3 ms·

As I mentioned above, my understanding is that hotels have internally-connected hallways that link the rooms, whereas motel rooms connect directly to the outsid

As I mentioned above, my understanding is that hotels have internally-connected hallways that link the rooms, whereas motel rooms connect directly to the outside. Note: I am American, too.

cronix 8y ago
Yes, at least in the USA. > "Hotel," according to Merriam-Webster, originated in the year 1765 and comes from a French word for an establishment that provides lodging, meals and other services. > "Motel" came along much later, in 1925, according to Merriam-Webster. It blends the words "motor" and "hotel" and is meant to describe an establishment that provides some, but not necessarily all of the services associated with a hotel. Motels, according to San Jose State University communications professor Andrew Wood, are an entirely American phenomenon: They originated as inns along the country's first major motorways, offering rest to weary explorers and families on vacation. > Hotels and motels differ in layout and construction. Hotels can contain hundreds of rooms and several floors; they generally have staircases, elevators and internal corridors that lead to the rooms. Motels commonly have a one- or two-floor layout and guests access their rooms directly from the parking lot. > Some hotels, especially those in the luxury-accommodations realm, exhibit specific styles of architecture and design, such as the Waldorf Astoria of New York. Motels typically have a more utilitarian construction. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/difference-between-hotels-motels-2976.html https://traveltips.usatoday.com/difference-between-hotels-mo...
- kazinator 8y ago
  Hotel is related to hostel. Regarding French, note that many words that have a circumflex-o in modern French correspond to "os" words in English. Like hôpital -> hospital. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumflex_in_French#Indication_of_a_lost_phoneme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumflex_in_French#Indicatio... So "hotel" is basically a re-import of "hostel" from French which had become "hôtel" due to the lost phoneme. So now we have both hostel and hotel. All of the words hotel, hostel, hospital and related words ultimately come from the Latin word hospitale (inn, large house).
  - thaumasiotes 8y ago
    hospitale is transparently derived from hospis, "host".

As I mentioned above, my understanding is that hotels have internally-connected hallways that link the rooms, whereas motel rooms connect directly to the outside. Note: I am American, too.

cronix 8y ago

Yes, at least in the USA. > "Hotel," according to Merriam-Webster, originated in the year 1765 and comes from a French word for an establishment that provides lodging, meals and other services. > "Motel" came along much later, in 1925, according to Merriam-Webster. It blends the words "motor" and "hotel" and is meant to describe an establishment that provides some, but not necessarily all of the services associated with a hotel. Motels, according to San Jose State University communications professor Andrew Wood, are an entirely American phenomenon: They originated as inns along the country's first major motorways, offering rest to weary explorers and families on vacation. > Hotels and motels differ in layout and construction. Hotels can contain hundreds of rooms and several floors; they generally have staircases, elevators and internal corridors that lead to the rooms. Motels commonly have a one- or two-floor layout and guests access their rooms directly from the parking lot. > Some hotels, especially those in the luxury-accommodations realm, exhibit specific styles of architecture and design, such as the Waldorf Astoria of New York. Motels typically have a more utilitarian construction. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/difference-between-hotels-motels-2976.html https://traveltips.usatoday.com/difference-between-hotels-mo...

kazinator 8y ago
Hotel is related to hostel. Regarding French, note that many words that have a circumflex-o in modern French correspond to "os" words in English. Like hôpital -> hospital. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumflex_in_French#Indication_of_a_lost_phoneme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumflex_in_French#Indicatio... So "hotel" is basically a re-import of "hostel" from French which had become "hôtel" due to the lost phoneme. So now we have both hostel and hotel. All of the words hotel, hostel, hospital and related words ultimately come from the Latin word hospitale (inn, large house).
- thaumasiotes 8y ago
  hospitale is transparently derived from hospis, "host".