Types of Accommodations: Hotels, Self-Catering, and More

Posted on Dec 18, 2024 in English

Classification of Accommodation

Self-Catering and Serviced Accommodation

Accommodation is normally classified into:

Self-Catering: Where meals are not provided.
Serviced: Where meals are provided and which can be classified according to the quality of the services offered (on the part of the staff) and the facilities available (relating to the equipment offered by the building).

Types of Serviced Accommodation

Hotels with World-Class Service: These hotels are used by famous and wealthy people. They offer top-quality services with a dedicated staff to meet every need.
Mid-Range Service Hotels: These hotels are for a wide range of travelers. They provide good service, decent comfort, and fair prices.
Economy Service Hotels: These hotels offer basic services at affordable prices. They are for travelers who need a cheap place to stay without many extra services.

Hotels are also rated by stars, from one star (basic) to five stars (luxury).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Catering Accommodation

Advantages:
- Guests have independence and are not tied to strict schedules.
- It’s usually cheaper than staying in hotels.
Disadvantages:
- No meals provided, so guests must cook for themselves or find a nearby restaurant.
- There’s no official rating system, so the quality can vary, which may lead to surprises.
- It’s a good idea to sign a contract that clearly explains what services are included and what isn’t, along with the rights and responsibilities of both the guest and the provider.

Types of Hotel

Dimensions:
- Small (less than 150 rooms)
- Medium-Sized (150-600 rooms)
- Large (over 600 rooms)
Target Market:
- City Hotels: Are located close to tourist attractions or shopping areas.
- Business Hotels: Cater to business travelers primarily and are usually located downtown or in business areas.
- Motels: Have a large car park and are normally located close to motorway exits and outside the city center.
- Airport Hotels: Are aimed at business travelers and airline passengers.
- Conference Hotels: Provide special services for conferences and conventions.
- Inns: Are pubs with rooms that provide breakfast and dinner.
- Bed and Breakfasts and Guest Houses: Offer one or two rooms in someone’s house, where the owner normally lives.
- Resort Hotels and Holiday Villages: Are used by tourists on holiday.
- Spa Hotels: Use local natural mineral water to attract customers.
- Country Hotels and Farmhouses: Offer guests the chance to live the country life.

Choosing a Hotel

Location: The hotel could be in the city center, near an attraction, by the sea.
Price
Type of Room:
1. Single Room: For one person, usually with an extra charge.
2. Double Room: For two people, with one double bed.
3. Twin Room: For two people, with two separate single beds.
4. Triple and Quadruple Rooms: For three or four people, but these are rare.
5. Suite: A room with more than one room and a living area.
Services and Facilities: The basic service is the room and bathroom, but there may also be extra services (like a pool or gym), which can affect the price.
Board Base:
- Room Only: Just the room, no meals.
- Bed and Breakfast: The room and breakfast included.
- Half Board: Breakfast and one other meal.
- Full Board: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Check-In and Check-Out

Check-in: When guests arrive at the hotel, they go to the reception. If they have a reservation, it’s called “check-in.” If they don’t have a booking, it’s called “walk-in.” The receptionist will ask for personal details and an ID, check how long the stay is, and explain the payment terms. Then, the receptionist will give the room key and explain how to get to the room and other important information (like breakfast hours or pool opening times).
Check-out: When guests leave, they “check-out.” This means they return the room key and pay the bill.

Hotel Staff: Hotel staff work in different departments, all managed by a general manager who oversees everything. Depending on the hotel’s size, there may be several different departments.

Self-Catering Accommodation

Self-catering accommodation means there are no food services provided. Guests have to cook their own food, as there’s no restaurant for meals like breakfast. The facilities, such as sleeping areas, bathrooms, living spaces, and kitchens, are usually shared.

Non-Serviced Accommodation

Non-serviced accommodation includes:

University Residences: These are places where students can stay, often in single or shared rooms, with or without a private bathroom. There are shared living areas and kitchens. These are usually near universities and have good public transport connections.
Religious Institutions (like convents and monasteries): These offer simple accommodation, sometimes with meals. They are often in quiet or historic locations. Some may have a curfew, meaning guests must return by a certain time.
Youth Hostels: These are for young people or other travelers looking for affordable places to stay. Hostels often have shared dorms or private rooms. Bathrooms and kitchens are usually shared. They are popular with backpackers traveling on a budget.

New Forms of Accommodation

Different types of accommodation are emerging, and they are:

Hotels

Capsule Hotels: These started in Japan and offer small, basic rooms called “capsules” for cheap overnight stays.
Eco Hotels: These are environmentally friendly hotels that focus on sustainability, using renewable energy, recycled materials, and locally sourced, organic food.
Fragmented Hotels: These have rooms, studios, and apartments spread across a close area (like an old village), all managed by one company.
Horizontal Hotels: In these hotels, guests stay in bungalows instead of hotel rooms.
Pods: Small, prefabricated structures offering basic accommodation.
Pop-up Hotels: Temporary hotels set up for events like festivals, weddings, or corporate gatherings.

In Nature

Glamping: A mix of “glamorous” and “camping,” offering luxurious accommodations and more amenities than a regular campsite.
Ice Hotels: Temporary hotels made of ice and snow.
Lodges: Small, rural houses, often used seasonally. Some offer full services like air conditioning and swimming pools, while others provide basic amenities.
Treehouses: Houses built in the branches of trees.

At Someone’s Home

Homestays: Staying with a local family to experience the culture more deeply.
House Sitting/Pet-sitting: Staying in someone’s house and taking care of their home and pets while they are away.