Hotels are a type of accommodation in which guests rent a furnished room by the night. This is usually a more expensive option than hostels or guest houses, but hotels do come in handy when you need a good night's sleep, a little bit of pampering or other accommodations have already been booked out.

Today, many types of hotels are available for travellers. Budget hotels offer a basic standard of accommodation, often much like a hostel, in which en suite baths may cost extra. Boutique hotels are a relatively new category of small, unique and often luxurious hotels that still offer a relatively good price.

Luxury hotels, as the name implies, are in the business of making dreams come true with opulent surroundings, scrumptious food and amenities to cater for guests' every whim.

In a way, hotels seek to make themselves homes away from home. Hotels will usually offer a 24 hour concierge or reception so that travelers may check in at any time, and will usually require some form of photo ID for the safety of all guests.

In addition to private rooms, hotels often offer: Private televisions, radios, tea and coffee facilities in-room, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant on the premises as well as a room service menu, a bar on the premises, guest lounge with library, a gym for guest use, possibly with a swimming pool and sauna, laundry and dry cleaning services and concierge services.

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