The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Washington

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Washington

The Lincoln Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, D.C. The Lincoln Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, D.C.

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

Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $165 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Washington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

Located at 900 10th Street Northwest, Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center has great rooms from $165 (before taxes). It offers room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.7 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking at this relaxing hotel. The indoor pool at this hotel is very nice, and is a great place to unwind and relax on your trip. 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool
  • Saltwater pool


View hotels on the map:

Courtyard by Marriott Washington Capitol Hill/Navy Yard

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $184 (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.

A great place to stay is Courtyard by Marriott Washington Capitol Hill/Navy Yard which has nice rooms starting at $184. Offering room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 140 L Street Southeast. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.1 miles from the city center. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Microwave


The Darcy Washington DC

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $154 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Washington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found The Darcy Washington DC to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $154. We loved that is has room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 1515 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest. You'll also find a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.9 miles from the center of town. 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
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Georgetown

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $187 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $187, Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Georgetown, at 1250 22nd Street Northwest provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.80 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, a hot tub, a game room, an indoor pool, and laundry facilities. It's located just 1.1 miles from the city center, too. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Rosewood Washington DC

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $507 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Washington
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Rosewood Washington DC has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $507 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 1050 31st Street Northwest. Furthermore, it also offers parking, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.5 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We always love being able to cook meals in a hotel room, and the kitchen here was a nice touch.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C.

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $197 (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.

The great guest rating of The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C. Is 8.30 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 $197, and it's located at 2350 M Street Northwest. We also love the parking, hiking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which are great for visitors. And since it's just 1 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, 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
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Refrigerator


The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $527 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC because it has great rooms that start at $527. It has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 1150 22nd Street Nw. Only 1 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a spa at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Intercontinental Hotels Washington D.C. - The Wharf By IHG

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $245 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Washington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Intercontinental Hotels Washington D.C. - The Wharf By IHG offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $245 (before taxes). It's located at 801 Wharf Street Southwest and has earned a guest rating of 9.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, parking, laundry services, and golf which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.2 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
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Breakfast in the room


The River Inn

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $162 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 924 25th Street Northwest, The River Inn has great rooms from $162 (before taxes). It offers a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and rooms with kitchens. It has a terrific 8.90 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and laundry facilities which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1 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
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Hive

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $105 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Washington
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Hotel Hive which has nice rooms starting at $105. Offering a restaurant, a restaurant, a bar, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 2224 F Street Northwest. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, pet-friendly rooms, pet-friendly rooms, air-conditioning, and air-conditioning. It's located just 0.7 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
  • Parking
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Washington, Baltimore, Arlington, Alexandria, and Gettysburg.

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


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

Washington Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$199

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Washington, District of Columbia. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Washington, District of Columbia based on data from 111 hotels is an affordable $199. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Washington.

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

  • 5-star hotels: $387
  • 4-star hotels: $171
  • 3-star hotels: $161
  • 2-star hotels: $111


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