Difference Between Hotel And Motel Explained

Are you planning a trip and have not decided on the accommodation yet? It is time to choose a suitable halting point to enjoy your tour fully. However, there are plenty of options to decide on and ensure a profitable journey.

When you understand the variation between different accommodations, it will be effortless to make the right decision. Depending on your plans, compare the prices online and pick the most budget-friendly location.

You will find different hotels, motels, and inns at various locations. Spend your vacation generously by making the perfect choice. Please go through the difference between hotel and motel to find the best-staying destination. Along with that, you have various points of difference between hotels and motel and inns. So, this article will guide you accordingly and give you a clear picture of all three possibilities.

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Meaning Of A Hotel

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Before discussing the difference between a hotel and a motel, it is essential to know the meaning of the accommodations separately. Travelers want to hire the easiest accommodation within their budget during a trip. The hotels can satisfy this need greatly and offer adequate lodging support. In initial times, these were only small buildings providing lodging facilities. However, the owner assured that the guests get a tension-free sleep. The addition of folding facilities is a very new concept.

With time, the hotel industry went through a lot of evolution. Today, they recreate a new world of happiness for the customers and ensure they have every luxury.

Moreover, most hotels have incredibly designed rooms with all the modern amenities. They also promise a comfortable and satisfying stay with furniture, washrooms, gardens, rooftops, dining areas, and others. Many luxurious hotels also offer deluxe and family rooms with facilities for a spa, garden, and private area for partying.

Now, let us turn to the next choice available.

Definition Of A Motel

The existence of a motel is not an ancient concept like the hotels. Here lies the most significant point of difference between a hotel and a motel. The word motel is a combination of two powerful terms. It is a modern form of hotel designed for moving travellers. Thus, motel comes from Hotel and Moving. Therefore, you can define this type of accommodation as a moving hotel.

However, please do not have a misconception that it has wheels. They are moving because the motels are normally built near the highways and connecting roads. Hence, it becomes more convenient for travellers to locate accommodations. A quick scan of the junction areas can ensure a suitable staying point even if you do not have an advanced booking. They also cost lower than most hotels.

Furthermore, the pocket-friendly accommodations offer complimentary breakfast and drinks. These are excellent choices when you intend to spend a few days near your favourite vacation spot. They can bring a broad smile and are appropriate for a short tour.

Get Into An Inn

Hopefully, the above definitions gave you an idea about the main difference between a hotel and motel. Besides these two choices, there are inns too. Now, to understand the difference between hotel and motel and inn, you must learn what an inn actually is.

An Inn is not a spacious accommodation facility. The unit is small properties designed for short stays. Furthermore, they are mainly found in rural regions and offer private stays for some days. Room service may not be available in the inns. However, you may expect a touch of elegance and peace while staying in them.

The boutique inns cost higher than the ordinary ones. You get several additional amenities here, and the charges are generally on a per-night basis. Most hotels also charge similarly. Therefore, while analysing the difference between hotel and motel and inn, check out the similarities too.

You can describe the inn as a comfy place between the hotel and the motel. Although it has several differences from the other two, the satisfaction level remains high. Today, you can expect the availability of WiFi, a coffee maker in the room, clean washrooms with toiletries, and others. So, the overall experience will not be regrettable. You can make advanced bookings for the inns for a fun-filled vacation. Generally, people loving privacy opt for inns in exotic locations. You will surely get a homely feel here.

Stars Of The Hotels

Hotels have sub-categories, and people classify them based on Stars. They are not mere stars rating a particular hotel on online sites. These ratings give different stature to the hotels. Moreover, the hotels rank according to their amenities and other added features. Living in a room is not the primary thing to notice here. Depending on the services, you can categorize the hotels.

This point suggests a major difference between hotels and motels. While you can determine the quality of a hotel based on stars, a motel does not have such a feature. Here are the details of the different classes.

One-StarThe one-star hotels do not have much difference from the motel or inns. Therefore, while pointing out the difference between a hotel and a Motel and an inn, you can leave this point. These are low-budget hotels with smaller rooms. Usually, like an inn, single families own and operate these hotels.

Two-Star

They are comfortable and cozy hotels, larger than the first variety. Moreover, the tourists can stay here without tension and avail of different facilities like television, AC, room service, and professional reception. The staff is very polite and trained, just like in standard hotels.

