A guest refers to a person who stays in a motel, hotel or inn temporarily. During this short time of stay, the person is usually required to pay a certain amount of money to the motel, hotel or inn.
When a person stays at another's residence without paying any charge, he is known as "social guest." In this case the guest is not guaranteed a safe boarding space as a paying guest might receive. For example, if a social guest gets hurt by negligence on the part of the owner, he or she has no right to sue the owner for negligence. A paying guest, on the other hand can sue the owner in such a condition.