The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Diego

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to San Diego

Balboa Park, San Diego Balboa Park, San Diego

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to San Diego, California? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to San Diego, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in San Diego to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in San Diego, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting San Diego for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in San Diego for first time visitors.

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

Best Western PLUS Island Palms Hotel & Marina

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $171 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 2051 Shelter Island Drive, Best Western PLUS Island Palms Hotel & Marina has great rooms from $171 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 3.9 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, laundry services, a hot tub, a spa and wellness center, and a spa at this relaxing hotel. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


InterContinental San Diego

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $288 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is InterContinental San Diego which has nice rooms starting at $288. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 901 Bayfront Court. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.8 miles from the city center. We love a fun pool bar, and this one is a nice spot to chill and relax by the pool.

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


Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $281 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $281. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 333 West Harbor Drive. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and child care which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.7 miles from the center of town. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Humphreys Half Moon Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $189 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

With terrific rooms from $189, Humphreys Half Moon Inn, at 2303 Shelter Island Dr provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and rooms with kitchens. Its terrific guest rating is 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, a hot tub, table tennis, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental. It's located just 3.9 miles from the city center, too. Don't forget that there's a kitchen in the room to cook your meals, 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
  • Kitchen
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Bay Club Hotel and Marina

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.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Bay Club Hotel and Marina has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $168 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 2131 Shelter Island Drive. Furthermore, it also offers parking, laundry services, city views, a hot tub, and a spa, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 3.9 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too. 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $323 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in San Diego

The great guest rating of Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is 8.40 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $323, and it's located at 9700 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla. We also love the a bar, parking, hiking, laundry services, and golf which are great for visitors. And since it's just 12.8 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
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


HYATT REGENCY LA JOLLA AT AVENTINE

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $241 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

A cool place is HYATT REGENCY LA JOLLA AT AVENTINE because it has great rooms that start at $241. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 3777 La Jolla Village Drive. Only 11.4 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views at this convenient hotel.

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


Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Del Mar

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $159 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San Diego
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Del Mar offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $159 (before taxes). It's located at 3939 Ocean Bluff Avenue and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 14.5 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
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa

4-star Resort with prices starting at $403 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Heated pool

Located at 2000 Second Street, Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa has great rooms from $403 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, parking, a kid-friendly buffet, and rooms with kitchens which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.5 miles from the center of town. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hotel Indigo San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $218 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Hotel Indigo San Diego - Gaslamp Quarter which has nice rooms starting at $218. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 509 9th Avenue. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers pet-friendly rooms, city views, kids meals, car rentals, and family rooms. It's located just 0.3 miles from the city center, too.

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


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Carlsbad, Tijuana, San Clemente, and Oceanside.

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


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

San Diego Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$212

Travelers to San Diego, California will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 116 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $212. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in San Diego.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $413
  • 4-star hotels: $267
  • 3-star hotels: $199
  • 2-star hotels: $147


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