Hotels, hostels, holiday homes and the like – they are all an indispensable part of people’s everyday lives in the 21st century. If you go to foreign cities and countries as a tourist, it will usually not be difficult to find suitable accommodation quickly. The network of accommodation options is well developed. But has this always been the case? Was it just as easy to find accommodation in the past as it is today and how did people sleep many centuries ago? This question will be explored below.
Hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast, couchsurfing and much more – accommodation today
The 21st century has a lot to offer when it comes to accommodation. There have long been accommodations everywhere that are specially tailored to the needs of their guests. For example, there are hotels that specialize in tourists and those that cater to business visitors and conference guests. There are luxury hotels for particularly wealthy people with high demands. If you want to relax, stay in the wellness hotel. Hostels, youth hostels, bed and breakfasts or campsites can be found in the lower price segment. Some combines several possible combinations under one roof and offers a corresponding variety of rooms to suit every travel budget.
Overnight stays with host families at home are also becoming increasingly popular – they appreciate the contact and authentic local life. If you like it private and don’t want to stay in a hotel, you can book a holiday apartment.
Such a variety of accommodation options did not always exist. Not so long ago, tourism was reserved for the few and travelers had to ask private people to stay overnight in a place. Luxury and comfort were out of the question here.
But how did it all begin?
First beginnings of housing strangers in the Stone Age
In fact, the idea of accommodating strangers is probably about as old as mankind itself. After all, there were always groups traveling – even if in the Stone Age there were probably no tourist intentions. Evidence of Stone Age hospitality has been found, for example, in the Lascaux Cave in France. Thanks to its impressive cave paintings, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Travel and accommodation in Roman antiquity
While the sheer variety of accommodation is of course a product of modern times, tourism existed much earlier, in ancient times. In fact, it was already in the times of Romans not uncommon to travel and to see distant lands.
Ancient Roman tourism has even left its mark today. For example, scribbles by Roman visitors can be found in Egyptian tombs and temples. Most of them immortalized themselves here with their names or a little poem. Sounds like modern-day tourists, but it took place in ancient times.
In fact, there was already a kind of hostelry business back then, as many Romans were wealthy and could afford to travel simply for pleasure. The excellent road network of the ancient Roman Empire offered excellent conditions for this. Thanks to him, popular destinations were relatively easy to reach. No wonder most of the hostels were located near the roads and fully catered to the needs of travelers. So it was possible to get a place to sleep or a room, to buy food or to have your own carriage repaired. After all, travel was mainly done with the help of horses. Boat trips were also not uncommon. However, most visitors had to make do with sleeping on deck under the open sky.
The forerunners of the wellness hotel were already widespread among the Romans. There were often baths in or near hostels where guests could relax. The hostels discovered this as a line of business and often hired masseurs to treat and spoil the guests. In ancient times, prostitution was also inextricably linked to the hospitality industry.
Accommodation in Ancient Egypt
The existence of accommodation or hostels is also documented in ancient Egypt. These mostly served the Roman guests who occupied the land on the Nile at the time. The Romans took a keen interest in ancient sites such as temples, the tomb of Alexander the Great and the pyramids. There were numerous accommodations along the way there in Egypt, which also had their own restaurants. Rich Romans often had holiday homes on site. Incidentally, staying the night with friends was also very popular. The accommodations were completely focused on the needs of their guests. So even the existence of entertainment shows is documented.
Stay in the Middle Ages
Travel in the Middle Ages mostly took place for two reasons: trade and pilgrimage. Religion and faith were generally very important, which is why places of pilgrimage, such as the Way of St. James, were very popular. Any accommodations also often had a religious background. In particular, monasteries and abbeys offered overnight accommodation to passing travelers. In the Middle Ages, however, there were also inns in settlements and towns that offered guest rooms. Of course, accommodation here was much more spartan than it is today. Guests mostly slept in dormitories and enjoyed little comfort. It wasn’t particularly comfortable here. Often only straw was laid out on the ground. Dirt and bugs were also mostly part of the party. Those who were aristocratic and very wealthy could certainly afford their own room with a little more luxury.
As a rule, accommodation in the Middle Ages was inns that offered a few rooms for overnight stays. They drew attention to themselves in the dark alleys with signs and lanterns and were therefore quite easy to find.
In general, it was common in the Middle Ages to spend the night with people of the same class or guild. The civil status played a major role at that time and determined the everyday life of the people. Aristocrats often settled in castles and palaces and traveling salesmen with their peers.
London 1774 – the world’s first official grand hotel opens its doors
The history of the hotel industry as we know it today began in 18th-century London. There, in 1774, a barber named David Low opened the first real hotel of modern times. He called it “Grand Hotel.” It is said that during his work he had to hear complaints from his customers about accommodation when traveling on a daily basis. After all, he then decided to open accommodation himself with more comfort.
The term “hotel” is derived from French. There, the private houses of the nobility were referred to as “hôtel de ville”, in which one could spend the night very comfortably and luxuriously. Low also wanted to implement this idea of comfort in his Grand Hotel. He offered single rooms with beds that were fitted with warm down duvets. While guests in other accommodations often felt cold, in the Grand Hotel each room had its own stove. There was also room service, which brought meals to visitors in bed. The idea of the modern hotel was born and continued to develop.
Nishiyama Onsen Kiunkan in Japan – the oldest hotel in the world
The oldest still operating accommodation of world history is located in Japan, by the way. Nishiyama Onsen Kiunkan was founded in 705 AD. opened and is still family-owned after 52 generations. Its popular location at the foot of the mountains and close to hot springs has always made it a popular destination for travelers to Japan. Here you can admire the history of accommodation for 1300 years.