Usage Note
Motel is a direct borrowing from American English and refers to roadside accommodation with easy vehicle access. It is less common in France than in North America — the French equivalent of a budget roadside stop tends to be a relais routier or budget hotel chain. The word is used mostly in American-context films and TV.
Examples
"Ils ont passé la nuit dans un motel au bord de la route."
Natural Translation
They spent the night in a motel by the road.
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