Alternate Accomodations
What is a "motel"?
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.
What are the advantages of staying at a motel?
Staying at a motel does have a lot of advantages including price. Motels generally tend to be less expensive. They don't offer as many amenities as hotels. You're not going to find the fancy hand lotions or the ritzy shampoos, but you also aren't going to pay the same price as a hotel. Also, motels tend to be more accessible. You don't have to cut through a lobby. You don't have to walk forever. You just generally drive right into the motel and there you are.
What is a "bed and breakfast"?
A bed and breakfast generally tends to be an accommodation that may have started its life as a mansion, for example, but has been converted into a place where people can sleep for the night and then the proprietors the next morning will prepare breakfast for them. Bed and breakfasts are often very atmospheric. Some of them are very romantic. They all tend to be a much more intimate experience than a hotel or motel.
What features should I ask about when booking a bed and breakfast?
When you're booking a bed and breakfast you should ask about the accommodation. Very often these are older places that have been transformed into a bed and breakfast. If you have mobility issues or accessibility issues, you should definitely ask about that. Sometimes bed and breakfasts are not designed for kids because often they are filled with antiques or other priceless objects and you don't want to have kids around. You should also ask about what the breakfast is. It can vary from a beautifully prepared multi-course affair to a couple of stale donuts and a cup of coffee.
Are bed and breakfast rates comparable to hotel rates?
Bed and breakfast rates can be very competitive with hotel and motel rates. Generally, they're a little bit more than a motel, but generally less than a hotel. They do, however, come with breakfast, which you have to consider in the price. That adds to the value of staying at a bed and breakfast.
What are the advantages of a bed and breakfast?
Bed and breakfasts offer a much more intimate experience. For example, often when you arrive you'll be greeted with cookies or an invitation to join for a cocktail. Bed and breakfasts can have a sherry hour where they'll invite you to meet and mingle with other guests. There are sometimes group activates. Also, I think you get much more personalized service. For example, it is very easy to ask proprietors if they have a favorite restaurant or if there is a favorite hike that they like to do. You get a much more detailed experience, I think, when you stay at a Bed and breakfast.
What is a "hostel"?
A hostel is a lower priced accommodation often found in Europe and Asia, although sometimes in the United States. A hostel is a shared bathroom and a dormitory style experience. It's generally for budget travelers. The prices generally tend to be less in a hostel. It's a convivial group. It's a like-minded group, but you're going to be staying in proximity to all of these people because it is dormitory and you are sharing facilities with them.
Are hostels suitable only for young people and students?
I think hostels are really suitable for everybody, especially for budget travelers. People who are young, I think, can put up with a lot more than people who are my age. I think I'm past my hostel years, but that's not to say that they're not great places to stay, because they are. I think as we get older we tend to get a little bit softer and we may not be as willing to put up with the snoring from the bed three bunks down. Anybody can really stay, but I think young people are more tolerant of some of the things that they encounter at hostels.
What should I expect when staying at a hostel?
Hostels are as individual as the people who populate them. Some places can be real party places. There can be groups of people who are interested in particular aspects of culture. There may be people who are interested in cooking at a hostel. A lot of times in places that have shared kitchen facilities, you'll learn a lot about cooking. Hostels are not a place where you can stay and loll in bed all day. There is a time out. You do have to leave at certain points so that they can get in there and clean, and sometimes they'll be locked down at night. You may have a curfew at a hostel. You may have to be in by a certain hour. It's a good idea, when you're booking hostel accommodations, to make sure that you understand what the rules are and how they apply to you.
What is a "resort"?
A resort is generally a higher end accommodation that's very often located in a beautiful part of the world. For example, Hawaii or Mexico have many resorts that generally focus on relaxation and recreation.
Are resorts generally more expensive than hotels?
Resorts generally can be more expensive than hotels, sometimes because the cost of meals or the cost of activities are included in the price. So overall they may be more expensive or they may just look more expensive, so if you factor those issue out separately resorts might not be.
What is an "all-inclusive" resort?
An all-inclusive resort generally means that the price that you're paying includes your meals, your room, your activities, all the events and any entertainment that may be available at the resort. So you're actually paying one fee for everything. In that regard, it's sort of like a cruise ship.
