The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Antonio

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio, Texas

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

Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $222 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Heated pool

Located at 600 East Market Street, Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk has great rooms from $222 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.6 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, laundry services, city views, a game room, and laundry facilities at this relaxing hotel. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


View hotels on the map:

The Monarch San Antonio, Curio Collection by Hilton

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $288 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in San Antonio
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is The Monarch San Antonio, Curio Collection by Hilton which has nice rooms starting at $288. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.99 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 222 S Alamo Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, golf, city views, a spa, and laundry facilities which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.4 miles from the city center. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hotel Contessa - Suites on the Riverwalk

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $143 (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

We found Hotel Contessa - Suites on the Riverwalk to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $143. 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 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 306 West Market Street. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.2 miles from the center of town. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Courtyard by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $160 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San Antonio
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $160, Courtyard by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk, at 207 North Saint Mary's Street provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.20 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers hiking, child care, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 0.2 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk by IHG

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $175 (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.

Kimpton Santo San Antonio - Riverwalk by IHG has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $175 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 431 South Alamo Street. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.4 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Don't forget to spend some time at the terrific pool bar where you can unwind and relax.

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
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Omni La Mansion del Rio

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $188 (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.
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Omni La Mansion del Rio is 8.90 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $188, and it's located at 112 College Street. We also love the parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a spa which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.2 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The room service is especially nice after a long day.

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


Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $179 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San Antonio
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection because it has great rooms that start at $179. It has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 555 South Alamo Street. Only 0.5 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views at this convenient hotel. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too.

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
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator


Intercontinental Hotels San Antonio Riverwalk By IHG

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $170 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Intercontinental Hotels San Antonio Riverwalk By IHG offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $170 (before taxes). It's located at 111 East Pecan Street and has earned a guest rating of 8.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.3 miles from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Microwave
  • Breakfast in the room


Hyatt Place San Antonio Riverwalk

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $144 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in San Antonio
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 601 South Saint Mary's Street, Hyatt Place San Antonio Riverwalk has great rooms from $144 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find parking, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.3 miles from the center of town.

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


Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $416 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa which has nice rooms starting at $416. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a bar, parking, hiking, child care, and laundry services. It's located just 11.6 miles from the city center, too. Spending time at the water park is such a nice activity for kids and adults alike!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Antonio, Austin, Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, and San Marcos.

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


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

San Antonio Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$136

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to San Antonio, Texas. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in San Antonio, Texas based on data from 128 hotels is an affordable $136. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in San Antonio.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $374
  • 4-star hotels: $199
  • 3-star hotels: $119
  • 2-star hotels: $92


Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. On this website you can also find travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Share This Page

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.