The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in North Carolina

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to North Carolina

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

Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $348 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in North Carolina
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 910 Main Street, The Esmeralda Inn and Restaurant has great rooms from $348 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a bar, hiking, and mountain views. It has a terrific 9.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 127.5 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, golf, cooking classes, and a hot tub at this relaxing hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate

Asheville, North Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $253 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate which has nice rooms starting at $253. Offering an outdoor pool, skiing, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.23 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 207 Dairy Rd. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, hiking, child care, a winery, and a hot tub which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 145.3 miles from the city center. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


The Ballantyne a Luxury Collection Hotel Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $289 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to North Carolina
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found The Ballantyne a Luxury Collection Hotel Charlotte to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $289. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway. You'll also find a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 56.8 miles from the center of town. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Aloft - Asheville Downtown

Asheville, North Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $211 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $211, Aloft - Asheville Downtown, at 51 Biltmore Avenue provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.80 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers mountain views, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a pool table. It's located just 143.5 miles from the city center, too. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Hilton Charlotte Center City

Charlotte, North Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $191 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Hilton Charlotte Center City 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 $191 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 222 East Third Street. Furthermore, it also offers child care, laundry services, city views, car rentals, and laundry facilities, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 51.2 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Aloft Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $207 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to North Carolina
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Aloft Raleigh is 8.70 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $207, and it's located at 2100 Hillsborough St. We also love the laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a game room which are great for visitors. And since it's just 77.6 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Princess Anne Boutique Hotel & Restaurant

Asheville, North Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $167 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Princess Anne Boutique Hotel & Restaurant because it has great rooms that start at $167. It has skiing, room service, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 301 East Chestnut Street. Only 143.2 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love hiking, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, golf, and a free breakfast at this convenient hotel. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Inn On Biltmore Estate

Asheville, North Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $407 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in North Carolina
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

The Inn On Biltmore Estate offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $407 (before taxes). It's located at 1 Approach Road and has earned a guest rating of 9.30/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, child care, and laundry services which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 145.1 miles from the city center. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Proximity Hotel

Greensboro, North Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $340 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 704 Green Valley Road, Proximity Hotel has great rooms from $340 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 41.9 miles from the center of town. The water slides are especially fun!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Durham, North Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $248 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to North Carolina
  • 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 Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club which has nice rooms starting at $248. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and child care, it also has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 3001 Cameron Blvd.. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and a game room. It's located just 68.2 miles from the city center, too. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Concord, High Point, and Burlington.

For more terrific hotel ideas in North Carolina, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in North Carolina, Best Beach Hotels in North Carolina, Best Cheap Hotels in North Carolina, Best Luxury Hotels in North Carolina, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in North Carolina, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in North Carolina, Best Hotels for One Week in North Carolina, Best Hotels for One Night in North Carolina, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in North Carolina, Best Adults Only Hotels in North Carolina, Best Party Hotels in North Carolina, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in North Carolina, Best Hotels for Skiing in North Carolina, or Best Business Hotels in North Carolina.


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

North Carolina Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$160

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to North Carolina. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in North Carolina based on data from 613 hotels is an affordable $160. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in North Carolina.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $513
  • 4-star hotels: $252
  • 3-star hotels: $161
  • 2-star hotels: $140


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