A hostal is a type of
lodging very common in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and
Hispanic America
The region known as Hispanic America (in Spanish called ''Hispanoamérica'' or ''América Hispana'') and historically as Spanish America (''América Española'') is the portion of the Americas comprising the Spanish-speaking countries of North, ...
. Hostals tend to be cheaper than
hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
s. They normally have a bar, restaurant or cafeteria where drinks and food are sold to guests and locals alike.
Accommodations typically include private bedrooms, and sometimes apartments, available for either short or long term rent. Linens and towels are usually provided, unless it is a long term apartment rental in which case the guest is considered a resident and does not receive cleaning and other services. Guests sometimes share a common bathroom, but a number of rooms with en suite bathrooms may also be available.
Hostals are common in Spain and are also found in
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
,
Central and
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
and
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
. They are often family-run, independent businesses, with a strong involvement with the local community.
''Hostal-residencias'' are the same as hostales, but generally without a cafetería or other place where guests can eat.
Difference from hostels
Though the word ''hostal'' is similar to ''
hostel'', the two words refer to different types of accommodation. ''Hostels'' refers to properties that offer shared accommodation, typically in dormitories, while ''hostal'' refers to a type of family-run
pension typically common only in Spain and a few other Spanish-speaking countries.
In Mexico, ''hostal'' is just the Spanish word for ''hostel'': A cheap hotel-like accommodation that will normally have one or two dormitory rooms with bunk beds and a few individual or shared with other rooms. They are ideal for backpackers, youth, and those with little funds for accommodations. Some regular hotels will however add the word ''hostal'' to their names to try to increase business.
Hostals are classified from one to three stars, contrary from hostels, which are not classified under the star rating, and from hotels which are classified from one to five stars.
References
External links
{{Tourism
Hotel types