The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in San Luis Obispo

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to San Luis Obispo

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

Hotel San Luis Obispo

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $407 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 877 Palm Street, Hotel San Luis Obispo has great rooms from $407 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 9.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.2 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love snorkeling, a bar, parking, hiking, and pet-friendly rooms at this relaxing hotel. You'll love relaxing in the hot tub at the end of the day, too.

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


View hotels on the map:

HOTEL CERRO, Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $390 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is HOTEL CERRO, Autograph Collection which has nice rooms starting at $390. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1125 Garden Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers parking, pet-friendly rooms, city views, a spa, and horse riding which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.3 miles from the city center. 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
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


Madonna Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $270 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San Luis Obispo
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

We found Madonna Inn to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $270. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 100 Madonna Road. You'll also find hiking, laundry services, a hot tub, a spa, and evening entertainment which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.4 miles from the center of town. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Apple Farm

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $138 (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

With terrific rooms from $138, Apple Farm, at 2015 Monterey Street provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, parking, laundry services, and a hot tub. 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 bicycle rental, family rooms, a heated pool, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk. It's located just 0.8 miles from the city center, too. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. 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
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


The Wayfarer San Luis Obispo, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $156 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in San Luis Obispo
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

The Wayfarer San Luis Obispo, Tapestry Collection by Hilton has a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. The great rooms here start at $156 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 1800 Monterey Street. Furthermore, it also offers laundry services, a game room, a spa, laundry facilities, and a heated pool, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.6 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind. 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
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Luis Obispo

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $197 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Luis Obispo is 9.10 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 $197, and it's located at 701 Froom Ranch Way. We also love the a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and a microwave which are great for visitors. And since it's just 2 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Microwave


Residence Inn by Marriott San Luis Obispo

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $197 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to San Luis Obispo
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Residence Inn by Marriott San Luis Obispo because it has great rooms that start at $197. It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 701 Froom Ranch Way. Only 2 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love rooms with kitchens, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, family rooms, and air-conditioning at this convenient hotel. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Granada Hotel & Bistro

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $278 (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.
  • Family-Friendly

Granada Hotel & Bistro offers room service, a restaurant, a bar, parking, and hiking which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $278 (before taxes). It's located at 1126 Morro Street and has earned a guest rating of 8.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, city views, horse riding, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.2 miles from the city center. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Breakfast in the room


Quality Suites Downtown San Luis Obispo

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $170 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 1631 Monterey Street, Quality Suites Downtown San Luis Obispo has great rooms from $170 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry services, golf, city views, a hot tub, and free parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.5 miles from the center of town. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money. 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
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Luis Obispo Downtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $165 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to San Luis Obispo
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Luis Obispo Downtown which has nice rooms starting at $165. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1845 Monterey Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, hiking, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub. It's located just 0.6 miles from the city center, 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
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Cambria.

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


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

San Luis Obispo Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$192

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo, California based on data from 19 hotels is an affordable $192. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in San Luis Obispo.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $316
  • 3-star hotels: $176
  • 2-star hotels: $91


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.