Types of Accommodation at TodayTourism.com

Understanding the Different Types of Accommodation


An apartment (American English), flat (British English) or unit (Australian English) is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building, generally on a single level. Such a building may be called an apartment building, apartment complex, flat complex, block of flats, tower block, high-rise or, occasionally, mansion block (in British English), especially if it consists of many apartments for rent. In Scotland, it is called a block of flats or, if it is a traditional sandstone building, a tenement, a term which has a pejorative connotation in the US. In some parts of the world, the word apartment refers to a new purpose-built self-contained residential unit in a building, whereas the word flat means a converted self-contained unit in an older building. An industrial, warehouse, or commercial space converted to an apartment is commonly called a loft, although some modern lofts are built by design. An apartment consisting of the top floor of a high-rise apartment building can be called a penthouse. Types: Studio apartment, Garden apartment, Secondary suite, Maisonette, Two-story flat, Loft apartment, Communal apartment, Serviced apartment Facilities: Apartments may be available for rent furnished, with furniture, or unfurnished into which a tenant moves in with their own furniture. Serviced apartments, intended to be convenient for shorter stays, include soft furnishings and kitchen utensils, and maid service. Search & Book Apartments

Guest accommodation

A guest house (also guesthouse) is a kind of lodging. In some parts of other parts of the world (such as for example the Caribbean), guest houses are a type of inexpensive hotel-like lodging. In still others, it is a private home which has been converted for the exclusive use of guest accommodation. The owner usually lives in an entirely separate area within the property and the guest house may serve as a form of lodging business. This type of accommodation presents some major benefits [1] such as: Personalized attention, Healthy and homemade food, Quietness, Inexpensiveness, Modern design Search & Book Guest Houses


Hostels, also known as youth hostels, backpackers` hostels, or just backpackers, are a form of cheap accommodation for travellers, costing a fraction of what you`d pay at a hotel. Instead of having a room to themselves, hostel-goers typically sleep in a bunk in a "dormitory-style" room shared with other guests. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, depending on the hostel and the guest`s preference. Shared rooms typically include lockers for storing backpacks or valuables, but you may have to bring your own padlock. Some hostels also offer private rooms, which are more expensive than bunks but still generally cheaper than a hotel. Hostels are designed to reduce costs: bathrooms are shared, toiletries aside from hand soap and toilet paper are not provided, and if there is a free breakfast it will probably be skimpy and require you to wash your dishes. Many hostels cut costs in other ways too, for instance by charging extra for towel


Hotels provide accommodation usually in private rooms for guests. They range from very basic budget-style to extremely luxurious accommodation; various rating systems award "stars" based on levels of provided amenity. Hotels have some level of service for guests; at least a lobby desk. Grand old hotels are glamorous hotels, usually dating back a hundred years or more. Hotel themes include the following: Family hotels, Love/Romantic hotels, Spa hotels, Boutique hotels, Budget hotels, Golf hotels Search & Book Hotels


A motel, is self-contained travel accommodation adapted for people who are travelling by car. Motels are typically at 1 or 2-star level with few shared amenities. Guest rooms typically have designated parking spaces; lobby and community areas are absent, or very basic. If there`s a pool, it will be outdoors and (depending on the climate) usable only seasonally. A minority have an on-site restaurant; there is no room service. As the original architecture had rooms opening directly onto a car park, rooms are self-contained with a private WC, wash handbasin and shower/bath "en suite".


A resort (North American English) is an isolated place,self-contained commercial establishment that tries to provide most of a vacationer`s wants, such as food, drink, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping, on the premises. The term resort may be used for a hotel property that provides an array of amenities, typically including entertainment and recreational activities. A hotel is frequently a central feature of a resort. Some resorts are also condominium complexes that are timeshares or owed fractionally or wholly owned condominium. Search & Book Resorts

Bed and breakfasts

A bed and breakfast (often abbreviated to B&B, B and B, BnB or BB) is an accommodation type that really just modernizes the age-old, world-wide practice of travellers staying at a private residence or boarding house, often with a full breakfast included. The host family`s local knowledge is often a tremendous asset in ensuring a rewarding stay. Typically there are just a few rooms and personal contact is much greater than in a hotel or motel setting. Sometimes the B&B is a converted old stately residence with the owner`s family acting as staff. Bed and breakfast travelling has a loyal following as many find that they get a "home away from home" experience, often with better value than with hotel or motel stays.


A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn that has existed since the eighth century. A typical ryokan has a relatively large entrance hall, with couches and chairs where guests can sit and talk; a modernized ryokan often has a television in the hall as well. Guest rooms are constructed using traditional Japanese methods: flooring is tatami, and doors are sliding doors. Even if the inn uses hinged doors for security, it usually opens into a small entranceway where guests can take off their shoes before stepping onto the tatami floor, which would be separated by a sliding door. Many ryokan rooms also feature a porch or balcony, also set off with a sliding door. Minshuku are a budget version of ryokan, roughly equivalent to a British boarding house or a bed and breakfast. The facilities are similar to a hotel or may simply consist of spare rooms in a family home. Minshuku often serve as the only type of accommodation in towns or villages too small to warrant a dedicated hotel or ryokan. The overall experience is much the same, but the food is simpler, dining may be optional and is often communal, rooms do not usually have a private toilet, and guests may have to lay out their own bedding. Search & Book Ryokans

