Traveling and hotels are large service industries in the world that are increasingly important in modern times. They cater to travellers’ needs during their trip and offer accommodation in private rooms at varying prices, with some having additional services available.
Hotels can be divided into several categories based on their type of services they provide to guests, their location and other factors. Generally, they range from motels (low-priced and less serviced) to luxury hotels with a high standard of accommodation and services.
Some hotels have a full-service restaurant and bar, while others have a limited dining area or a bar only serving drinks. Similarly, some hotels have a fitness centre and pool and others do not.
Most hotels have a check-in desk or counter in the lobby where a guest can register and request room keys. Some also offer automated check-in and check-out systems, usually for a fee.
Other options for booking a hotel room include aggregators and online travel agents, which often have special deals with certain hotel chains. These rates may be better than a hotel’s rack rate when booked directly through the hotel.
Hostels are another accommodation option for travellers. These provide dorm rooms for a small fee, with a variety of types, including mixed and same-sex dormitories.
Homestays have also become an increasing popular option for travelling, with websites such as Airbnb providing homestay offerings in locations worldwide. These can be rented as a single room or multiple rooms, and offer an alternative to traditional hotel bookings.