HOTEL

Hotels are usually the last thing people mention when it comes to studying, and rightly so: this isn’t an option for a long stay but a temporary solution. Still, it is worth knowing about, because almost every student or schoolchild spends at least a couple of nights in a hotel — on arrival, before checking into a dormitory, or during a short intensive course.

Who stays there?
Mostly adult students for 1–2 weeks who have come for short language or business courses and are willing to pay for comfort. Or families with children who book a hotel for a few days while they look for permanent accommodation. Among all international students and schoolchildren, fewer than 5% stay in hotels for more than a week — it’s too expensive and inconvenient. But as somewhere to stay for the first day or two, almost one in three uses a hotel.

What is life like there?
A standard room is designed for 1–2 people, a family room for up to 4. The room has its own bathroom (en suite — a shower or bath, toilet and washbasin), a TV, a fridge (often a minibar with paid drinks), a safe, air conditioning, and a kettle or coffee maker. It is cleaned every day and the towels are changed. Reception is open 24 hours, so you can arrive at three in the morning and still be checked in. Meals are a matter of choice: no breakfast (room only), breakfast only (bed & breakfast), half board (breakfast and dinner) or full board (three meals). In budget hotels breakfast is usually a buffet: cereal, yoghurt, croissants, coffee. In pricier ones, hot dishes, omelette and bacon. For a longer stay (a week or more) you can choose an apart-hotel (serviced apartment), a hybrid of a hotel and a rented flat. The room has a small kitchen (cooker, crockery, fridge) and sometimes a washing machine, and you don’t have to clean — a maid comes by every few days.

Advantages. Maximum comfort and service — fresh sheets every day, the towels changed, and no breakfast to cook. Reception works around the clock: you can ask how to reach the metro, order a taxi, or collect a key at two in the morning. You don’t depend on anyone — no family rules, no noisy dormitory neighbours. It is ideal for your first night in an unfamiliar city: you’re tired from the journey, and the hotel simply checks you in without a ten-page contract to sign.

Disadvantages. Expensive. Over a month, a hotel costs three to five times more than a dormitory or a room. There is no kitchen, so unless you’ve taken full board you’ll have to eat in cafes and restaurants, which also hits your wallet. There is no language practice either — the staff may speak English, but you barely interact with locals. And there is no student atmosphere: your fellow guests may be tourists or business travellers, and there is little chance to strike up a chat. One more thing — many hotels aren’t suited to long-term living: there’s no room for books and notebooks, the desk is small, and it’s awkward to lay out your belongings.

What’s interesting in different countries.

• United Kingdom. Small guest houses and B&Bs (bed & breakfast) are common here — cheaper than standard hotels, often with a home-cooked breakfast. In London there are capsule hotels — tiny pods, just for a night’s sleep. Many budget hotels occupy old Victorian buildings: the rooms are small, the staircases steep, and there’s no lift. But they are cosy and full of character.
• Germany. German hotels almost always include a good breakfast — hearty, with sausages, cheeses and rolls. For 5–10 euros you can eat very well. Some cities have cheap guest houses (Monteurzimmer) intended for workers; students are better off steering clear, as the clientele is rather specific. Apart-hotels are popular for long business trips and offer discounts for stays of a month or more.
• France. The star system is honest: one star may mean the toilet and shower are on the landing rather than in the room. ibis budget is the cheapest option from the Accor chain — clean and modern, but very basic (a shower and toilet, but no wardrobe or chair). In Paris the rooms are tiny — 10–12 sq m is the norm for two stars. But there are hotels with history, former mansions with an inner courtyard.
• Spain and Italy. There are many family-run hotels where the owners live on the floor above. The welcome is warm, and they may feed you homemade pasta or paella. In high season prices soar, while out of season you can rent a room for the price of a dormitory. Daily apartment rentals often work out cheaper than hotels, especially for a group of 3–4 people.
• USA and Canada. Motels along the highways are cheap and simple, but can be unsafe (areas with a dubious reputation). Extended-stay hotels (Extended Stay America, Residence Inn) are designed for long stays: the room has a full kitchen (cooker, fridge, crockery, even a dishwasher), there’s a laundry on the floor, and you can pay monthly. It is almost a rented flat, but with cleaning and a reception.

Who is it for?
Adults on short courses (1–2 weeks) with a good budget. Families with children for their first days before moving into a boarding school or a rental. Those who arrive at night and don’t want to negotiate with anyone. It is not suitable for students staying long-term (more than a month) — too expensive and uncomfortable. Nor for schoolchildren without parents, unless the hotel is arranged by the school as part of a programme with group leaders (but that is closer to a residence).

A non-obvious fact. In some European cities (especially in Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries) there are hostel-hotels — hostels with private rooms. They are cheaper than ordinary hotels but offer more privacy than a shared dormitory, and students sometimes use them at first. Another trend is coliving (shared living with service): you rent a room, and cleaning, laundry, a coworking space and even breakfast are included. It is more expensive than an ordinary room but cheaper than a hotel. For now such projects exist only in the big cities (Berlin, Barcelona, Lisbon), but they are catching on with digital nomads and Master’s students.