What is a "motel"?

What is a "motel"?

Catharine Hamm (Travel Editor, LA Times) gives expert video advice on: What are the advantages of staying at a motel?; Are bed and breakfast rates comparable to hotel rates?; What are the advantages of a bed and breakfast? and more...

The word motel comes from the term "motor court hotel" and it generally means a place that's accessible from the highway. Motels started springing up as the system of roadways in the United States started to improve. Places where you could just pull off for the night became much more common, so a motel industry was born. Usually it's a one or two story accomodation where you can just pull right in, unpack your stuff and go to sleep.