Sanatoriums, boarding houses, guest houses, villas, motels:
what types of hotels exist in the world

When planning a trip, each person first of all thinks about the question: where will I live? It is necessary to take care in advance of a place where you can spend the night, relax and put yourself in order in between excursions and vivid impressions. And now we will study some large site for tourists in order to collect all the options for accommodation on vacation. We chose Putevkara, a convenient online service for booking sanatoriums, boarding houses and hotels throughout the Russian Federation, here: https://www.putevkaru.ru/ .

There are many accommodation options for tourists, namely:

Hotel (hotel)

The hotel is the most popular type of rental accommodation for tourists.

The hotel and the hotel have no distinctions, if you follow international standards. They differ only in names, the first of which has Slavic roots (guests, stay), and the second - French (the word "hotel" means "city mansion"). Therefore, in Russia, houses with rooms for visitors are called hotels, and in other countries - hotels.

Hotels are divided into several categories, and the principle of classification in different countries may differ. In the UK and Spain, a letter system is adopted, in Asian countries - a point system, in hotels on the African continent, the classification does not depend on the level of comfort, but on the number of services provided.

Most often, the level of the hotel is determined by the number of stars. A hotel with one star (it corresponds to category D) provides only a minimum of services - a room with a bed without a bathroom, which is most often cleaned only before a new guest checks in. There is no food. A big plus of a one-star hotel is a very low price, besides, there are always available rooms.

A hotel of category C (two stars) is also notable for its low cost of rooms, but the rooms should be cleaned daily, bed linen is changed once a week. The room can be with one or two beds.

The hotel with three stars (category B) already belongs to the average level. The room has a bathroom, TV, refrigerator (or mini-bar). Bed linen is changed twice a week, the room is cleaned every day. As a rule, on the territory of a three-star hotel there is a laundry, a swimming pool, and a gym. There is a dining room where you can have breakfast.

In the event of a sudden power outage, the three-star hotel has an autonomous electrical substation. The range of rooms is wider - for one or two people, two-room. Prices are considered average.

Four stars correspond to category A. This is a high-level hotel. In addition to the set of services of a three-star hotel, they provide additional opportunities. These include spa treatments and massages, on-site bars and restaurants, a conference room for seminars, forums and other events.

Depending on the number of additional services, accommodation in a four-star hotel can be 1.5-2 times higher than in a three-star one.

A luxury hotel (five stars) provides guests with the highest level of service. In addition to the standard services that are taken for granted, there is an emphasis on something exclusive. For example, there are hotels with their own tennis courts, a helipad, a golf course.

The five-star hotel has many rooms for every taste and budget. If funds allow, you can rent an apartment that occupies an entire floor.

The cost of rooms depends on the occupied area and the number of services, but in any case it is very high.

There are hotels that are officially considered five-star (this is the highest indicator accepted in the world), however, they put themselves in a higher position, assigning six and seven stars. They are located in the United Arab Emirates and are distinguished by the fabulous luxury of the interiors. For example, the famous Burj Al Arab hotel (Dubai), built on an artificial island near the coastline of the Persian Gulf. It is considered the highest in the world (321 m). Its interior design uses precious woods, Swarovski crystals, Italian and Brazilian marble, and gold. Yes, it is from this noble metal that the TV cases in the rooms are made, all guests are given gold tablets for temporary use.

The cost of rooms in such a hotel is fabulously high.

You should be aware that prices in different hotels depend not only on living conditions, but also on location: the closer they are to the city center or to the coastline, the more expensive the accommodation will cost. Nearby attractions and the presence of developed infrastructure also affect the price.

Boarding house (rest house)

Boarding houses - low buildings with 10-20 rooms, designed for temporary accommodation and recreation of travelers. As a rule, they are located on the coast of the sea, river or lake, in a forest. The boarding houses have sports grounds, their own beach. Residents are provided with three meals a day, rooms are cleaned twice a week. There is a cafe on the territory of the boarding house.

