What's the difference between hotels and motels in Australia?

For many Australians, there's a nostalgia about motels. After a boom in demand in 1960 and 1970, motels became part of travelling by car.

The main difference between a hotel and a motel is that motels are designed for road trips, with easy access from main roads and larger parking areas. They became – and still are – an important part of driving holidays in Australia.

Many of them have retained the classic style that characterised this easy road trip option over many decades, but there's also been a recent trend to modernise them for a new audience. Knowing the difference between motels and hotels will help you decide where to stay in Australia.

Hotels in Australia come in all different sizes and styles. From small boutique buildings in the inner city, large properties by the beach, to a classic business hotel aimed at people travelling for work – there’s a wide range of options.

However, there are some common features that you'll find in most hotels. Generally they only offer rooms with private bathrooms (unlike a hostel), have a reception and regular cleaning and often have facilities like pools or gyms (unlike most bed and breakfasts).

Hotels are found all across the country but they are particularly prevalent in cities and larger towns, where they're often multi-level buildings with more rooms than other types of accommodation. They may have parking but it might not be free of charge.

Generally speaking, motels are quite similar to hotels, as they tend to have private rooms with bathrooms, a reception and regular cleaning.

The biggest difference is in the name. The word 'motel' is a combination of 'motor' and 'hotel' because this is a special type of accommodation for people who are travelling by car. Due to this, they normally have large car parking areas right next to the rooms, so you can walk straight from your vehicle without passing through reception.

However, it's getting a bit harder to define what a motel is in Australia nowadays, with many old properties being renovated to a quality similar to boutique hotels. These new  motels can have high-end furnishings and designer coffee machines, but they still generally have free and easy parking aimed at road trippers.

Location

Motels are for drivers, so they are more likely to be located in areas where people are doing trips by car. You will find very few motels in the centre of Australia's main cities, but they are very common in smaller cities and towns in rural areas.

While hotels may be situated close to tourist precincts or public transport, motels are more likely to be close to highways or other main roads. They are located in places that are convenient to reach by car and have enough space for parking.

Size

Motels in Australia are generally only one or two levels high, which limits the total number of rooms they can offer. Hotels, on the other hand, can sometimes fill entire multi-storey buildings in a city centre.

The size of the rooms in motels can be quite generous compared to similarly priced hotel rooms, often easily fitting two large beds and a living area. But there is usually only a very small selection of room types at motels, and it's common for most rooms to be the same size.

Room facilities

You'll tend to find that rooms are more basic in motels with few facilities included. There will usually be some soaps in the bathroom, but it may not include items such as shampoo, robes or slippers. 

Don't expect a minibar or sometimes even a coffee machine. But it is quite common for a room to have some basic kitchen facilities like a fridge, kettle, plates and cutlery.

Facilities

As motels are intended for shorter stays, they usually don't offer things like a gym, a bar or a business centre. Though, you may have a pool because road trips are popular with families and many of the destinations get hot in summer.

Dining

Decades ago, it was very common for motels to have a restaurant that opened for breakfast and dinner. These days, an increase in the number of good restaurant options in rural Australia means guests often choose to eat out, so many motels have closed their dining facilities.

Some motels will offer a basic breakfast that you can order the night before and will be delivered to your room at a designated time in the morning.

Price

Room prices can also be quite different between hotels and motels, as motels are often more affordable than hotels in the same destination.

Motels tend to be cheaper because the rooms and facilities are more basic and the location may not be prime real estate. However, because some remote parts of Australia have limited accommodation options, motel prices can still be quite high during busy periods.

Parking

Motels are designed with drivers in mind, while hotels often only have parking as a secondary consideration. Hotels may be in large buildings with underground parking. At a motel, guest rooms are usually close to the car and easy to access from the road

In many motels, the rooms face directly onto the car park with no corridor or other enclosed barriers. It's quite common for each room to have its own parking space directly in front of the door.

There are various factors to consider when trying to decide between a hotel and a motel. If you’re driving, you may find parking to be difficult or expensive at a hotel, especially in larger urban centres. In this situation, a motel may be an easier choice.

Motels are generally more basic and often more affordable, and they suit shorter stays for one or two nights. Often travellers prefer to stay in a hotel for longer trips because it can be more comfortable and offer more facilities.

Ultimately, though, the choice between a motel and a hotel may come down to the specific destination. Some towns in Australia have beautifully renovated old motels that are as popular as boutique hotels, while in remote parts of the country there may not even be a hotel as an option.