The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Saint Petersburg

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Saint Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Florida, USA St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

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

Hollander Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $94 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Located at 421 4th Avenue North, Hollander Hotel has great rooms from $94 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.5 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a spa at this relaxing hotel. Don't miss the pool bar which offers drinks and a fun area to unwind. 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
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


View hotels on the map:

The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection

4-star Resort with prices starting at $386 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Saint Petersburg
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection which has nice rooms starting at $386. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 501 5th Avenue Northeast. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3 miles from the city center. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Birchwood

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $228 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly

We found The Birchwood to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $228. We loved that is has room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a bar, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 340 Beach Drive Northeast. You'll also find a bar, parking, parking, city views, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 2.9 miles from the center of town. The restaurant serves delicious food, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge


Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $118 (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

With terrific rooms from $118, Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, at 950 Lake Carillon Drive provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. 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 parking, child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub. It's located just 8.3 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool


Hampton Inn & Suites St. Petersburg/Downtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $163 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Saint Petersburg
  • Heated pool

Hampton Inn & Suites St. Petersburg/Downtown has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, parking, laundry services, and golf. The great rooms here start at $163 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 80 Beach Drive Northeast. Furthermore, it also offers pet-friendly rooms, city views, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 2.8 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.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Tru by Hilton St. Petersburg Downtown Central Ave

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $121 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

The great guest rating of Tru by Hilton St. Petersburg Downtown Central Ave is 8.50 out of 10. This place has a fitness center, a bar, parking, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $121, and it's located at 1650 Central Avenue. We also love the a game room, a pool table, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, and family rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just 1.4 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. 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
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $136 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Saint Petersburg
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

A cool place is Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown because it has great rooms that start at $136. It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1234 Central Avenue. Only 1.7 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love pet-friendly rooms, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and balconies at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

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


Crystal Bay Historic Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $115 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Crystal Bay Historic Hotel offers an outdoor pool, room service, laundry services, free parking, and laundry facilities which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $115 (before taxes). It's located at 7401 Central Avenue and has earned a guest rating of 9.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, a microwave, a refrigerator, and shuttle services which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.8 miles from the city center. You'll enjoy relaxing while having room service delivered. 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
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Mint House St Petersburg by Kasa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $102 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Saint Petersburg
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 77 11th Street North, Mint House St Petersburg by Kasa has great rooms from $102 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, parking, rooms with kitchens, pet-friendly rooms, and city views. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find bicycle rental, air-conditioning, a microwave, a refrigerator, and balconies which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.8 miles from the center of town. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time. 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
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Beach House - Treasure Island

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $119 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is The Beach House - Treasure Island which has nice rooms starting at $119. Offering scuba diving, snorkeling, rooms with kitchenettes, golf, and free parking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 12100 Gulf Boulevard. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers mini-golf, bicycle rental, family rooms, air-conditioning, and a microwave. It's located just 6.1 miles from the city center, too. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, 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
  • Snorkeling
More Great Amenities
  • Kitchenette
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and Saint Pete Beach.

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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$140

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Saint Petersburg, Florida. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Saint Petersburg, Florida based on data from 19 hotels is an affordable $140. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Saint Petersburg.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $139
  • 4-star hotels: $176
  • 3-star hotels: $136
  • 2-star hotels: $111


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