| You will find a significant difference in both price | | | | inspected for a diamond rating of between one |
| and facilities between hotels and guest houses in | | | | and five stars. This is intended as a guide to the |
| the UK. Hotels usually offer breakfasts, lunches, | | | | quality of accommodation and food on offer. |
| teas, dinners, a licensed bar and a range of | | | | As private homes, including farmhouses and |
| services and facilities to suit individuals, families and | | | | working farms, B&Bs tend to offer a very |
| often business groups. Country house hotels will | | | | personal welcome, and an insight into British ways |
| often add recreational facilities in their grounds | | | | of life in different parts of the country. Breakfast |
| such as golf, tennis, swimming, health spas, gyms | | | | is intended to fill you and will often include bacon, |
| and attended play areas for children. Top league | | | | eggs, fried bread, tomatoes, even fried potatoes |
| international hotels in London and major cities | | | | and local additions such as black pudding. Or you |
| offer comprehensive amenities and services for | | | | can enjoy a 'continental' breakfast: cereal, bread, |
| business and holiday guests, and a choice of first | | | | toast, tea, coffee and juice. |
| class and luxury accommodation. Guest houses | | | | Hostels |
| may not have bars or offer lunch or teas, but will | | | | There are many hostels located all over England, |
| have television and sitting lounges. | | | | Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Hostels vary |
| In England and Wales, the AA, RAC (the largest | | | | in style and amenities but they offer bedrooms |
| UK motoring organisations) and the English Tourist | | | | with between two and six beds for young people, |
| Council have come together to provide an overall | | | | families and groups. They usually provide |
| star for hotels and diamond rating for guest | | | | substantial breakfasts and dinners at low prices |
| accommodations, including bed and breakfast. | | | | and have communal kitchen facilities if you prefer |
| Hotels have between one and five stars; guest | | | | to cater for yourself. |
| accommodations between one and five diamonds. | | | | The main hostel organisations are the Youth |
| In Scotland and Northern Ireland, all tourist | | | | Hostel Association (YHA), the Scottish Youth |
| accommodations are also graded regularly to | | | | Hostel Association (SYHA) and Hostelling |
| provide a clear indication of the level of facilities | | | | International Northern Ireland (HINI). You do not |
| you can expect. | | | | have to be a 'youth' to stay because there is no |
| Bed and Breakfast | | | | upper age limit (in Scotland the lower age limit is |
| Bed and breakfast accommodation, advertised by | | | | 5). But you do have to be a member of the YHA |
| the famous 'B&B vacancies' sign, is mostly in | | | | or SYHA, which involves paying a small annual |
| private homes and the emphasis is on bedrooms | | | | membership fee. There are also a variety of |
| rather than on facilities such as a bar or | | | | independent hostels offering accommodation. |
| restaurant. They are often the least expensive | | | | Staying in hostels is traditionally popular with |
| form of guest accommodation although prices | | | | people pursuing backpacking, walking, cycling or |
| vary between those in the most popular holiday | | | | generally exploring outdoor pursuits. But there are |
| locations and those offering stopovers 'en route'. | | | | also hostels in many towns and cities, which |
| Thousands of bed and breakfasts have been | | | | enable members to enjoy good basic |
| visited anonymously by tourist officers to be | | | | accommodation on a low budget. |