Traveling and hotels are two separate concepts and the choice of accommodation will differ depending on your reasons for traveling. A hotel is generally geared toward either business travellers or leisure travellers. Some hotels offer services that are geared towards business travelers such as a fully equipped business centre (computers, printers and sometimes even a fax machine which is available to use for a fixed price per page) or a wellness, fitness and spa area (swimming pool, sauna etc).
Other amenities in some hotels may include a restaurant where they serve food and beverages or a room service option, laundry facilities (often for a fee), currency exchange, gift shop and parking. Some hotels also have facilities to cater for families with young children such as babysitting and a kids club.
The choice of whether to stay in a hotel will depend on many factors, including the type of traveler you are and the budget that you have. For example, a hotel may not be the best option if you are travelling solo because it tends to be less social than a hostel.
Another important factor to consider is the location of the hotel. Staying in a hotel that is far from the main highlights of your destination is going to waste time that could be spent exploring the city or other attractions. Additionally, commuting to and from the hotel will add to your transport costs. Lastly, be wary of hidden fees! It is common for hotels to charge a variety of unexpected fees. For example, some hotels charge for WiFi, whereas others will advertise that they have free WiFi but then limit it in certain ways like only being available in the lobby.