What is the difference between "motel" and hotel"?

Question

I have heard alot of different things...

1. Hotels have pools Motels don't.
2. Hotels are indoor Motels are outdoor entrence.

those are just some examples but does anyone know why they are called two different names for the same services.

Answer 1

Motel: A type of hotel in which parking is provided at or near the room and the room door gives out onto the parking lot.

http://www.hometravelagency.com/dictionary/motel.html

The difference explained here:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-hotel-and-a-motel.htm

"One of the distinguishing features of a motel is that it is U-shaped or square, with an inner courtyard that serves as the parking lot. Doors face the lot, with ground doors opening directly to their own parking spaces mere feet away. This is extremely convenient for unloading suitcases. It is also reassuring to have your vehicle parked right outside the door where you can keep an eye on it, especially if it contains valuables.

Hotels serve a different purpose than motels, and as such, they are located in or near cities. The basic design of a motel differs significantly from hotels, where rooms face inward with doors opening to interior hallways. A guest might stay at a hotel for a week or longer on business or pleasure, and “extras” are expected. Hotels commonly offer Jacuzzis, gyms, pools, restaurants, room service, cable television, Internet connectivity, and other luxuries. Hotel parking lots are separate, and in many cases, the walk from the lot to the lobby can be a trek. Some hotels provided shuttle service.

While the average motel may not have the accoutrements found at hotels, it offers easy access, reasonable rates, and a less complicated experience. This makes a motel ideal for a night’s sleep as travelers make their way through the country’s less traveled roads to an ultimate destination. Some motels even feature individual cabins set among picturesque woods, perfect for a longer stay to get away from it all."

Answer 2

The difference between Motel and Hotel is that with a Motel you can drive up and park your car near or right outside the door to your room. So it's more convenient for motorists, hence the name Motel (Motor-Hotel). Hope this helps!

Answer 3

The phrase "motel" is a combination of motor and hotel, which is used to describe hotels that at one time catered to customers who were driving their own cars, usually along highways and in remote locations, outside the city. Hotels have been around for centuries and motels are much more recent inventions.

Motels always have parking lots (as above, they cater to a clientel that is driving their own car) and hotels may or may not; motel parking is free and sometimes you have to pay for hotel parking.

In general a motel has rooms with entrances you can access without going through a main lobby, basically just park your car in front of the room and walk in. Hotels have central lobbies and all rooms are accessible through the lobby; you might have to take an elevator or stairs but you can't get to either without passing the lobby.

Either motels or hotels may or may not have pools.

Hotels tend to offer more services and amenities like shampoo/conditioner in the rooms, room service, onsite restaurant and/or bar, etc. Motels tend to be more like just a place to sleep for the night--- no restaurant, maybe not even daily maid service.

Answer 4

It depends in which part of the World you are visiting.

Motels emphasise "drive in" hence MOtels ( short for motor car ).

But most hotels are drive in now. Go through this directory of 60,000 accommodation properties and you'll find no single definition on those classified as motels versus hotels. However some are more obvious than others.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, most people do not understand that, functionally, there is no difference. The common term, emotion, often is seen as something distinct from the technical term, affect. Even experts, such as Ekman and Tompkins have made unnecessary distinctions, complicating the picture. Emotion, or affect, is a person's energetic (non-verbal) response ( or "reading") of the interaction with their environment. Emotion gives us information about, and the energy to carry out physical tasks, appropriate to the circumstances (such as survival). Because it is non-verbal, it is considered to be below the threshold of conscious awareness, thus the word "subconscious" used for this experience/feeling. Tompkins did have one thing correct: affect is primary. Because it develops before conscious, verbal-based cognition, it has a greater influence over behavior than thinking. Most politicians and advertising execs can attest to this. However, this energetic input is not a command, it is merely an influence. Because body influences mind and mind influences body, we can re-ignite memories that can recall emotional responses. The origin is from environmental interactions, not from thinking. But we can call up specific feelings without interaction in the moment. We simply draw on experience. Although oversimplified, W.B. Cannon was right.

Answer 6

motels only have one level. hotels have 2 or even more than 20 levels.and motels are cheaper than hotels

but i would always hear people joke around and say that "motels are where the coach roaches live" and "hotels are cleaner"

Answer 7

Motels are specifically designed so you can drive your car up in front of your room. Most of them are one story structures, and don't have a lot of frills except for an occaisional pool, cable, etc. They are also cheaper than hotels in general.

Hotels are multi-story buildings with a lot more staff, more expensive appointments, and a higher price tag per night.

-Dio

Answer 8

the second one is right, some motels do have pools

Answer 9

The difference is $$$$

Just don't have a black light with you in a motel :)

Answer 10

Hotels are where you stay with your family or by yourself.

Motels are where you take hookers.