Around town
America's Best Inn
An inexpensive option out on the route 1 traffic circle near the Holiday Inn. Friendly staff and good value.
Holiday Inn
Located at the route 1 traffic circle this is very typical of the Holiday Inn chain. Has a decent pool and an onsite restaurant that tends to be open late.
Residence Inn Portsmouth
Located in the Pease Industrial park this larger room hotel geared to extended business stays are often also good for families.
Courtyard Portsmouth
The Courtyard is right off of Route 95 and is nicely set in a grove of trees. Like many Courtyards, it has a nice indoor pool better then the Sheraton or Hilton downtown and hot tub and decent rooms. It is well managed and friendly and a good choice in the area.
Comfort Inn Portsmouth
A decent choice. Located on route 1 south of the downtown core, it has a nice pool. The location, next to a open lot former site of the recently demolished Yoken's restaurant that stood for 50 years as a route 1 travel beacon is not quaint but it is a quick ride to downtown.
The best value hotels are slightly farther out, a mile or two, and require a short ride to get downtown -
Downtown
Sheraton Harborside
A large hotel overlooking the river, a few steps from downtown, with onsite parking, a pool, lounge, fitness center and onsite restaurant. A little pricey for what you get but is location is hard to beat.
Hilton Garden Inn
This is Portsmouth's newest hotel right in the heart of downtown. Part of a focus of Hilton on downtown hotels with modern and sleek decor. Due to its location It has walking access to everything. It also has a small pool and a comfortable lounge.
A few Hotels and several B&Bs are right downtown -
Wentworth By The Sea
One of the nicest places to stay in the area. Secluded in Newcastle, an small island community connected to Portsmouth by several small bridges, this is a special place to stay. Marriott did a solid job restoring the original 1874 hotel what was left of it from the days when this hotel was a train destination for the wealthy in the summer. In 1905, President Roosevelt mediated the end of the Russo-Japanese War here. You are close to downtown a couple of miles but it will feel like you are in a remote location. The hotel has a nice pool, a decent bar that serves late for the area, and is connected to a marina with a riverside restaurant and floating bar search for it.