There are many good traditional hotels. However, the majority are modern and part of national and international chains, often with standard prices. Motels are hotels situated along main roads, away from the city centre and towns. In general, the quality of accommodation is high, with facilities such as televisions and telephones in each room. Hotels expect payment in advance and reservations are held until around 1800, unless a late arrival is requested.

Basic categories fall into Super, Deluxe, Standard, Moderate and Inexpensive. Prices vary according to standards.

Several companies offer a pre-paid voucher scheme for use at various hotel and motel chains throughout the USA.

This long established tradition in the UK is now spreading across the USA. B&B signs are not generally displayed by individual homes, but most homes offering this service are listed in directories, which may be purchased by interested travellers. ‘B&B inns’ have up to 20 or so rooms, and are distinguished from ‘country inns’ in that the latter offer meals in addition to breakfast.

There are ranches all over the southern and western States offering riding, participation in cattle drives, and activity holidays in mountain and lakeland settings.

This is extremely popular, especially in the Rocky Mountains and New England. The camping season in the north lasts from mid-May to mid-September; reservations are recommended if camping during the high season. Camping alongside highways and in undesignated areas is prohibited.
The 24,000-plus campsites fall into two general categories: Public sites: Usually linked with National or State Parks and Forests, offering modest but comfortable facilities from US$10-22 per night. Most of them will have toilet blocks, electricity hook-ups and picnic areas. Campsites are usually operated on a first-come, first-served basis and will often restrict the length of stay. Advance reservations are possible at some national parks.
Privately run sites: These range from basic to resort luxury. Most have laundry and drying facilities, entertainment and information services. Reservations can be made through a central reservation office in the USA. Fees range from around US$20-40. Camping in the backcountry (a general term for areas inaccessible by road) requires a permit, available free of charge. Visitors are advised not to drink water from rivers and streams without boiling it for at least five minutes. It is also advisable to check fire regulations and inform a park ranger of the itinerary before setting out to a backcountry area.

There are over 2400 YMCA centres throughout the USA. Membership is not necessary but reservations should be made two days prior to arrival via the Head Offices. The YMCA offers centrally located accommodation at attractive rates, coast to coast throughout the USA. Most centres offer single and double accommodation for both men and women and many also have sports facilities. Youth hostels offer their members simple, inexpensive overnight accommodation usually located in scenic, historical or cultural places. HI-AYH (Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels) operates some 150 hostels in both urban and rural locations. Membership is open to everyone, with no age limit, with free group and youth (under 18 years) memberships. European visitors should take out membership before travelling.

Self-catering facilities, known in the USA as ‘apartments’, ‘condominiums’ (or ‘condos’), ‘efficiencies’ or ‘villas’, are also available.

There are several agents who offer home exchange programmes between the UK and USA.

(American Hotel & Lodging Association
1201 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 289 3100.
Website: www.ahla.com

Professional Association of Innkeepers International
Website: www.paii.org
There are also numerous national and regional B&B associations.

Kampgrounds of America (KOA)
Tel: (406) 248 7444.
Website: www.koa.com

YMCA of the USA
101 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
Tel: (312) 977 0031.
Website: www.ymca.net

Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH)
8401 Colesville Road, Suite 600, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
Tel: (301) 495 1240.
Website: www.hiayh.org or www.hihostels.com