The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Portland

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to South Portland

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Portland ME

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $250 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Located at 363 Maine Mall Road, DoubleTree by Hilton Portland ME has great rooms from $250 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 8.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 4.9 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, free parking, and laundry facilities at this relaxing hotel. We love the convenience of room service, and it's really nice here. 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Courtyard by Marriott Portland Airport

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $359 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Portland
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Courtyard by Marriott Portland Airport which has nice rooms starting at $359. Offering a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, and an indoor pool, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 100 Southborough Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, a free airport shuttle, and air-conditioning which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 5.1 miles from the city center. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Merry Manor Inn

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $241 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

We found Best Western Merry Manor Inn to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $241. 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 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 700 Main Street. You'll also find parking, breakfast, laundry services, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 3.6 miles from the center of town. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool


Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $277 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $277, Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks, at 200 Sable Oaks Drive provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and child care. Its terrific guest rating is 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, and free parking. It's located just 4.9 miles from the city center, too. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Tru By Hilton Portland Airport Area Me

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $228 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Portland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Tru By Hilton Portland Airport Area Me has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10, and offers a fitness center, parking, breakfast, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. The great rooms here start at $228 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 369 Maine Mall Road. Furthermore, it also offers a game room, a pool table, an indoor play area, laundry facilities, and a free airport shuttle, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 4.9 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. 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
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Refrigerator


Hampton Inn Portland-Airport

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $256 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

The great guest rating of Hampton Inn Portland-Airport is 8.20 out of 10. This place has a fitness center, breakfast, laundry services, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $256, and it's located at 171 Philbrook Avenue. We also love the a hot tub, an indoor pool, free parking, laundry facilities, and air-conditioning which are great for visitors. And since it's just 4.8 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. We love relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice. 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
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Home2 Suites By Hilton Portland Airport

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $255 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Portland
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Home2 Suites By Hilton Portland Airport because it has great rooms that start at $255. It has a fitness center, breakfast, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 50 Maine Mall Road. Only 4.5 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, free parking, and laundry facilities at this convenient hotel. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Holiday Inn Express South Portland

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $309 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Pool

Holiday Inn Express South Portland offers a pool, room service, a fitness center, laundry services, and a free breakfast which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $309 (before taxes). It's located at 303 Sable Oaks Drive and has earned a guest rating of 8.30/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers pet-friendly rooms, free parking, laundry facilities, a free airport shuttle, and family rooms which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 4.9 miles from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, York, and Portsmouth.

For more terrific hotel ideas in South Portland, make sure you also see Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in South Portland, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in South Portland, Best Hotels for One Week in South Portland, or Best Hotels for One Night in South Portland.


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

South Portland Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$272

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to South Portland, Maine. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in South Portland, Maine based on data from 8 hotels is an affordable $272. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in South Portland.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $277
  • 3-star hotels: $279
  • 2-star hotels: $265


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