The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Minnesota

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Minnesota

If it's your first trip to Minnesota 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 Minnesota. 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 Minnesota. 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota for your first trip!

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

Hewing Hotel

Minneapolis, Minnesota
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $244 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Minnesota
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 300 Washington Avenue, Hewing Hotel has great rooms from $244 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, 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 99.4 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a hot tub at this relaxing hotel. We love relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool


Maddens On Gull Lake

Brainerd, Minnesota
4-star Resort with prices starting at $161 (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.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Maddens On Gull Lake which has nice rooms starting at $161. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, parking, and outdoor tennis, it also has a great guest rating of 9.24 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 11266 Pine Beach Peninsula. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers child care, a game room, a spa, a child pool, and horse riding which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 11.7 miles from the city center. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too. 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
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop


The Plaza Hotel & Suites Winona

Winona, Minnesota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $145 (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.

We found The Plaza Hotel & Suites Winona to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $145. We loved that is has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.99 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 1025 Highway 61 East. You'll also find laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, a game room, and a child pool which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 196.7 miles from the center of town. The restaurant serves delicious food, 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Free breakfast
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing


InterContinental Minneapolis - St Paul Airport

Minneapolis, Minnesota
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $189 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Minnesota
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $189, InterContinental Minneapolis - St Paul Airport, at 5005 Glumack Drive provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.90 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, a game room, and a spa. It's located just 107.3 miles from the city center, too. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Hotel Minneapolis Autograph Collection

Minneapolis, Minnesota
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $219 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The Hotel Minneapolis Autograph Collection has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10, and offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. The great rooms here start at $219 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 215 Fourth Street South. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, cooking classes, and a pool table, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 99.9 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown

Minneapolis, Minnesota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $159 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Minnesota
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Courtyard by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown is 8.50 out of 10. This place has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $159, and it's located at 1500 Washington Ave. South. We also love the child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and an indoor pool which are great for visitors. And since it's just 100.7 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We love an indoor pool because you can enjoy it any time of the year. 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave


Hotel Indigo Rochester Downtown

Rochester, Minnesota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $117 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

A cool place is Hotel Indigo Rochester Downtown because it has great rooms that start at $117. It has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 220 South Broadway. Only 176.9 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love hiking, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and city views 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Best Western Premier Nicollet Inn

Burnsville, Minnesota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $140 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Minnesota
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Best Western Premier Nicollet Inn offers skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $140 (before taxes). It's located at 14201 Nicollet Ave, South and has earned a guest rating of 8.30/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a hot tub which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 114.1 miles from the city center. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Westin Edina Galleria

Edina, Minnesota
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $307 (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 3201 Galleria, Westin Edina Galleria has great rooms from $307 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find pet-friendly rooms, city views, a hot tub, an indoor pool, and free parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 104.9 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Hilton Minneapolis

Minneapolis, Minnesota
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $190 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Hilton Minneapolis which has nice rooms starting at $190. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1001 Marquette Avenue South. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and an indoor pool. It's located just 100.1 miles from the city center, too. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Also, you might be interested in the nearby first time trip hotels in St. Cloud and Baxter.

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


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

Minnesota Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$162

After analyzing 252 first time trip hotels in Minnesota, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $162. 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 Minnesota.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $209
  • 3-star hotels: $167
  • 2-star hotels: $143


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