The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Tampa

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Tampa

Tampa, Florida Tampa, Florida

If it's your first trip to Tampa, Florida 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 Tampa. 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 Tampa. 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 Tampa 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 Tampa 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 Tampa for your first trip!

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

Tampa Marriott Water Street

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

Located at 700 South Florida Avenue, Tampa Marriott Water Street has great rooms from $288 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.5 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, and parking at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $197 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $197. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 4200 Jim Walter Blvd. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, laundry services, a hot tub, and bowling which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 3.9 miles from the city center. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Westshore Grand A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Tampa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $150 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Tampa
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

We found The Westshore Grand A Tribute Portfolio Hotel Tampa to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $150. 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 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 4860 W Kennedy Blvd. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, laundry facilities, and family rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 4.1 miles from the center of town. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $221 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $221, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, at 2900 Bayport Drive provides an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. 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 a bar, parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services. It's located just 5.6 miles from the city center, too. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $275 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Tampa
  • Family-Friendly

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant. The great rooms here start at $275 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 5223 Orient Road. Furthermore, it also offers a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a spa and wellness center, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 6.1 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Don't miss the pool bar which offers drinks and a fun area to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


Tampa Marriott Westshore

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $146 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

The great guest rating of Tampa Marriott Westshore is 8.40 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 $146, and it's located at 1001 N Westshore Blvd. We also love the laundry services, golf, an indoor pool, free parking, and kids meals which are great for visitors. And since it's just 4 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint! 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
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool


Le Meridien Tampa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $165 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Tampa
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Le Meridien Tampa because it has great rooms that start at $165. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 601 North Florida Avenue. Only 0.3 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, evening entertainment, and laundry facilities at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Epicurean Hotel Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $254 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Epicurean Hotel Autograph Collection offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $254 (before taxes). It's located at 1207 South Howard Avenue and has earned a guest rating of 9.20/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and a spa and wellness center which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.9 miles from the city center. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


AC Hotel by Marriott Tampa Airport

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $203 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 4020 West Boy Scout Boulevard, AC Hotel by Marriott Tampa Airport has great rooms from $203 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and bowling which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 3.4 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator


Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Airport/Westshore

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $135 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Tampa
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Airport/Westshore which has nice rooms starting at $135. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.89 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 5312 Avion Park Drive. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, laundry facilities, and a free airport shuttle. It's located just 4.6 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
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Clearwater, Sarasota, Saint Pete Beach, and Treasure Island.

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


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

Tampa Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$149

After analyzing 57 first time trip hotels in Tampa, Florida, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $149. 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 Tampa.

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

  • 4-star hotels: $204
  • 3-star hotels: $141
  • 2-star hotels: $128


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