When traveling in Brazil, it’s important to know the difference between the different options in accomodations. Today, we’re going to look at the various types and the associated vocabulary.

albergue: this is a hostel, which typically has a few shared rooms and one or two private rooms.

pousada: in English, we’d call this a bed and breakfast or a guesthouse. It’s somewhere in between a hostel and a hotel, with private rooms in a small building or house. Breakfast is usually included in the price, and these places are usually cheaper than hotels.

hotel: this is a hotel, housed in a large building and usually more expensive than the previous options.

motel: this is used by young couples for several hours at a time, not used for accomodations. Be aware, though, that some motels use “hotel” in their title instead of motel.

apartamento / casa para aluguel: apartments and homes for rent, these are sometimes a cheaper option than hotels.

Related terms:

café da manhã: breakfast

check-in/check-out: check-in/check-out

cama de solteiro: single bed

cama de casal: queen-sized bed

quarto: room

diária = price per night for accomodations

chave = key