Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is not real wood. If you are a purist and want the “real thing,” there is nothing that I could say that would convince you that laminate is as good as hardwood.
Hardwood is beautiful, adds real value to your home and can last for a lifetime. If you can afford hardwood flooring, can afford help with installation and upkeep, and don’t mind worrying about fading, stains, and scuff marks--hardwood flooring is for you.
On the other hand, if you don't have a fortune to spend on flooring, and you have children who make messes and pets who might damage wood, perhaps it's best not to go with hardwood. Laminate is a good choice if you want something attractive, durable, easy to install, and easy to maintain.
Laminate flooring gives a realistic impression of wood (you can also get tile look-a-likes) with an extremely durable finish, but it is not wood. Laminate flooring tops wood for livability in several areas: scratch resistance, stain resistance, fade resistance, impact resistance, ease of installation and maintenance, and moisture resistance.
The decision is up to you. Are you building or remodeling for posterity or do you want something durable and attractive that you can live in now? I have a combination of both hardwood and laminate flooring in my house and like them both. I was lucky enough to find hardwood flooring already in place (under a layer of truly awful carpeting) in most of the rooms. Take a look under your rugs if you are remodeling an older house it is not unusual to find hardwood floors already in place.
We added laminate downstairs and in the kitchen/dining rooms though and have not regretted it.
Further reading: The Flooring Handbook: The Complete Guide to Choosing and Installing Floors 
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