A motel is a public lodging establishment for automobile travelers. Motels have traditionally differed from hotels in that the former have facilities for free parking on the premises, are seldom more than three stories high, and offer occupants direct access to rooms without having to pass through a lobby. Motels are also generally smaller and farther away from urban areas, and they offer fewer services than hotels.
The distinction between motels and hotels, however, is very difficult to make, especially in the case of the so-called motor hotels, which combine the characteristics of both types of establishment. In the 1980s and 90s, some midrange motels began to offer suite accommodations and other features once found only in hotels. Motels can be seen as logical heirs to the earlier American public houses. Just as the inn was suited to 18th-century horse travel, and the hotel was suited to 19th-century railroad travel, the modern motel is suited to mass automobile travel on 21st-century expressways.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) classifies motels as a limited service lodging type with the following definition: "A low-rise or multistory establishment offering limited public and recreational facilities." Motels or Motor Lodges offer accommodations in low-rise structures with rooms easily accessible to parking (which is usually free). Properties have outdoor entry and small, functional lobbies. Service is often limited, and dining may not be offered in lower-rated motels and lodges. Shops and businesses are found only in higher-rated properties, as are bellhops, room service, and restaurants serving three meals daily.
A limited-service motel is traditionally a One-Star or Two-Star lodging. At a One-Star motel, guests can expect to find a clean, comfortable lodging that commonly serves a complimentary continental breakfast. A Two-Star motel is also clean and comfortable but has expanded amenities, such as a full-service restaurant, business center, and fitness center. These services may have limited staffing and/or restricted hours of use.