Farm stays

A farm house, farm stay (or farmstay) is any type of accommodation on a working farm. Some farm stays may be interactive. Some are family-focused, offering children opportunities to feed animals, collect eggs and learn how a farm functions. Others don`t allow children and instead offer a peaceful retreat for adults. For the accommodations, guests normally pay rates similar to area bed & breakfasts or vacation rentals, although pricing varies considerably. Possible farm stay accommodations include: Cabins, Cottages, Converted barns/outbuildings, Farmhouse guest rooms, Platform tents, Tent camping, Yurts Farm stays can be described as agritourism (a farmer opening his/her farm to tourists for any reason, including farm stands and u-pick), ecotourism (Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people), and geotourism (tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents). Search & Book Farm stays

Holiday parks

Tourist campsite facility offering a wide range of accommodation styles. The holiday park is a UK version of the North American trailer park. Some holiday parks includes a small campsite for those touring the area, where they can pay to pitch tents or site touring caravans and motorhomes. Touring campsites have full access to the Holiday parks facilities, including clothes washing and showering. Most holiday parks include a central entertainments block, which can include a shop, restaurants, and a multi-purpose theatre used for both stage and activity-based entertainment. Search & Book Holiday parks


A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. Today the term "villa" is often applied to vacation rental properties. In the United Kingdom the term is used of high quality detached homes in warm destinations, particularly Florida and the Mediterranean. Search & Book Villas


A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in an outdoor area. A campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans. There are two types of campsites: - an impromptu area (as one might decide to stop while backpacking or hiking) - a designated area with improvements and various facilities. Search & Book Campsites


A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as accommodation. Some houseboats are not motorized, because they are usually moored, kept stationary at a fixed point and often tethered to land to provide utilities. Float house is a Canadian and American term for a house on a float (raft), a rough house may be called a shanty boat. In Western countries, houseboats tend to be either owned privately or rented out to holiday-goers, and on some canals in Europe, people dwell in houseboats all year round. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, Amsterdam, London, and Paris. Search & Book HouseBoats

Guest houses



Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging and, usually, food and drink. They are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommodation for horses. Search & Book Inns


An apartment hotel (Aparthotel) is a hotel that has some features of apartments. Apartment hotels are popular in the United States, and they also exist in some other countries, such as Canada and many Asian countries. In some cases, they are used by regular pleasure and business travelers, but they are designed for longer term use, such as by those who are spending a significant amount of time in an area away from home, or are in transition between houses. Apartment hotels differ from traditional hotels and motels in a variety of ways. Frequently, they offer housekeeping service less often if at all and do not replace linens as often. At the same time, they may provide other amenities absent from other hotels, such as full kitchens. Some chains rent their rooms for a minimum of one week. Stays of less than a week are permitted, provided that a full week is paid for, and in some cases, this can be less than the nightly rate at traditional hotels in the same market. Search & Book Aparthotels

Holiday homes



Lodge is originally a term for a relatively small building, often associated with a larger one. Possible Lodge accommodations include: - Hunting lodge, a building that is built to accommodate hunters - Safari lodge, also called a game lodge, a type of tourist accommodation in southern and eastern Africa - Ski lodge, a building that is purpose-built to support the sport of snow skiing Search & Book Lodges


Homestay is a popular form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors stay in a house or apartment of a local of the city to which they are traveling. The length of stay can vary from one night to even a year. Longer term homestays are popular with students that are participating in study abroad programs. Homestays are examples of collaborative consumption and sharing. Search & Book Homestays

Country houses

An country house is a large house or mansion in the countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country. Search & Book Country Houses

Luxury tents

Discover luxury even when camping when you take a glamping getaway to your selected destination. Camping is a popular form of recreation which often involves the use of tents. A tent is economical and practical because of its portability and low environmental impact. These qualities are necessary when used in the wilderness or backcountry. Search & Book Tents

Capsule hotels

Capsule hotels are a type of economical hotel first introduced in Japan, where people sleep in stacks of rectangular containers. Capsule hotels are a cheap form of accommodation, usually more or less on par with a dorm bed in a hostel, in terms of pricing. The "rooms" are little more than small one-person capsules with only a mattress, radio, and TV. Note that most capsule hotels are segregated by gender, while many, if not most, don`t accept female guests at all. Search & Book Capsule hotels

Love hotels

Discover the most romantic hotels for couples. Surprise your partner with a romantic short break or holiday in a dream destination! Search & Book Love Hotels


A chalet, also called Swiss chalet, is a basic sleeping accommodation, type of building or house, typical of the Alpine region in Europe. It is made of wood, with a heavy, gently sloping roof and wide, well-supported eaves set at right angles to the front of the house. Search & Book Chalets


A cottage is, typically, a small house. It may carry the connotation of being an old or old-fashioned building. In modern usage, a cottage is usually a modest, often cosy dwelling, typically in a rural or semi-rural location. The word comes from the architecture of England, where it originally referred to a house with ground floor living space and an upper floor of one or more bedrooms fitting under the eaves. The holiday cottage exists in many cultures under different names. In American English, "cottage" is one term for such holiday homes, although they may also be called a "cabin", "chalet", or even "camp". In certain countries (e.g. Scandinavia, Baltics, and Russia) the term "cottage" has local synonyms: In Finnish mökki, in Estonian suvila, in Swedish stuga, in Norwegian hytte, in Slovak chalupa, in Russian дача (dacha, which can refer to a vacation/summer home, often located near a body of water). Search & Book Cottages

Economy hotels
