What is the exact difference between an inn and a hotel?

bloomsby

In Britain anyway, "inn" has "olde worlde" connotations, while "hotel" suggests - wow - electricty, lifts and a spot of luxury. Jun 09 06, 3:20 PM

zbeckabee

By definition, there is no difference in the U.S., however, Wiki states: In North America, inns are usually alcohol-serving restaurants that have never provided lodging or serviced the needs of travellers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inn Jun 09 06, 5:36 PM

Baloo55th

In the UK, hotel or inn can be part of the name of various types of establishment. In popular usage, however, hotel is used for a place you go to for the purpose of sleeping, where meals are available at the three main times. A B&B serves breakfast only, and is only marginally regarded as a hotel, being a separate class of establishment. One can go to a hotel for the purpose of eating only, or for drinking, but it's the bed side of the business that's important. The Brits don't usually refer to places as inns, as we tend to refer to pubs or alehouses instead, but it occurs in titles and is usually taken to mean pub rather than hotel, (Holiday Inns excepted, they're hotels despite the name.) Jun 10 06, 3:03 PM