AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area Difference between Hotel/Inn and Motel and Hostel

Hotel:
An establishment that provides lodging and usually meals and other services for travelers and other paying guests.

Motel:
An establishment that provides lodging for motorists in rooms usually having direct access to an open parking area.

Hostel:
A supervised, inexpensive lodging place for travelers, especially young travelers.
2. An inn; a hotel.

So in my opinion(spelled correctly):

There are no "motels" on Ambergris Caye. Therefore someone using the word "motel" for any establishment on Ambergris Caye is either being slanderous or is very uninformed when it comes to hotel suite accommodations versus a "motel" room.

Actually, considering the definition of "motorist" and from thence "automobile", I can think of many motels on AC...given your definition of "motel".

It is actually from the American Heritage Dictionary and you are missing the point. The point is for those that dont know the difference and say that certain hotels/resorts are comparable to up-scale motels.

OK, can someone clue me in as to what a traveler should expect in a guesthouse versus a villa or a suite other than size of the accomodation?
We are trying to find a good "name" for our lodging. It will be two units in the main building (a two bedtoom upstairs and a one bedroom down) plus two additional buildings (a studio/honeymoon beachfront unit and a duplex with a bedroom and a loft in one part and an attached bedroom with separate or joined access).
All will have water views and pool views. All will have some type of self catering (mini kitchen or full kitchen).
No restaurant on site, but caretakers will provide meals on request.
What do we call it?

Looks like it;s your call:

Guesthouse: A small house or cottage adjacent to a main house, used for lodging guests.
A bed-and-breakfast.


villa -
The often large, luxurious country house of a well-to-do person.
A country estate with a substantial house.
Chiefly British. A house in a middle-class suburb.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition


Hey OJ - When ya heading South? I'm thinking it might be time again soon too :p

"HOME"

Source: NYgal's Best Edition

I've given this much thought and have come up with a winner for your name.....

The Denny Shane Palacial Estates Room.

Has a nice ring huh?

Real,real soon KLC!!
:p
Jackie

Gotta luv those cryptic replies

Banana beach looks like a motel.

When you go into the business of rentals of a duration of less than 6 months, you are subject to the provisions of the "Hotel Act". The BTB is a government agency that oversees the hospitality industry, and it must approve your establishment and grant you a licence under this act. The BTB has several categories of licenses, including "Villa", "Lodge", "Hotel", "Guest House", etc.
BTB publishes a booklet that sets out information on "minimum standards" for each type of establishment and the kinds of activities and facilities it takes to be called one thing or another.
You are supposed to inform BTB (Registrar of Hotels) prior to construction if your intent is to engage in the hospitality industry. Do some homework - you will be glad you did.

Thanks Diane! As of now we have only a "house" under construction. It will be interesting to see how the BTB describes these different types of lodgings. We are only in the planning stages of the larger development but need to define ourselves. I appreciate your input.

If you arrive at your hotel in a golf cart, and then rent the golf cart for your stay, and park it at the hotel... I would assume that now it is a motel (motor hotel) = MOtor hoTEL

exterior doors to rooms=motel
interior doors to rooms=hotel
sharing spaces=hostel

IMHO mode of transportation has nothing to do with accommodations.

You are right Chloe... nowadays there are really no differences , but when the word motel was coined it did make a huge difference.