.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 290 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a restaurant, a bar, a bar, hiking, and hiking at this relaxing hotel. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Skiing
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Spa/Wellness
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


View hotels on the map:

Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley, Idaho
4-star Resort with prices starting at $389 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Sun Valley Resort which has nice rooms starting at $389. Offering an outdoor pool, skiing, a pool bar, room service, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1 Sun Valley Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, hiking, laundry services, and golf which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 55.8 miles from the city center. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Sandpoint Hotel & Suites Downtown

Sandpoint, Idaho
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $117 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

We found Sandpoint Hotel & Suites Downtown to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $117. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, skiing, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 415 Cedar Street. You'll also find a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 283 miles from the center of town. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. 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
  • Skiing
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hotel McCall

McCall, Idaho
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $237 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Idaho
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $237, Hotel McCall, at 1101 N 3rd St provides skiing, a restaurant, a bar, hiking, and golf. 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 city views, a game room, an indoor pool, free parking, and horse riding. It's located just 95 miles from the city center, too. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Infinity pool


Residence Inn by Marriott Boise Downtown/City Center

Boise, Idaho
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $212 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip

Residence Inn by Marriott Boise Downtown/City Center has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10, and offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. The great rooms here start at $212 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 400 South Capitol Boulevard. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a hot tub, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 114.7 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Tyrolean Lodge

Ketchum, Idaho
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $175 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Idaho

The great guest rating of Best Western Tyrolean Lodge is 8.80 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, skiing, a fitness center, a bar, and hiking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $175, and it's located at 260 Cottonwood Street. We also love the golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a game room, and free parking which are great for visitors. And since it's just 57.3 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Ketchum

Ketchum, Idaho
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $220 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Hotel Ketchum because it has great rooms that start at $220. It has an outdoor pool, skiing, a fitness center, hiking, and golf, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 600 North Main Street. Only 56.8 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a game room, free parking, and horse riding at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


The Riverside Hotel, BW Premier Collection

Boise, Idaho
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Idaho
  • Heated pool

The Riverside Hotel, BW Premier Collection offers an outdoor pool, skiing, a pool bar, room service, and a restaurant which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $178 (before taxes). It's located at 2900 West Chinden Boulevard and has earned a guest rating of 8.70/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, hiking, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 115.7 miles from the city center. We love an indoor pool because you can enjoy it any time of the year.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Teton Valley Resort

Victor, Idaho
4-star Resort with prices starting at $265 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 1208 Id-31, Teton Valley Resort has great rooms from $265 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, skiing, a restaurant, hiking, and rooms with kitchens. It has a terrific 9.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find rooms with kitchenettes, a hot tub, a game room, free parking, and horse riding which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 167.2 miles from the center of town. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Knob Hill Inn

Ketchum, Idaho
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $335 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Knob Hill Inn which has nice rooms starting at $335. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.50 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 960 North Main Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and a spa. It's located just 56.5 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool


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


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

Idaho Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$167

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Idaho. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Idaho based on data from 115 hotels is an affordable $167. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Idaho.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $225
  • 3-star hotels: $170
  • 2-star hotels: $152


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