The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Oakland

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Oakland

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

Waterfront Hotel a Joie De Vivre Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $228 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Family-Friendly
  • Pool

Located at 10 Washington Street, Waterfront Hotel a Joie De Vivre Hotel has great rooms from $228 (before taxes). It offers a pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.7 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and laundry facilities at this relaxing hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms


Holiday Inn Oakland Airport

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $157 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Oakland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Holiday Inn Oakland Airport which has nice rooms starting at $157. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 77 Hegenberger Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers parking, laundry services, laundry facilities, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 6.4 miles from the city center. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, 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
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Claremont Club & Spa A Fairmont Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $318 (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
  • Heated pool

We found The Claremont Club & Spa A Fairmont Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $318. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 41 Tunnel Road. You'll also find parking, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 4 miles from the center of town. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool
  • Kids' club


Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $205 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $205, Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel, at 1717 Embarcadero provides an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers breakfast, laundry services, golf, a free breakfast, and city views. It's located just 1.9 miles from the city center, too. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Executive Inn & Suites Oakland

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $173 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Oakland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Executive Inn & Suites Oakland has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and breakfast. The great rooms here start at $173 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 1755 Embarcadero. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, city views, a hot tub, and laundry facilities, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 2 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. 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
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Courtyard Oakland Airport

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $168 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

The great guest rating of Courtyard Oakland Airport is 8.00 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 $168, and it's located at 350 Hegenberger Road. We also love the laundry services, bowling, laundry facilities, a free airport shuttle, and family rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just 6.3 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
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Oakland Marriott City Center

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $207 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Oakland
  • Pool

A cool place is Oakland Marriott City Center because it has great rooms that start at $207. It has a pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1001 Broadway. Only 0.2 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love parking, hiking, child care, laundry services, and city views at this convenient hotel. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Courtyard Oakland Downtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $195 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Courtyard Oakland Downtown offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $195 (before taxes). It's located at 988 Broadway and has earned a guest rating of 8.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, kids meals, laundry facilities, a heated pool, and air-conditioning which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.2 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
  • Room service
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop


Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland - Airport

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $192 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Oakland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 66 Airport Access Road, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland - Airport has great rooms from $192 (before taxes). It offers a fitness center, parking, breakfast, laundry services, and golf. It has a terrific 8.53 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a free breakfast, a hot tub, laundry facilities, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 6.8 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Francisco, Napa, San Jose, Sacramento, and Palo Alto.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Oakland, make sure you also see Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Oakland, Best Hotels for One Week in Oakland, Best Hotels for One Night in Oakland, or Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Oakland.


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

Oakland Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$205

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Oakland, California. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Oakland, California based on data from 9 hotels is an affordable $205. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Oakland.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $318
  • 4-star hotels: $207
  • 3-star hotels: $188
  • 2-star hotels: $192


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