[dragonwriter]

> The idea of a "motel" is to be cheap

The idea of a motel (“motor hotel”) is to be a convenient to motorists, often as a stopping point or destination on road trips by family vehicle. Now, that market historically has skewed more working class than that for “destination” hotels not focussed on motorists, where guests were assumed to be brought to and from the hotel by a driver—taxi, etc.—for the last/first leg, an by longer range owned or hired transport—air, usually, these days—so, yes, on average motels have been cheaper, but that is incidental rather than central to the idea of a motel.