This type of residence is often found in Russia, France, Greece, Montenegro. The cost of living corresponds to the level of 2-3 stars.

Sanatorium

In the sanatorium you can not only relax, but also improve your health, get a range of health services, as well as spa treatments, which are paid separately. Otherwise, the sanatorium is no different from the boarding house.

Parador

Paradores are hotels that are especially popular with lovers of historical tourism. Their peculiarity is that they are located in ancient knight’s castles, fortresses, estates, Gothic buildings. Antique interiors, stone walls, four-poster beds and fireplaces help you plunge headlong into another era, feel like a person who got into the past in a time machine. A parador hotel usually has a restaurant where dishes are prepared according to old recipes from the freshest products.

Hotels of this type first appeared in Spain, and since then they have become the main feature of the Spanish tourism business.

Due to some specifics of historical buildings (for example, the lack of an elevator), not all paradors meet the world standards to have at least four stars. But the service is kept at a very high level. Therefore, it is not surprising that prices in paradors are comparable to staying in a luxury hotel.

Motel

Motels are small hotels for autotourists, 1-2 floors high, located along highways, where customers are offered the necessary minimum of services: a bed, a bathroom, a TV. But they won’t clean the room every day, and you will have to book excursions and eat in other places.

A distinctive feature of motels is that residents, leaving their room, immediately get to the parking lot. Thus, the cars of the guests are always in front of them, which is very convenient.

The motel is chosen by travelers who plan to visit several cities, staying in each for 2-3 days. The level of comfort in the room is not so important for them, since they only need it for an overnight stay. Prices in a motel are about the same as in a 1-2 star hotel.

Inns

Mini-hotels are often found in Russia and neighboring countries that were previously part of the USSR. Hotels are located in former communal apartments, each of which can consist of a dozen separate rooms with a common corridor, kitchen and bathroom.

Communal apartments are usually located in the historical center of the city, close to the main attractions. As in a regular hotel, they have an administrator, and the maids maintain cleanliness and order around the clock. Prices correspond to the level of a 1-2 star hotel.

The disadvantages of mini-hotels are a small area of rooms, an untidy entrance. As in many old buildings, there is no elevator. Must see photos before booking.

In European countries, mini-hotels are common, which are called B&B. It means "bed and breakfast" (bed & breakfast). In other words, the room rate includes bed and breakfast, while lunch and dinner can be obtained for a fee. In Russia, B&B hotels are called "half board".

Prices are at the level of a 2 star hotel, with the exception of Germany, where B&B is very widespread. Prices there are the same as in a 4-star hotel.

Hostel

Even 10-15 years ago, the hostel was considered a dubious rental option. If even in a former communal apartment converted into a hotel, the client is given the keys to a separate room, then in the hostel they can only offer a separate bed. To live in a room alone, you have to pay for the rest of the beds, laying out a round sum. One hostel room can accommodate from 2 to 12 people, but the most common option is a six-bed room.

The hostel is a great option for a large company. It is also suitable for those who cannot afford a separate room in a comfortable hotel. This is the cheapest accommodation, at the level of a one-star hotel and even lower.

Guest House

A guest house differs from hotels in that it is a private property. The owner can rent out the whole house, as well as its separate floor or several rooms. In this case, the owner himself can live in the same house. It provides travelers with separate rooms, clean linens, towels, dishes. Some hosts prepare breakfast for their guests for a fee or allow the use of the kitchen.

The guest house has home comfort, the rooms are equipped no worse than in an expensive hotel. At the same time, prices are quite moderate, at the level of 1-2 stars.

Boarding house

The boarding house differs from the guest house only in that you can rent a room in it for a long time - from several weeks to several months. But you can also stay at the guesthouse for a couple of nights.

