One of the very important things to plan when you want to travel for vacation or business outside your home, especially to areas where you do not have friends or family to stay with, is where you will stay for the period you will be away.
Some of the most common and available accommodations worldwide are hotels and motels.
This article aims to provide detailed information on the difference between a hotel and a motel.
Knowing the different available accommodations that can cater to your needs, preferences, and budget would help you choose which is perfect and convenient to use at any given time.
The sole purpose of a hotel and a motel is for lodging. Both are similar in that aspect.
Nevertheless, the distinction between a hotel and a motel is evident in definition, cost, location, size/structure, purpose, available amenities, and staff.
Let us look at the difference between a hotel and a motel for a better understanding.
Difference Between a Hotel and a Motel
1. Definition
A hotel is an establishment that provides lodging and other luxurious services to travelers, tourists, businessmen and women, and the general public.
While on the other hand, a motel is known as a hotel for motorists.
The reason is that motels were originally designed for motorists who would likely need a place to rest overnight on a long-distance trip.
That is why much emphasis is usually placed on having a big and spacious parking lot for motels. Today, the motel is now open to all.
2. Purpose
Another difference between a hotel and a motel is their purpose.
Hotels are designed for short and long/extended stays because they can provide the basic and luxurious amenities you would need during your stay.
However, motels are designed for short stays. Hence, motels are perfect for people on a road trip or long-distance travelers who want to rest overnight.
3. Cost
The difference between a hotel and a motel in cost is very significant.
Hotels are way more expensive, and this is because hotels are equipped with modern, luxurious, and state-of-the-art amenities to make their clients/customers feel at home.
Motels, on the other hand, are very cheap because they have very few amenities and services to offer to their clients/customers, as they have few luxurious services, unlike hotels.
4. Location
The location choice is another difference between a hotel and a motel.
Motels are mostly found close to the road and highways on the outskirts of a town for easy assessability to motorists and long-distance drivers.
Hotels, on the other hand, can be located anywhere. It could be in the busty, noisy heart of the city or a serene and quiet area.
5. Structure/Size
Motels are constructed in a simple two-story building erected in an L, U, or I-shaped layout.
The rooms are open to their parking lot, and one can easily access them from the outdoor parking lot. Motels also have bigger and better parking lots than hotels.
However, hotels are enclosed big buildings with many rooms across multiple floors.
The rooms in a hotel are not accessible from the parking lot, as is the case with motels.
Its structure is mostly state-of-the-art. Hotels are designed exquisitely to attract much patronage.
6. Social Amenities
Social amenities could be the most visible and significant difference between hotels and motels.
Motels typically offer, at best, basic amenities like toiletries, bedding, towels, a laundry machine, and sometimes free breakfast.
But if you are looking for a place that offers a stress-free stay with amenities and services such as restaurants, a swimming pool, room service, a spa, a fitness center, excellent internet services, and other luxurious services, then a hotel would be your best option.
7. Number of Staff
A hotel usually has multiple staff members who can cater to your different needs.
These include a manager, chef, receptionist, bartender, driver, and cleaner.
On the other hand, motels have little staff. A typical motel could have one person as a receptionist, cleaner, manager, and chef.
8. Level of Patronage
Because hotels are designed for long stays and have all the needed services to offer, hotels usually get a high level of patronage all year round, especially during the festive periods.
However, motels have a lower level of patronage than hotels.
9. Security
One other key difference between a hotel and a motel is in terms of security.
With the kind of structure and services in place for most hotels, hotels provide better customer security services.
Meanwhile, a motel’s security service is skeletal. Motels may need to be secured more, as their structure is open to public view, and the rooms are usually accessed from the parking lot.
