Size and scale: Motels tend to be smaller establishments with fewer rooms, while hotels are larger and offer a more extensive range of facilities. Inns fall somewhere in between, typically smaller in scale compared to hotels but larger than most motels.
Motels: Motels were originally called “motor hotels,” targeted toward family and business travelers who were traveling by car. Motels usually offer a basic level of accommodation and simple amenities, as they are designed to meet the needs of people who might only be staying one or two nights.
Entering dictionaries after World War II, the word motel, coined as a portmanteau of motor hotel, originates from the Milestone Mo-Tel of San Luis Obispo, California (now called the Motel Inn of San Luis Obispo), which was built in 1925.
A grand hotel is a large and luxurious hotel, especially one housed in a building with traditional architectural style. It began to flourish in the 1800s in Europe and North America.
Facilities & amenities: Motels sometimes don't have the kinds of amenities that you would find in accommodations for longer stays, while hotels often offer fitness centers, laundry rooms, laundry service, or swimming pools. Dining: Most motels don't have a restaurant or bar while many, though not all, hotels do.
Cost: Motels are often less expensive than hotels due to high guest turnover, minimal staffing requirements, and lack of amenities. Room door location: In hotels, guest room doors usually open to interior hallways. Many motels do not have shared interior hallways and guest room doors open directly to the parking lot.