What’s the difference between Hotel and Motel?

26 May 2023

Maddalena Mazzaferri

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Hotel Management | Hotel Division

Have you ever wondered about the difference between Hotel and Motel? Ok, these two types of accommodation begin with two different letters, although the rest of the word is exactly the same. Fair enough. But do you really think that’s it? Of course, if the answer was “yes” we would not be here providing you with a pointless article about M or H + otel.

Origins of the terms
Key Differences

Location
Duration of the stay
Services
Cost

Frequently asked questions

Origins of the terms
Key Differences

Location
Duration of the stay
Services
Cost

Frequently asked questions

Hotel and Motel: Origins of the terms

The difference between Hotel and Motel lays in the origin of these two lodging types:

The etymology of the word Hotel comes from Latin hospitalis meaning “accommodation“, stay. The French word hostel, which then became hôtel, was used to identify a noble dwelling.
On the other hand, the word Motel comes from American English, meaning a fusion of two words: Motor and Hotel, indicating a functional accommodation dedicated to travellers along their journey.

We all agree, both offer the guests a shelter, a bed to sleep in and a bathroom.

Key Differences

Thinking about their meaning, we will now highlight the key differences of these two types of accommodation.

Location

Close to the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum, in front of a marvellous beach in Mallorca… hotels are usually located in nice, attractive but also strategic places, downtown areas, where you normally go on holiday or for business purposes, but in general on an organised trip.

Motels on the other hand have a mere functional essence. They are normally located on the main roads for professional long-distance drivers or just for those who feel tired and need a place to rest their bones.

Duration of the stay

Linked to the previous paragraph and so to the reason why you would choose a hotel instead of a motel (or the other way around) there’s the duration of your stay.

You would normally spend one, max two nights in a motel and then get back on track to complete your road trip. While hotels are built for longer stays, at least a couple of nights in there…

Services and attention to detail

… and of course, the more nights you sleep in a place, the more needs you have!

That is why another difference between these two categories is in the range of services they provide.

Please give me an example of a motel with room service or concierge. Actually, would you really need them if you’ve been driving the whole day and you would do the same on the following day? Again, we can refer back to what we can find in motels with two keywords: “essential” and “functional”. In this respect, for instance, in a Motel you will never miss a parking lot.

In a hotel, the attention to detail plays a fundamental role in any aspect of the guest’s stay.

Subsidiary services like a SPA, gym, a restaurant with local products, the above mentioned room service or conciergerie and just some of the alternatives that we can find nowadays on the market.

Cost

As you can imagine after this analysis, given the services provided and the details, the cost of a night in a hotel can definitely be higher than a night in a motel, even if there are several types of hotels with different characteristics, also depending on the star rating.

Better? Worse?

Why should we judge?

Focus on your goals and needs, then decide what’s better.

For yourself.

Frequently asked questions

🏨 What is the origin of the term Hotel?

The etymology of the word Hotel comes from Latin hospitalis meaning accommodation, stay. The French word hostel, which then became hôtel, was used to identify a noble dwelling.

🏍️ What is the origin of the term Motel?

The word Motel comes from American English, meaning a fusion of two words: Motor and Hotel, indicating a functional accommodation dedicated to travellers along their journey.

📍 What is the difference between Hotel and Motel in terms of location?

Hotels are usually located in nice, attractive but also strategic places, downtown areas, where you normally go on holiday or for business purposes. Motels have a mere functional essence. They are normally located on the main roads for professional long-distance drivers or just for those who feel tired and need a place to rest their bones.

⌚ What is the difference between Hotel and Motel in terms of duration of the stay?

You would normally spend one, max two nights in a motel, while hotels are built for longer stays, at least a couple of nights in there.

🍹 What is the difference between Hotel and Motel in terms of services?

Motel services can be referred with two keywords: “essential” and “functional”. Dor example, here you won’t find a room service or concierge. In a hotel, the attention to detail plays a fundamental role in any aspect of the guest’s stay. Subsidiary services like a SPA, gym, restaurant with local products, room service and conciergerie.

💰 What is the difference between Hotel and Motel in terms of costs?

The cost of a night in a hotel can definitely be higher than a night in a motel, even if there are several types of hotels with different characteristics, also depending on the star rating.