Types of Accommodations – What Options Are There?

You’ve decided to travel, and you’ve got a ticket or a car. What is your next step? Where are you going to stay? What types of accommodations will be available to you?

You find yourself at “home” in a number of different places while traveling. We’ll cover the most common ones you can find around the world, ranging from hotels to Airbnb to all-inclusive to hostels and couch surfing. We’ll go over each of these in some basic detail, but we’ll cover the pros and cons of hotels and Airbnb (homestays), B&Bs, and the shoestring, Couchsurfing when traveling. You can see a deeper look into hotels vs. Airbnb vs. hostels here.

Hotels & Motels

An image of a hotel. Hotels are great accommodations available everywhere in the world. — Hotels are great accommodations available everywhere in the world. – Photo by Edvin Johansson on Unsplash

Everyone has heard of and likely stayed in a hotel (or motel), so you know what to expect, however, not all are created equal. There are some big differences between these accommodations.

Do I want a hotel or a motel, and what’s the difference?

Hotels:

Larger in terms of the number of rooms
More amenities (indoor pools, gyms/spas, restaurants, etc.)
Multi-story (more often than not)
Room entrances are accessed (generally) from inside the building
A larger variety of room options
More expensive

Motels:

Often smaller in terms overall number of rooms
Fewer amenities, though occasional breakfast options are sometimes available
1-2 stories on average
Room entrances that lead directly outside
Fewer amenities (occasional pools)
Cheaper

Looking at this list, you’ll have to decide what’s better for you, though know that internationally, motels are far less common, at least the US-style version. You can find an Inn, which could go either way as far as whether it’s a hotel or motel.

Hotels are going to be more expensive than motels and likely have better locations. Motels are more commonly outside cities, near airports, which can make them excellent options for one-night stays before a flight. However, be warned, they are, on average, going to be less secure and not as nice.

Your choice of a motel over a hotel (or vice versa) is personal. You may prefer to choose a hotel over a motel due to comfort or security. You factor in cost or convenience, however, and choose a motel. In smaller towns with smaller airports, oftentimes motels are your only option.

With all of that said, motels can be quite lovely and have some charm to them so don’t necessarily count them out!

Airbnbs

There was a time when the only real players in town were the hotels and motels. Suddenly, this startup comes and lets people rent out their rooms, condos, and homes for people on the go. In the early days, Airbnb was also considerably cheaper than hotels. It provided more utility (bigger spaces, kitchens, more sleeping arrangements, etc.). This, however, did not last.

Today, the costs of Airbnb (and their siblings such as VRBO, HomeAway, etc.) have risen considerably. Regulatory bodies in many places outlawed Airbnbs, forced wonders to require permits, or just generally made it more difficult for owners to rent out their abodes. The rise in popularity of Airbnb also means more hosts tacking on all kinds of fees to stay. However, Airbnb has recently changed their policy so renters can see all fees in the final price before booking (not taxes, however). This brings us to today. Airbnb is still extremely popular. They might still be cheaper than hotels and available for you to stay during your trips.

Airbnbs have something for everyone. If you’re traveling in groups and all want to stay together, an Airbnb might be for you. If you aren’t interested in eating out and want to save money, many Airbnbs (not all) are equipped with small kitchens. Airbnbs can also provide a greater variety of locales when looking at areas to stay. Since hotels are bigger and more strictly zoned (perhaps not as much anymore – e.g., Hawaii), you’ll have more options for where you’d like to stay. Airbnbs are also great if you’re looking to stay somewhere for a longer period of time (weeks to months).

Hotels offer laundry services, don’t use them. Many, but again not all, Airbnbs have washer/dryers available. If laundry is a concern, be sure to make sure before booking that these features are available.

Check out our detailed comparison between hotels and Airbnbs here to help you get a better idea of what accommodations might best suit you and your trip.

Hostels

An image of a hostel. Accommodations like these are made for everyone! — Hostel accommodations aren’t just for the younger crowd! – Photo by Marcus Loke on Unsplash

Hostels are just for young people traveling on a shoestring, right? Wrong. Hostels can be a great way to travel for people of any age. There are options suited for new and inexperienced travelers and seasoned vets who have been around the world. They’re also prevalent in every major city, giving you an option for great locations worldwide. Hostels are great accommodations for all travelers.

