Types of food in the hotel. RO food: what is included in the menu? We wish you good weather and a great stay

Almost always, when ordering a tourist route to Greece, the United Arab Emirates or within the Russian Federation at sea, travelers are asked to choose a place of accommodation and type of food. There are plenty of options, and each of them directly affects not only the cost of the trip, but also the quality of the rest and the amount of positive impressions / memories.

It will help to figure out what types of food in hotels are decryption. AI, FB, HB, BB, OB, UAI notation is not an example of spy coding. These letter combinations contain comprehensive information about what a tourist should hope for, and what can be forgotten right away.

What are the options for food regimes

The dietary regime included in the description of a tourist escort on the seashore or at the foot of mountain ranges indicates how many times a day a visitor can order meals for free at a hotel restaurant / cafe / bar. In other words, this amount of food has already been paid for by the tourist when making the tour. The range of dishes is often presented in the form of a buffet or menu.

According to the world-wide classification of food in hotels in Greece, the United Arab Emirates or other resorts, all possible types are presented in the form of an abbreviation of two / three letters. It is impossible for an ignorant tourist to understand what types of food they offer in hotels without decoding.

To exclude mistakes and, at least, unpleasant emotions during your stay at the hotel (and as a maximum - a completely ruined vacation), you should get acquainted with the detailed and understandable description of these abbreviations.

Food types with abbreviations and explanations

All places for the settlement of travelers use the standard decoding of the types of food. What does it mean? All words are taken from English and, knowing the translation, you can easily understand what this hotel has prepared for the accommodation conditions.

OB (Only Bed), RO (Room Only), or AO (Accommodation Only)That means “bed only”, “room only” or “accommodation only” - this is the cheapest type of tour by the sea, which will provide travelers only with a place to stay without additional free meals.

To the logical question of a tourist: "is there where to cook food?" - it is not always possible to get an unambiguous answer from a travel agent when making a ticket. In other words, with 100% probability you can only count on canteens, cafes, restaurants and other catering places.

BB (Bed and Breakfast, which translates to "bed and breakfast") - This is a fairly common option for the settlement of tourists. In Sochi, hotels operating under such a program guarantee travelers a place to stay and a free morning lunch. The choice will provide buffet dishes or continental (ie inexpensive buffet) option in the form of sandwiches, coffee, etc. There is no dinner for this kind of accommodation.

HB (Half Board) - Adler hotels for vacationers with this type of accommodation in the hotel will necessarily provide only breakfast and dinner. There are no alcoholic drinks or snacks here. And about lunch you will need to take care of yourself: all catering points are available to travelers if there is no desire to cook.

HB + - this is an analogy of food on HB, only slightly increased by the range of free alcoholic beverages (domestic production). For example, the Gelendzhik hotel with meals under such a program will provide tourists with a unique chance to taste wine products only from the best cellars of the Krasnodar Territory.

FB (Full Board): translates to "full board", i.e. the vacationer has free three meals a day. For tourists, a buffet with a set of salads, first and second courses, meat, fish and vegetable products, as well as drinks / juices / tea / coffee is offered.

FB + - this is the same "full board" only + alcoholic drinks of state producers. This type of accommodation enjoys special attention when traveling to the United Arab Emirates, to China, to the islands of Oceania, since the cuisine of these countries is special and of course it will be safer for your own health if all dishes are prepared by a professional chef in the hotel restaurant.

AI (or ALL, UALL: All Inclusive, which means: all inclusive) - full diet at the expense of the travel agency. The tourist is guaranteed to be able to order free morning lunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner from the dishes on the menu. And also alcoholic drinks, snacks, coffee many times. When booking a tour, choosing hotels with meals on the seashore is considered a rather profitable decision, even despite the higher cost of living here:

1. This eliminates the need to look for and get to retail outlets in an unfamiliar city outside the hotel;
2. Guaranteed quality food;
3. This program provides vacationers with complete freedom from culinary hassle.

A feature of this type is that all products and drinks are only domestically produced. There is no import here.

