Whats the difference between a hostel and a hotel or motel?

Question

Whats the difference between a hostel and a hotel or motel?

Answer 1

A Hostel is where you go to kill people and get your rocks off.

Answer 2

Hotels are usually more luxurious and provide a private bath.  Hostels are less expensive and you usually share the bathroom (and your room).  They can also be dangerous so please do your research.

Answer 3

hotel motel- private accomodations for you and your pal

hostel- you share everything, and more than one body in the room, neighbors, known or not, in same room or bathroom. sort of like a communal thing.

Answer 4

A hostel is a one night deal (usually). It is meant to be for people backpacking through Europe, so you won't be in the same area 2 nights in a row. They are often VERY dirty and VERY cheap (like $1 a night) because it is sometimes as simple as a big room for people to lay out their sleeping bags.

A hotel/ motel is a more hospitable residence where you may stay for weeks at a time while you visit one city/ area.

Answer 5

Hostels are NOT dangerous.  In fact if you did any sort of research into it, you'll find that there is more danger in a hotel or motel than there is in a hostel.  

In hostels you share a room with others, and you have to share the bathroom.  All the ones I've stayed in--with one exception--were clean.