Three-Star

Here, the services are more than the first two hotels. These establishments are more spacious and offer public lobbies and garden areas. The hospitality is more appreciable here as the staff is well-trained in handling the customers. They will provide laundry services also with regular cleaning and changing of your sheets. Separate restaurants and bars are also there, in addition to the AC, fridge, TV, WiFi, and parking space.

Four-Star

The marvellous decoration of these hotels is the specialty. The staff knows multiple languages and often handles foreign clients and VIPs. It is another significant difference between hotel and motel as staff do not have to know multiple languages to work in a motel. Many luxury rooms also have mini-bars. The furniture is magnificent and gives a new look to the whole area. Additionally, the guests get 24/7 services from the hotel staff. Emergency phones are also there to give orders for food or contact reception.

Five-Star

These are high-quality, luxurious hotels with hundreds of special amenities like swimming pools, hot water baths, bathtubs, welcome drinks, etc. Furthermore, they maintain international standards and offer luxurious suits. The staff is very efficient and come from an educated background. The unique décor of the hotel will impress the guests more. The restaurant is multi-cuisine and offers alcohol too.

Seven-Star

These hotels are just an extended version of the five-star hotels. Enjoy all the luxuries and sophisticated stay in these accommodations. The staff welcomes the special guests with flowers and garlands. You may also have night parties and DJ nights on special occasions.

Difference Between Hotel and Motel

Get a detailed version of the difference between hotels and motels in this part. Go through this chart to realize where the two become distinct options for travellers.

Point of Difference	Hotel	Motel
Meaning	A Hotel is an establishment serving multiple guests for lodging and provision of food. It also offers numerous other facilities for a comfortable stay for a short period. Perfect choice to stay for a week also.	A motel is designed primarily for the tourists or road travellers. They offer short-term lodging facilities for a specific charge to stay at night. It is normally built near the roadsides, or highways. Apt for one or two-day unplanned stays.
Floors	Generally, hotels are multi-storied buildings. In most of them, elevators are present. However, some are without elevators too.	Usually, motels are double-storied or unit with a single floor. Hence, no elevator is present. Instead, open walk-ways and corridors are mostly found.
Location	Located in any place, especially in urban areas. Found near famous tourist spots, railway stations, airports, casinos, sports arenas, hill stations, etc.	Motels are more common in the outskirts, countryside, national highways, connectors, and other road sides.
Size	Expansive areas with lounges, longer corridors, roof-top, balconies, gardens, swimming pool, spread over multi-storied building.	Smaller in size compared to hotels. Comes with a parking area and Wifi facilities. Since a motel is not bigger than 2-floors, it is compact with higher privacy. A Central Courtyard is usually present.
Property Amenities	Public spaces, Sitting arrangements, parks with amenities for children, restaurant and bar, spa, fitness centers, conference halls, Lobby Area, Laundry and other room service, sometimes barbeque facilities.	Laundry, room services, separate dining area, free breakfast, direct access to parking area, barbeque or camping facilities, in some places, etc.
Room Amenities	Toiletries, refrigerators, Wi-Fi connection, cupboard, sofa, cushions, couch, attached balcony and toilet, well-furnished rooms, coffee-maker, hair dryer, blankets, Television, AC, mirror, etc.	Basic toiletries, chair and table, sometimes attached balcony (generally common space), coffee and tea makers, Wifi, basic bedding and furniture, etc. (AC is available in some motels)
Costs	Usually more than $100 per night. Expensive stay.	Generally, less than $100 per night. More Cost-effective stay.
Stars	One star to 7-star ratings	No such rating concept with stars. However, people rate them on different traveling sites.
Brands	Hyatt, The Park, Holiday Inn, JW Marriot, Best Western Marriot, The Taj Hotels,etc.	Motel 6, Econo Lodge, Super 8, etc.

Chains of hotels and motels are now found these days. With time, the motel owners are also spreading their businesses in urban areas. Moreover, the townships have become more popular with the presence of hotels and motels. As we highlight the difference between hotels and motels, you must look at their appearances also. Today, the interiors of some small-size hotels are also demanding attention. Some of the hotels also fall into the category of lodges or inns.

The doors to a motel are usually open to a highway or parking lot. Such an instance is not common in the case of hotels. Typically, a hotel room will give a view of the outside sceneries, hills, rivers, seas, lakes, or jungles, depending on the location. You will enter the lobby or corridor as you move out of the room. Therefore, the difference between hotels and motels is prominent in this part also.

