The travel industry encompasses a broad range of services, sectors and company types that deal with people traveling from one place to another. The industry includes airlines, hotels, railways, ferries and other travel-related service providers. Some companies, such as booking consolidator websites, act as intermediaries, while others are more directly involved in the travel industry, providing accommodations and other travel-related services.
When looking for accommodation while traveling, many travelers choose between a hotel and motel, or even other more specific types of lodging such as hostels and homestays. While all of these offer housing for travelers, each has its own unique features and advantages.
Hotels are typically a more expensive option than motels, and tend to have more amenities such as pools, restaurants and gyms. They also usually have a set check-in and checkout time, which leaves housekeeping staff enough time to clean rooms between guests arriving or leaving.
Besides this, most hotels will have special rates advertised for advance bookings, which is when a guest can book their room before the actual stay. In general, hotels prefer to have rooms booked in advance as this helps them manage their occupancy levels better. The best rates are often offered if a hotel is booked 21 days in advance, but even booking just a few days ahead may get you a cheaper rate than what is referred to as the “rack rate” when walking into the hotel to book at the front desk on the day of the stay.
Motels, whose name derives from the fact that they primarily cater to motorists, are a type of travel industry accommodation that is usually found along highways or freeways. They are similar to hotels in that they both offer parking and individual rooms for visitors, but typically lack more amenities such as restaurants and gyms. Motels are also less likely to have flexible cancellation policies than hotels.
In some cases, you may be able to negotiate with a hotel to waive their cancellation fees if you need to cancel your reservation last minute. This is particularly true if you are staying in the hotel during their peak season, when they need to fill all available rooms.
Airbnb offers a form of shared accommodation called homestays, which are private rooms in an occupied household where the hosts provide breakfast and other hospitality. This is different from hostels, which are generally more social settings where guests share kitchen, bathroom and living spaces with other guests. Hostels can either be mixed or single-sex and are usually a bit more affordable than hotels.
It is always wise to stick with a hotel chain you trust and sign up for their loyalty program. This way, you can accumulate rewards points that eventually can earn you a free stay or other perks. This is a great option for frequent travellers, especially business travelers. In addition to saving money, this approach can make it easier for you to plan trips as you will know what kind of rooms and facilities to expect.