UAI (Ultra All Inclusive) - this is the same as in the example described above, a meal option according to the system: breakfast-lunch-lunch-afternoon tea-dinner + alcohol and snacks. The key position of UAI catering is that the menu contains imported drinks and food. Almost all hotels in the UAE and countries of the world operate on this type of accommodation.

There is another fairly popular program - AO (or RO). This is a tourist accommodation by the sea in a hotel without meals. The advantages of this choice:

1. A tourist can independently choose exactly those products and prepare dishes that he likes (or that are allowed to him by doctors). This type is relevant for parents with small children, since mothers prefer to cook porridge for babies themselves anyway.
2. This type of food reduces the cost of the tour. By the way, this is not chosen by the poorest tourists, since quite often the placement of a tourist according to the AO system implies his settlement in expensive apartments. And if a person does not want to cook himself, then numerous restaurants / cafes are at his service (which also cannot have a financial benefit).

Alternative classification and decoding

But, not all countries use abbreviations for the standard classification of types of food in hotels. Sometimes hotels with a pool in the UAE offer an alternative designation:

1. EP (similar to ОВ) and means that visitors will not receive free meals here at all, because this is not included in the cost of living;
2. CP (or continental plan), which provides tourists with a choice of light meals (tea / coffee, rolls, sandwiches, fruits) and only once a day in the morning;
3. BP (bermuda plan) is a hearty American-style morning lunch, i.e. here they will offer meat / fish dishes, salads, pastries and many other products that are not at all for a vegetarian or a person on a diet;
4. MAP is half board consisting of a full breakfast and a hearty lunch. It can also be supplemented with afternoon tea according to the British tradition, even in hotels in the UAE;
5. AP (american plan), which means full board, i.e. three meals a day with additional snacks.

Types of breakfast

In some cases, when choosing the type of accommodation at the Adler hotel with meals, details such as the type of breakfast may be specified. There are only three of them, different in cost and content:

1. Continental Breakfast (Continental) - light and simple set of food and drinks (coffee / tea / juice, bun, fruit);
2. English type, consisting of hearty scrambled eggs, hot toasters, buns with jam and butter and coffee / tea;
3. The American type is the most satisfying and high-calorie set of dishes: hot and cold snacks, pastries, slices, etc.

In any case, when choosing the type of food in the hotel, tourists should be guided by the rule: only a full stomach will give strength and desire for active excursion routes and fun walks. In other words, quality rest starts with food!

Food at the hotel is the most important part of your holiday. And so that the rest is not overshadowed by it, in this article we will talk about the most common types of food, as well as their pros and cons, so that you can give the right preference to one or another option.

Food types

No meals

Legend: ОВ (only bed), RR (room rate), AO (accomodation only) RO (Room Only),

The lack of a kitchen is more typical for budget hotels, the main purpose of which is to provide a roof over their heads. These are usually chosen by tourists who prefer to relax economically or those who travel with their families. If the hotel does not provide food, this does not mean that it is bad. Sometimes even 4-star hotels do not offer any type of public catering, but they do have a restaurant where anyone can order breakfast, lunch or dinner for a fee. In addition, the apartments have a kitchenette where you can cook your own food, so it is simply not profitable for the hotel to maintain a team of chefs and a restaurant.

Such accommodation is a great opportunity to save money, but keep in mind that every day you will need to organize your own breakfasts, lunches and dinners. If you have the opportunity to cook on your own at least once a day, then it makes sense to save. If you eat twice a day with your family in a cafe or restaurant, it will most likely cost more than food on site.

With breakfast

Legend: BB (bed & breakfast); breakfast (buffet).

A very common type of food in hotels in large cities or places with an extensive excursion program. If you plan on doing a lot of excursions during your vacation, then most likely you will miss a few dinners (not to mention lunch), and you will still be forced to eat for your money these days. So why pay extra for them at the hotel? To roughly calculate the benefit, think about the approximate number of missed dinners and lunches.

The BB type of food is well suited for those who look after the figure and do not eat after 18:00.

