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The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Raleigh

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina

If it's your first trip to Raleigh, North Carolina 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 Raleigh. 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 Raleigh. 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh for your first trip!

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

Aloft Raleigh

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $207 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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Located at 2100 Hillsborough St, Aloft Raleigh has great rooms from $207 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.7 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a game room at this relaxing hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

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
View Prices and Reviews


DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree Valley

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $136 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Raleigh
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
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A great place to stay is DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree Valley which has nice rooms starting at $136. 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 4100 Glenwood Ave. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, free parking, kids meals, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 4.8 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
View Prices and Reviews


Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Downtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $293 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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We found Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Downtown to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $293. 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 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 616 South Salisbury Street. You'll also find rooms with kitchens, laundry services, a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.1 miles from the center of town. Don't forget that there's a kitchen in the room to cook your meals, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Arena

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $126 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Raleigh
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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With terrific rooms from $126, Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Arena, at 1200 Hurricane Alley Wayat Trinity Rd. Provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and golf. Its terrific guest rating is 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers kids meals, family rooms, a multi-lingual staff, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk. It's located just 5.2 miles from the city center, too. 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


The StateView Hotel Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
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The StateView Hotel Autograph Collection has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and free parking. The great rooms here start at $178 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 2451 Alumni Drive. Furthermore, it also offers kids meals, a heated pool, a kid-friendly atmosphere, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 2.3 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Kid-friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Saltwater pool
View Prices and Reviews


Courtyard Raleigh Midtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $139 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Raleigh
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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The great guest rating of Courtyard Raleigh Midtown is 8.70 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $139, and it's located at 1041 Wake Towne Drive. We also love the pet-friendly rooms, free parking, laundry facilities, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning which are great for visitors. And since it's just 3.7 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $172 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool
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A cool place is Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley because it has great rooms that start at $172. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 4500 Marriott Drive. Only 5.4 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, free parking, kids meals, and car rentals at this convenient hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
View Prices and Reviews


Holiday Inn Raleigh North - Capital Boulevard

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $129 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
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Holiday Inn Raleigh North - Capital Boulevard offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $129 (before taxes). It's located at 2805 Highwoods Blvd and has earned a guest rating of 8.20/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, free parking, laundry facilities, a multi-lingual staff, and air-conditioning which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.8 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh/Cary I-40 PNC Arena

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $143 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Raleigh
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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Located at 111 Hampton Woods Lane, Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh/Cary I-40 PNC Arena has great rooms from $143 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast. It has a terrific 9.19 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, and laundry facilities which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 6.3 miles from the center of town. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient. 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
  • Breakfast included
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
View Prices on Kayak
See Location

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A great place to stay is Residence Inn by Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley which has nice rooms starting at $178. Offering an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 2200 Summit Park Lane. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and a free breakfast. It's located just 4.8 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Durham, Fayetteville, Chapel Hill, and Morrisville.

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


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

Raleigh Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$154

After analyzing 65 first time trip hotels in Raleigh, North Carolina, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $154. 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 Raleigh.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $445
  • 4-star hotels: $194
  • 3-star hotels: $155
  • 2-star hotels: $133


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