When choosing the proper travel accommodation for your trip you will need to know all your options.  A hotel is an establishment that offers room and board for a fee; for a short period of time.  The hotel will typically offer a television, bed or beds, bathroom, telephone, clock, and an area for your clothes at a minimum.  After that there are other options available depending on how much you want to spend.  Commonly offered also is connectivity to the internet, a mini-bar, restaurant, pool, Jacuzzi and a host of other luxuries but not without a price.  In the UK, hotels are required to serve food during a certain time period each day as part of the daily rate.
A motel is similar to a hotel in that it typically offers a television, bed or beds, bathroom, telephone, clock, and an area for your clothes.  The location is usually what differs from a hotel.  The motel was originally created for the motorist or someone travelling via automobile and provided a place to stop and rest for the night.  The door of the motel room most commonly faced the parking lot where the motorist parked their vehicle.  Therefore, if you are looking for a no frills inexpensive place to stay, a motel might be your best option.
A Bed and Breakfast (B&B) on the other hand can be quite different experience from both the hotel and motel.  A typical B&B is a home that has been converted into a guesthouse.  It will typically offer a guest room and breakfast.  No other meals are usually served.  Breakfast can be served in the guest room, or in the main dining room of the home where you may run into other guests.  Most B&Bs offer a quiet and tranquil atmosphere recommended for couples looking for a getaway or even a honeymoon.   To keep up with offerings of the larger hotels, B&BS have been adding services such as spa treatments, wireless internet access and a complimentary cocktail hour.
A star rating system is often used to rate a hotel or classify it into different categories.  Usually 1-5 stars are used.  The more stars a hotel is rated, the more luxurious.  This can help the consumer to determine what is most important to them for their stay.  Generally there are written reviews that come along with the star rating.  This will give you a good idea of why the hotel was given a certain rating.  You will want to read through as many of the reviews as you can, as some of them may not be accurate or possibly based on a one- off good/bad experience.
If you’re an inexperienced traveler, you may want to get some tips from someone that travels more often.   These folks often have favorite places to stay.  They also may be able to provide you with information on special offers. You can always go to a travel agent for this information to get the insight.  Most travel agents are able to travel to different destinations as a form of research for their clients.