There are different kinds of hotel accommodations like hostels, resorts, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, inns, serviced apartments and condominiums, just to name a few. There are characteristics that are common to a variety of this range of accommodation; regardless if they are cheap hotels or expensive luxury boutique resorts. Understanding the basic differences can be helpful when you are planning your trip so that you can drive your dollar further. Here we’ve summarized the main features of the more common types of accommodation.

Hostels:

Hostels are cheap hotels that might include (or exclude) a variety of additional services. You might need to help with chores, clean your own room, or share a bunk bed barrack-style room with other people. Hostels come in a variety of configurations, depending on what part of the world you are traveling to. It might mean you have to make your bed for the next person, share a room with a room-mate or get a daily chore assigned as part of your stay. However, these kinds of accommodation are still some of the best deals, when it comes to cheap hotels.

Resorts:

Typically, resorts are located in highly desirable destination locations. Some cheap hotels will call themselves resorts just because of where they are located. So it goes without saying that there are a wide variety of classes in resorts but a real resort will offer much more than just a room.

Real resorts will have extra amenities like, restaurants, bars, game rooms, a swimming pool, possibly waterslides and other recreational activities; all adding to a more interesting and possibly more expensive holiday than your usual hostel.

Hotels or Motels:

Some people don’t know the difference between a hotel and a motel. You can find cheap hotels, but many times the proper use is cheap motels. If it is a building where you can drive up and unload your car straight into your room, it is a motel. A good way to remember the difference is that you can “motor” up to the accommodation, so it is a “motel”, that is how the term originated. A hotel will generally involve a concierge service and you’ll usually walk down a “hallway” to get to your room.

Bed and Breakfasts:

Most people think it’s easy to understand this one, but bed and breakfasts can be upscale like a boutique hotel or be as simple as a backroom in a home. Basically, you are getting a bed to sleep in and you can eat breakfast that is prepared by the host, whatever and whenever they decide to get up and prepare. You might have to share a bath down the hall with several other guests or you might even have a large elaborate bedroom. This variety makes them popular for those that are looking for cheap alternatives to hotels.

Inns:

Accommodations like an Inn can be a small, family-owned motel or hotel. As an Inn is defined by the family ownership structure, this kind of accommodation can be found in virtually all parts of the world. Some resorts will put an Inn as part of their name to indicate they are family owned and that offer a more family-oriented atmosphere.  Historically, an Innkeeper was the person who lived at and took care of an Inn.

Serviced Apartments:

In most Asian countries, it is quite common to come across serviced apartments. By definition, they usually have a fully equipped kitchen and a separate living room, but some of them can be studios too. In other parts of the world, including the United States, they might be referred to as kitchenettes, villas or condos. They might have a minimum stay required like two nights or a week, but they still get housekeeping services and offer the same kind of amenities found in hotels like a swimming pool, a restaurant, a bar, and fitness rooms.  You might even find that some cheaper hotels will offer serviced apartments or kitchenettes.

Condominiums:

This is a popular term in the United States for apartment-like rentals that are individually owned and therefore, decorated in a variety of different ways; even though the basic floor-plans are identical. Typically, these can be rented through vacation rental places and normally require a one week rental at a time. The good part is that they might be luxurious, yet priced the same as cheap hotels, when you break it down by the night. Like serviced apartments, housekeeping is done at certain times, but you should wash your own dishes and clothes while staying there because this isn’t included.

As you can see, there are a variety of cheap hotels and options to consider as alternative accommodation. So be sure you understand what you are getting before you finalize that booking.