The discussion regarding hotels and motels is now quite extensive. Therefore, it is obvious that if you are planning a luxurious trip, go for a hotel. Moreover, they are apt for a larger group too. On the other hand, the motel is a better choice when you travel for a day or two and need to spend the night comfortably.

Now, it is time to shift toward Inns. The difference between hotel and motel and inn will be clear when you can distinguish between the former two with the latter one. Therefore, we will now elaborate more on an Inn’s specialties and how it differs from a hotel or motel.

Difference Between Hotel And Inn

Usually, families own the inns. They are small properties that provide accommodation against a specific charge. On the other hand, bigger business people own the hotels.

Furthermore, you will find lesser rooms in an inn than in a hotel. Obviously, the above points have already portrayed that hotels are spacious establishments with numerous benefits.

However, there is no reason to believe that inns do not provide any advantages. They have standard accommodations with a comfy ambiance. The only difference is that it presents a more homely atmosphere. Therefore, if you stay away from your family for a short time, book a nearby inn.

The difference between hotel and motel and inn also lies in the structure of these smaller units. They offer private rooms and ideal places for honeymoon couples. Sometimes, the students also book these places and share the room charges.

Last-minute booking is difficult to handle in the case of an inn. However, the issues are seldom in the case of hotels. Since the number of rooms is more, the hotels offer more choices and vacancies. Additionally, you will find special home-décor in hotels. In the case of inns, simple backgrounds are there. Since privately owned properties, you can communicate with the owners more freely. Feel like home when staying in an inn. They are marvellous and come within your budget.

Classy Motels and Inns

The distinguishing points of hotels and inns are beyond confusion now. However, to determine the difference between hotels and motel inns prominently, we should talk about the motels too. Apparently, motels and inns do not have many differences. Both of them have a homely atmosphere and are suitable for short stays.

Moreover, they look appealing for guests tight on budget. You can still find some variations about the interiors, available facilities, and location. To be precise, motels are more accessible for tourists passing a highway or roadside exits. Usually, they are found in off-beat locations and thus make traveling more convenient for many.

Several people cannot afford a luxurious stay in a hotel. Furthermore, the hotels are not instantly available if you face discrepancies on the ride. For example, if your car undergoes a breakdown in the middle of the night, an immediate accommodation becomes essential. A motel can provide such a service easily because of its prime location. It comes with numerous amenities for a comfortable stay. There is no need to sacrifice your budget, as the options are there to fulfil your wishes.

Similarly, the inns are also built to give suitable shelter to travellers. The private chambers let you enjoy the trip in serenity. Inns are more common in rural regions and have simple decorations. The prices are also lower than the motels. However, boutique inns can cost more due to the modern facilities like geysers, AC, separate toiletries, and others.

The intimate decorations ensure that it is just another home for the guests. Therefore, people will feel frank while staying here. The owners are families who are very jovial and cooperative with the guests. Moreover, several satisfied customers gave feedback about sharing food. Many also express their satisfaction while celebrating occasions together with the owners. This is indeed a crucial point to note while describing the difference between hotel and motel and inn.

Besides, the motels will display a standard layout in decorating the interiors. Of course, the attractiveness is always there, and the authorities maintain proper hygiene. The cleaning staff will regularly clean your bedding, like towers, bedsheets, etc. In Inns, you cannot expect such formal behaviour. The change of towels or sheets is possible only on request.

So, here lies the list of the difference between hotel and motel and inns.

Final Words

After a detailed study of hotels, motels, and inns, you are now thorough with the difference between hotel and motel and inn. All of them are suitable accommodations for the travellers. The tastes and preferences will now decide which to select at a given location. Furthermore, you may not find all of these varieties in one location. Therefore, extensive research is crucial before you go on a trip.

Make a list of the selected destination’s hotels, inns, and motels. The difference between a hotel and a motel will let you make the correct choice. Additionally, the central locations will always have a hotel or motel nearby. Similarly, an inn is ideal for visiting an off-beat and exotic location.

So, begin your search fast after analysing the difference between hotel and motel and inn. You will soon have the best accommodation on your trip.

Difference Between Hotel And Motel Explained: Choosing the Right Accommodation