Accommodation

Hotels and other accommodations are as different as the many family and business travelers they accommodate. The US hotel industry includes all types of lodging, from luxurious five-star hotels to youth hostels and RV (recreational vehicle) parks.

Hotels and motels comprise the majority of establishments in the USA are generally classified as offering either full-service or limited service. Full-service hotels offer a variety of services for their guests, but they almost always include at least one or more restaurant and beverage service options other than self-service—from coffee bars and lunch counters to cocktail lounges and formal restaurants. They also usually provide room service. Larger full-service properties usually have a variety of retail shops on the premises, such as gift boutiques, newsstands, and drug and cosmetics counters, some of which may be geared to an exclusive clientele.

Large hotels often have banquet rooms, exhibit halls, and spacious ballrooms to accommodate conventions, business meeting and other social gatherings. Conventions and business meetings are major sources of revenue for these properties. Some commercial hotels are known as conference hotels—fully self-contained entities specifically designed for large-scale meetings. They provide physical fitness and recreational facilities for meeting attendees, in addition to state-of-the-art audiovisual and technical equipment, a business center, and banquet services.

In addition to hotels, bed-and-breakfast inns, RV parks, campgrounds, and rooming and boarding houses provide lodging for overnight guests and are included in this industry.

Most hotels in the USA are not priced "per person", but are priced by the room. A double room usually costs only a few dollars more than a single room and four people in one room will cost little more than two people. This means great bargains for two or more people traveling together and willing to share a room. If you rent a "single room" in a hotel, don't be surprised to find two huge beds in your room! The single room is often exactly the same as the double room in many hotels!