The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Lakeland

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Lakeland

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

Courtyard Lakeland

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $124 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Lakeland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

Located at 3725 Harden Blvd, Courtyard Lakeland has great rooms from $124 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 3.2 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love free parking, laundry facilities, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and a microwave at this relaxing hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hyatt Place Lakeland Center

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $127 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Hyatt Place Lakeland Center which has nice rooms starting at $127. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast, it also has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 525 West Orange Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, golf, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, and free parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.8 miles from the city center. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Hampton Inn & Suites Lakeland-South Polk Parkway

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $133 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Lakeland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Hampton Inn & Suites Lakeland-South Polk Parkway to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $133. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and breakfast, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 3630 Lakeside Village Blvd. You'll also find rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, golf, and a free breakfast which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 3.2 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
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Comfort Inn & Suites Lakeland

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $129 (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.

With terrific rooms from $129, Comfort Inn & Suites Lakeland, at 3520 North Highway 98 provides an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, laundry services, and a free breakfast. Its terrific guest rating is 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning. It's located just 3.6 miles from the city center, too. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lakeland North - I-4

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $122 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Lakeland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Heated pool

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lakeland North - I-4 has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, and laundry services. The great rooms here start at $122 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 4500 Lakeland Park Drive. Furthermore, it also offers a free breakfast, a hot tub, bowling, free parking, and car rentals, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 4.1 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lakeland South

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $122 (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.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lakeland South is 9.20 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, laundry services, and golf. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $122, and it's located at 3405 South Florida Ave. We also love the a free breakfast, free parking, laundry facilities, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2.6 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
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hampton Inn Lakeland

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $120 (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.

A cool place is Hampton Inn Lakeland because it has great rooms that start at $120. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, breakfast, and laundry services, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 4420 North Socrum Loop Road. Only 4.1 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, laundry facilities, and air-conditioning at this convenient hotel. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Travelodge by Wyndham Lakeland

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $80 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Lakeland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

Travelodge by Wyndham Lakeland offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, laundry services, and golf which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $80 (before taxes). It's located at 3425 Hwy 98 North and has earned a guest rating of 8.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.5 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Home2 Suites By Hilton Lakeland

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $160 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 3610 Lakeside Village Boulevard, Home2 Suites By Hilton Lakeland has great rooms from $160 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, breakfast, rooms with kitchenettes, and a free breakfast. It has a terrific 8.90 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find pet-friendly rooms, free parking, laundry facilities, a heated pool, and air-conditioning which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 3.2 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Residence Inn by Marriott Lakeland

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $147 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Lakeland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Residence Inn by Marriott Lakeland which has nice rooms starting at $147. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a kitchen, breakfast, and rooms with kitchens, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 3701 Harden Blvd. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, and laundry facilities. It's located just 3.2 miles from the city center, too. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchen/Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Saint Pete Beach, and St. Petersburg.

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


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

Lakeland Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$128

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Lakeland, Florida. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Lakeland, Florida based on data from 13 hotels is an affordable $128. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Lakeland.

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

  • 3-star hotels: $136
  • 2-star hotels: $99


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