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Hotels or Motels -- What's the Difference?

Lines have become blurred between hotels and motels. Back in the day, motels were for travelers seeking reasonable accommodations as they traveled by road. The word motel is thought to have originated in the U.S. and is a condensation of two words -- motor hotel. A lot of motels in the U.S. are chains, and they often provide swimming pools, a video arcade room, and a free simple breakfast. Motels can be clustered around resorts and destinations, so there's a wide choice as to what you'd like to pay. Hotels were often, and still are, in cities. In the past, people arrived in these urban areas by train and hotels were a logical and nearby place to stay. Some mid-range hotels have blended with hotels and you can't tell the difference,. Many hotels now are boutique or quite luxurious, so if this is the accommodation you want, there's a wide choice. Motels are often only a few stories high while hotels, because they are mostly in cities, can be skyscrapers and these offer fantastic views of the surrounding area.

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