A few positives as hostels do often offer kitchens. Many hostels utilize shared kitchens, giving you the option of cooking instead of eating out. You may need to do laundry during your trip as well. Many hostels have pay to use washer/dryers so you can clean your clothes as you go. Compared to the cost of doing this at a hotel (never do it at a hotel!), this is a very nice benefit of hostels. Be sure to check first, however, to make sure your hostel has this equipped. Otherwise, be on the lookout for a laundromat.

Let’s look at some of the options available at most hostels.

Hostel Dormitories

While hostels offer something for everyone, accommodations in a hostel dorm might not. Dorms are male/female and can range in size from 4 people to a dorm to up to 20. These are by far the cheapest options available at a hostel, fitting even the tightest budgets. There are pros and cons to dorms, let’s take a look.

Pros

Affordable – Ranging from a few dollars (depending on location) to maybe $50 a day. A quick search shows Paris dorm hostels with rooms at USD $25 a night over the Winter Holidays, a peak travel time.
New People – A dorm provides an opportunity to get to know other travelers, which is one of the most significant upsides of staying in a hostel.

Cons

Less secure – most hostels will have areas that will store valuables for you, but in a dorm, know that your bags are generally kept with you, meaning others have access to them.
Less privacy – You’ll be sleeping in a room with strangers. Some might snore, some might come in late, and some might be obnoxiously drunk.
Shared bathrooms – If having a private bathroom is crucial to you, then dorms might not be in your best interest as you’ll not only share a room with others but also a bathroom.

Private Hostel Rooms

Private hostel rooms can be another great way to go, so let’s look at what they do and do not offer.

Pros

Privacy – You won’t be sleeping with strangers, but many dorms offer private rooms where groups can stay with you (usually up to about 8).
Bathrooms – Unlike dormitories, many private rooms have their own bathrooms.
Security – Strangers will not have access to your items, and you’ll be able to lock your room.

Cons

Expensive – There was a time when private hostel rooms were much cheaper than hotels (they still are compared to big-name hotel brands), but they can range anywhere from 2 to 10 times as much as a dormitory.
Bathrooms – Not all private hostel rooms have private bathrooms. Be sure to check!

Couch Surfing

This is the ultimate shoestring/budget travel option when looking for accommodations. Couch surfing is staying with someone for free but offering something in return. It is a chance to stay in a room, couch, floor, whatever’s available for someone living in the place you’d like to visit.

With couch surfing, you don’t pay for any accommodation, but repayment in kind is appreciated. Oftentimes, guests might cook dinner for the host (more than once, depending on the length of stay), treat them to a nice dinner out, help clean the place, etc. Something that makes the host’s life easier or that they may not do themselves.

Some major sites that offer these accommodations such as these include Couchsurfing (the original couch surfing site), BeWelcome (similar to Couchsurfing), WarmShowers (catering to cyclists), or MovingWorlds (a chance for professionals to use their skills in exchange for a place to stay). These are just a few examples of what is available, but there are plenty of others. A quick Google search will help you find a plethora of sites.

Couch surfing is often (not always) used with the younger traveling generation, but like hostels, it is a great way to meet people! If you’re interested in meeting people, traveling cheaply, and being kind, then couch surfing may be for you!

Bed & Breakfasts

B&Bs are nice accommodations if you’re looking for a place where you won’t have wild neighbors, you might still get to meet other travelers (though usually older) and be in a more peaceful neighborhood.

Admittedly, we have limited experience with B&Bs, and while they’re far less common, they can be lovely places to stay. Most B&Bs will offer you a private room and most likely have a private bathroom. The most significant benefit of a B&B, however, is….breakfast! B&Bs will offer lovely little breakfasts for you while you stay.

Wrapping Up

These are some of the mainstay ways that travelers use for accommodations. Others are still available (such as camping), but these tend to be the most common. If you like more detailed information about the big three: hotels, Airbnb, and hostels, check out our page! There are certainly other options, so if you have another preferred type of place to stay, let us know in the comments!