motel
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motel
A hotel that is specifically geared toward the needs of drivers and is usually located on major roads. The rooms are often accessible directly from the parking lot.
Auf unserer langen Reise durch die USA haben wir in verschiedenen Motels übernachtet.
On our long trip through the USA, we stayed overnight in various motels.
The word 'Motel' is a portmanteau from English that is also used in German. It is made up of 'Motor' and 'Hotel' and therefore perfectly describes its function as accommodation for drivers.
Der Name „Motel“ verrät schon, dass es für Reisende mit dem Auto gedacht ist.
The name 'Motel' already tells you that it is intended for travelers by car.
Pay attention to the difference with the preposition 'in': movement toward a motel is expressed with the accusative, while staying there is described with the dative.
Wir checken heute Abend in einem Motel an der Autobahn ein.
We're checking into a motel by the highway this evening.
'Motel' is often used in connection with travel and roads. Typical phrases are 'in einem Motel übernachten' (to stay overnight in a motel), 'ein Motel an der Autobahn' (a motel by the highway), or 'ein Zimmer in einem Motel nehmen' (to take a room in a motel).
Für die Durchreise haben wir ein Zimmer in einem Motel direkt an der Landstraße gebucht.
For the transit stop, we booked a room in a motel right on the country road.
hotel
'das Hotel' and 'das Motel' are both types of paid accommodation. However, a motel is a special kind of hotel for drivers. It is often located on major roads, and the rooms are frequently easy to reach from the parking lot. The words can be confused because a motel is also a hotel. If you mean a place generally in a city or for a trip with normal service, you usually say 'Hotel'. If the location by the road and traveling by car are important, 'Motel' is more precise.
Nach acht Stunden Fahrt hielten sie an einem Motel direkt an der Autobahn.
After eight hours of driving, they stopped at a motel right by the highway.
In München suchen wir ein Hotel, weil wir die Stadt zu Fuß ansehen wollen.
In Munich, we are looking for a hotel because we want to explore the city on foot.