"Stundenhotel" in English?

Question

I am doing a translation where the word "Stundenhotel" appears. It's a hotel with hourly rates, usually used for prostitution. Any good translation??

Answer 1

There is no real equivalent term, I'm afraid. So you'll have to find a way around it.

It depends on what you're translating. If the specific kind of hotel is important to the text, you'll probably have to either paraphrase it ("a cheap hotel that charges by the hour") or keep the German term, italicize it, and use a footnote.

If it's a story or report or so where the particulars of the establishments don't really matter and you just need to keep the text flowing ("... und dann schleppte sie ihn ab ins nächste Stundenhotel. Eine Woche später blieb ihre Regel aus." ), I'd just go for "motel". It's the closest cultural equivalent - that's where prostitutes usually take their customers, if they want a real room with a bed ( as opposed to "working" in the car or a back alley).

Answer 2

At first I thought it might be a hotel frequented by students so I was going to say 'youth hostel' but not quite the same thing. I think the word you're looking for is 'brothel'.

Answer 3

I'm afraid there is no literal translation. Maybe "seedy motel" would be the closest in meaning. If you want to be more specific, something like "seedy motel where they rent their rooms out by the hour" should be specific enough.

Answer 4

Leo suggests :
Hotel by the hour
No-tell motel
Hotel that charges by the hour

see discussion here:
http://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=165890&idForum=1&lp=ende&lang=de

Answer 5

Prostitutes residence - Brothel -

Answer 6

Brothel

Answer 7

STUDENT HOTEL!