A hostal is a type of
lodging
Lodging refers to the use of a short-term dwelling, usually by renting the living space or sometimes through some other arrangement. People who travel and stay away from home for more than a day need lodging for sleep, rest, food, safety, shel ...
very common in
Spain and
Hispanic America. Hostals tend to be cheaper than
hotels. 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,
Central
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and
South America and
California. 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
A hostel is a form of low-cost, short-term shared sociable lodging where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed in a dormitory, with shared use of a lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex and have private or shared b ...
'', 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
A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...
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