Difference between an Inn and a Motel etc..

[e_BoY]

Question came up from a friend the other day about what the difference was between an Inn and a Motel. Never really thought about it too much but does anyone know?

[project.one]

I dont know the if Im correct or not, but I know Ive always looked at it this way.
A Motel/Hotel is a larger nice place to stay. Like on vacations or something.
An Inn is more of thoes small little places you find around, not as nice. Kinda the place youd stay if you were just passing though and didnt want to shell out for a nicer hotel/motel.

I could be wrong!

[DefJef]

i always thought of a hotel as a place similar to a condo/apt building where all the rooms are inside a building with a central entrance... whereas a motel you park outside your own suite with an outdoor entrance.

[tiedye]

Originally Posted by sirjeff

i always thought of a hotel as a place similar to a condo/apt building where all the rooms are inside a building with a central entrance... whereas a motel you park outside your own suite with an outdoor entrance.

you are correct, sir

[baby-phat]

^ Pretty much. But the meanings are a little hazy nowadays.

[project.one]

Originally Posted by sirjeff

i always thought of a hotel as a place similar to a condo/apt building where all the rooms are inside a building with a central entrance... whereas a motel you park outside your own suite with an outdoor entrance.

Pretty much what I said!

[frogprincess]

motel - ghetto, doors in get in are on the outside

hotel - like an apt/condo, usually a little more secure

inn - smaller, cozyer, english like setting

here is a pic of the inn i'll be staying at when i go to vic in a week and a half (L)

[baby-phat]

There are some really nice inns on the island, some of 'em are a tad pricey too. So I think, for the most part, an inn just has more of a homey kinda cottagey feel to it. English kinda feel as well maybe.

[DefJef]

great hotel/motel discussion everyone... so far so good lol

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by sirjeff

i always thought of a hotel as a place similar to a condo/apt building where all the rooms are inside a building with a central entrance... whereas a motel you park outside your own suite with an outdoor entrance.

[e_BoY]

haha aight thanks. i was thinking the same thing. I just thought there was like a standard definate definition to these places.

[e_BoY]

here are the dictionary definitions

inn -
A public lodging house serving food and drink to travelers; a hotel.
A tavern or restaurant.
Chiefly British. Formerly, a residence hall for students, especially law students, in London

mo·tel -
An establishment that provides lodging for motorists in rooms usually having direct access to an open parking area. Also called motor court, motor lodge

ho·tel -
An establishment that provides lodging and usually meals and other services for travelers and other paying guests

[automatic]

^got it...

the differences are largely gone by this point, and the terms are interchageable and only used as marketing dictates, but from what i understand:

the term "inn" comes from the days of "public houses" or "pubs". although, now in north america the use of the word pub just denotes a bar, probably one with an english theme, typically, a pub was truely a "public house", somewhere with a dining room, a large common room, a saloon or bar, and an "inn" or guestrooms. many rural pubs in england still have guestrooms attached. so an "inn" refers specifically to the guests rooms attached to a bar. what this means in north america is that an inn is more likely, though at this point no longer guaranteed to have a bar on premises.

a hotel is as described above, and motel is a contraction of motor-hotel, apparently coined "The Milestone Interstate Corporation" in a press release: "... proposes to build and operate a chain of motor hotels between San Diego and Seattle, the hotels to have the name 'Motel.' " ["Hotel Monthly," March 1925", and defined less by the and the separate entrance to each roomand more by the ample drive up parking outside of each room.

oh, and the word is ETYMOLOGY, which means the origin and history of words.
there's a good site here
http://www.etymonline.com/

inn
hotel
motel

[soma]

couldn't have said it better jay

[e_BoY]

good replies all around. thanks guys and girls

[DJ Ponz]

As a former hotel employee, I'm able to add my knowledge on the subject. As I understand it, there are different civic operating licences to get for either a hotel or motel. So the difference is important - and is defined by where the stairs to the building are located (inside or out), as well as if they're covered from the elements. Hotels obviously have inside stairs.