Shabr-dot

This is a kind of guest houses that belong to the owners of the vineyards. It is always a pleasure to be in such a picturesque setting, and it is not so important what will become a temporary shelter - a mansion or a small hut immersed in greenery. Nevertheless, the cost of housing is directly related to the level of comfort. On average, it is comparable to living in a guest house.

Aparthotel

Apartments are separate apartments, with bathroom and kitchen, which can be rented for any period. However, they are cleaned daily.

An apart-hotel is a complex building that includes several apartments, a swimming pool, bars, and sports grounds.

Prices are kept at the level of a five-star hotel.

Villa

Villas are well-maintained country houses with a garden and a garage. It is also kept clean on a daily basis.

Such rental housing is especially popular in resort cities. The villas are located away from those places where there are crowds of tourists. Prices can be compared with accommodation in a 5 star hotel.

exotic hotels

Each exotic hotel has a unique feature. In the USA, for example, there are underwater hotels; in the Arctic regions, you can stay in a hotel built of ice. In Japan, capsule hotels are being built, consisting of small sleeping cells.

Hotels of the HV (holiday village) category can also be classified as exotic. These are the so-called club hotels - complexes by the sea or ocean, where each traveler lives alone or with his family in a separate bungalow with a kitchen and a terrace, among lush greenery. In terms of infrastructure, the club hotel resembles a small copy of a resort town where tourists live, relax, and go in for water sports. In terms of service level, the complex is equal to a luxury hotel. The more unusual the hotel, the more expensive the stay in it.

Specialized hotels

All hotels can be classified according to directions. So, tourist hotels are most often located on the seashore, close to the main attractions and places of entertainment. There are conditions for a beach holiday, interesting excursions are offered.

Business hotels are located in the business centers of major cities. At the disposal of businessmen - luxury apartments, conference rooms, car rental.

Spa hotels offer health and beauty services. They are built near the sea or ocean.

The hotel-casino simultaneously provides accommodation and the opportunity to gamble without leaving the hotel building.

There are special hotels for people with non-traditional sexual orientation, where they can feel free.

The cost of living depends on the thematic focus of the hotel, but the average price will not be lower than 4 stars.

Room in the private sector

If a guest house can be found and booked on Internet resources, then you need to look for a room or apartment with local residents right on the spot.

This is what many vacationers do upon arrival in the resort city. For autotourists who are passing through this city, rented accommodation in a private house is preferable to a motel. If you find an apartment near the sea, you can spend a couple of days on the beach, swimming and sunbathing.

Local residents rent rooms by the day, but they can stay for a few days. Guests have at their disposal one or two beds with clean linen, a small refrigerator. The price will depend on where the private house is located, but usually it does not exceed the cost of a room in a hotel with one or two stars.

Couchsurfing

With the development of social networks, new opportunities appear. For example, couchsurfing is gaining momentum - the exchange of housing for a vacation. There are special sites where couchsurfers meet and agree on terms and places of residence. So you can travel around the world, staying not in hotels, but in the houses of exchange friends, and next time wait for them to return.

This type of accommodation is especially popular with students and active young people.

Let’s summarize. When choosing accommodation, it is necessary to take into account both prices and living conditions. To save money, it is better to choose mini-hotels or guest houses. They provide comfortable conditions at an affordable price. If there is very little money, you can stay in a hostel or an inexpensive hotel with 1-2 stars. Of course, the conditions there are below average, but a separate bed and the opportunity to freshen up in the shower will be provided. And if you use the housing exchange program, accommodation will be completely free.

Motels and local houses are the best accommodation for people traveling by car to visit many cities. A bed, a shower, a parking space - everything a caravaner needs.

Boarding houses, hotels of 3-4 stars will create a calm and comfortable environment, will give an opportunity to relax, forget about everyday problems for travelers who belong to the middle class.

And for those who do not have financial problems, it is better to choose villas, apartments or five-star hotels with excellent service, where you can spend time with taste and chic. Paradors, exotic hotels will turn your vacation into an unforgettable adventure, fill your days of rest with new bright emotions.