The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Palo Alto

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Palo Alto

If it's your first trip to Palo Alto, California 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 Palo Alto. 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 Palo Alto. 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto for your first trip!

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

The Clement Hotel

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $925 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 711 El Camino Real, The Clement Hotel has great rooms from $925 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.1 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love hiking, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and city views at this relaxing hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


View hotels on the map:

El Prado

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $313 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Palo Alto
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is El Prado which has nice rooms starting at $313. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 520 Cowper Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and laundry facilities which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1 miles from the city center. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

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


Hotel Keen

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $141 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly

We found Hotel Keen to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $141. We loved that is has a bar, a bar, parking, parking, and laundry services, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 425 High Street. You'll also find laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, pet-friendly rooms, laundry facilities, and laundry facilities which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.2 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental


Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $531 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Palo Alto
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $531, Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto, at 2050 University Avenue provides an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a spa. It's located just 1.3 miles from the city center, too. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


The Westin Palo Alto

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $274 (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.
  • Heated pool

The Westin Palo Alto has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $274 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 675 El Camino Real. Furthermore, it also offers parking, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.1 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

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


Hotel Citrine, Palo Alto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $175 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Hotel Citrine, Palo Alto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is 8.90 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 $175, and it's located at 750 San Antonio Road. We also love the laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, evening entertainment, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2.8 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
  • Pets allowed
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $275 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Palo Alto
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto because it has great rooms that start at $275. It has a restaurant, a bar, parking, golf, and pet-friendly rooms, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 488 University Avenue. Only 1 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love bicycle rental, family rooms, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and a refrigerator at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Dinah's Garden Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $162 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Dinah's Garden Hotel offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and rooms with kitchens which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $162 (before taxes). It's located at 4261 El Camino Real and has earned a guest rating of 8.70/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a hot tub, free parking, and laundry facilities which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.7 miles from the city center. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Creekside Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $154 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Palo Alto
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Located at 3400 El Camino Real, Creekside Inn has great rooms from $154 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 8.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry services, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, a heated pool, and air-conditioning which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.6 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Homewood Suites by Hilton Palo Alto

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $160 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Homewood Suites by Hilton Palo Alto which has nice rooms starting at $160. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, parking, rooms with kitchens, and laundry services, it also has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 4329 El Camino Real. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a game room, and an indoor play area. It's located just 2.8 miles from the city center, too. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time. 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
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Francisco, San Jose, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, and Santa Cruz.

For more terrific hotel ideas in San Francisco, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco, Best Luxury Hotels in San Francisco, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Francisco, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in San Francisco, Best Hotels for One Week in San Francisco, Best Hotels for One Night in San Francisco, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in San Francisco, Best Business Hotels in San Francisco, or Best Party Hotels in San Francisco.


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

Palo Alto Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$240

After analyzing 17 first time trip hotels in Palo Alto, California, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $240. 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 Palo Alto.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $728
  • 4-star hotels: $287
  • 3-star hotels: $148
  • 2-star hotels: $144


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