[DouglasKC]

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Had to have a look. :)

This is a pretty good study. The word translated "guest rooom" here is:

kataluma
Thayer Definition:
1) an inn, lodging place
2) an eating room, dining room

But look at Luke 10:34 and the story of the good Samaritan:

Luk 10:34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

In this case the word translated "inn" is:

pandocheion
Thayer Definition:
1) an inn, a public house for the reception of strangers

So there's a difference between a private place for guests and public place for guests. I had always assumed that that the "Inn" that Mary and Joseph was turned out of was public.

It makes much more sense that they stayed in someone's home in the "animal" part and not outside in a barn as is often suggested.

[21twelve]

“2) an eating room, dining room”

Interesting, see my thoughts at post 31 that the manger (to be used as a cradle) was placed in a warm (warmest?) place in the home. Not sure how mangers were built back then though. If it was a half-ton of carved-out rock, it probably wasn’t drug into the dining room!

[moose07]

There was a program on the T.V. a number of years ago that suggested it was the ‘Downstairs livestock room’.
This would be warm and private.
Probably belonged to the inn keeper as part of his private lodgings.
We may never know for certain.

[ravenwolf]

It makes much more sense that they stayed in someone’s home in the “animal” part and not outside in a barn as is often suggested.

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And for that matter as 21twelve says they could have moved the manger into the main room.