The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Carolina

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to South Carolina

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

If it's your first trip to South 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 South Carolina. 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 South Carolina. 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina for your first trip!

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

Royale Palms Condominiums

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $134 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

Located at 10000 Beach Club Drive, Royale Palms Condominiums has great rooms from $134 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 128.6 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, and rooms with kitchens at this relaxing hotel. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered. 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
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Market Pavilion Hotel

Charleston, South Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $348 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Carolina
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Market Pavilion Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $348. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 225 East Bay Street. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, breakfast, child care, and laundry services which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 104.5 miles from the city center. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental


Zero George Street

Charleston, South Carolina
Inn with prices starting at $414 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

We found Zero George Street to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $414. 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 0 George Street. You'll also find breakfast, child care, laundry services, a free breakfast, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 104.1 miles from the center of town. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Luxury


Sheraton Broadway Plantation Resort Villas

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
3-star Resort with prices starting at $115 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Carolina
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

With terrific rooms from $115, Sheraton Broadway Plantation Resort Villas, at 3301 Robert M. Grissom Parkway provides an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and outdoor tennis. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a hot tub, and a game room. It's located just 123.7 miles from the city center, too. We love relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice. 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
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Fitness room
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Marina Inn at Grande Dunes

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $150 (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.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Marina Inn at Grande Dunes has a great guest rating of 8.80 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 $150 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 8121 Amalfi Place. Furthermore, it also offers scuba diving, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 126.7 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in. 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
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


Avista Resort

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $133 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Carolina
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Avista Resort is 8.50 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 $133, and it's located at 300 N. Ocean Blvd. We also love the a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, city views, and a hot tub which are great for visitors. And since it's just 134.3 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient. 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
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Marriott's SurfWatch

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
3-star Resort with prices starting at $659 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A cool place is Marriott's SurfWatch because it has great rooms that start at $659. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a fitness center, a bar, and rooms with kitchens, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 10 Fifth Street. Only 125.8 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love child care, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and a game room at this convenient hotel. The kitchen in the room is great, because you can cook your own meals to save time and money.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Fitness room
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Wild Dunes Resort By Destination Hotels

Isle of Palms, South Carolina
4-star Resort with prices starting at $382 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Wild Dunes Resort By Destination Hotels offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $382 (before taxes). It's located at 5757 Palm Boulevard and has earned a guest rating of 8.30/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers child care, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and a spa and wellness center which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 110.1 miles from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Playground


Sonesta Resort - Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
4-star Resort with prices starting at $323 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Carolina
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Located at 130 Shipyard Drive, Sonesta Resort - Hilton Head Island has great rooms from $323 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find parking, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 128.5 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Kids' club


The Willcox

Aiken, South Carolina
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $262 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is The Willcox which has nice rooms starting at $262. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 100 Colleton Avenue. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers breakfast, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf. It's located just 51.5 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Columbia, Aiken, and Sumter.

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


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

South Carolina Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$178

After analyzing 363 first time trip hotels in South Carolina, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $178. 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 South Carolina.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $472
  • 4-star hotels: $281
  • 3-star hotels: $185
  • 2-star hotels: $132


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