Half board

Designations: HB (half board); HB +

"Half board" includes breakfast and dinner (buffet) - this is the most common option in budget hotels of 3-4 stars. Due to the fact that lunch and alcohol will not be included in the price of your voucher, you will receive an attractive price for your vacation. However, Extended Half Board (HB +) may include local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day.

Half board is an excellent choice for those who do not drink or do not want to gain extra pounds on vacation. Yes, you will miss your usual lunch, but firstly, any excursion will surely absorb one or several of your lunches, and secondly, no one bothers you to have breakfast at 9: 30-10: 00 and not be hungry by 14:00, at- Thirdly, if you think that in a hot climate you will be incredibly hungry at your usual lunchtime, this is not entirely true. So what could be more profitable to get by with a lunch salad and a glass of beer before a deep nap?

HB + is the same as HB, with only one difference - it is designed for those who want to relax with beer or light alcoholic cocktails. In fact, a very beneficial type of food for a tourist's pocket. Firstly, there is no overpayment for lunch, and secondly, you can cool off alcohol and not only drinks during the day, and thirdly, as a rule, it is cheaper than ALL inclusive, but in fact it is. Only now it is found in hotels quite rarely, because hotels are more profitable in this case to offer full all inclusive.

Full board

Legend: FB (full board), FB +, full board extended

Full board includes breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet style). When eating FB, you will absolutely forget about the problem "What to eat?" for the duration of your vacation. Ideal for those who do not plan to drink too much during their holidays.

FB + (extended board) includes local alcoholic drinks during lunch and dinner.

Legend: ALL, AL, All Inclusive, AI

All inclusive includes breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet) + additional snacks (lunch, afternoon tea, late dinner, snacks, barbecues in hotel bars, etc.). Local drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are offered in unlimited quantities throughout the day.

Every Russian tourist (on a subconscious level, of course) dreams that he will be served five-star cognac during the day, after all, "all the same," and for dinner there will be lobsters in creamy orange sauce.

In fact, the term "all inclusive" usually refers only to the amount of food. The choice of dishes will certainly offer you such that you will not be able to eat everything and, moreover, you will not even be able to eat through the money that you paid for the all-inclusive. As for alcoholic beverages, usually only beer can be at a more or less decent level, and even then not in every hotel. All spirits included in the All inclusive program will be either of very average quality, or slightly diluted, or such that you won't drink much (for example, raki in Turkey). This is the bitter truth of most all inclusive hotels, so don't expect too much when choosing one. We recommend that before you overpay for All inclusive, make sure that it is worth overpaying for it by reading the hotel reviews.

Club hotels of 5 * category can offer truly exquisite All Inclusive, but the cost of rest in such hotels will be correspondingly. However, many 4-5 star hotels offer quite tasty cuisine, which will be satisfied with 85% of tourists. But we would recommend to be on your guard if an all inclusive hotel offers 3 stars, and even if the price is reasonable.

The all-inclusive type of food certainly has an incomparable plus in comparison with the rest. By choosing it, you can completely disconnect from any worries during your vacation, and this is the main and main task of your vacation. Therefore, if you want to drink beer, eat well, tasty and eat a lot, as well as plunge into the regime of complete relaxation, choose this option.

Ultra all inclusive

Legend: UAI, UAL, Ultra All Inclusive

This type includes 5 meals a day in the restaurant: breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner (buffet). In the bars, you will find a large selection of all kinds of snacks, desserts and sweets, and of course, a wide selection of high quality local and imported drinks. Usually, on the territory of hotels offering this type of food there are several restaurants with national cuisine, where you can taste Italian, Mexican or any other cuisine for free once during your vacation.

1. Before choosing a hotel with any type of food, decide on your vacation plans. Will you be skipping lunches and dinners? Will you drink alcoholic drinks and how much? Will you have lunch or dinner?
2. Based on your needs, determine the most appropriate meal type for your vacation. However, remember that you can never drink and eat everything that will be included in the ALL Inclusive mode. By simply choosing this type, you are paying for the comfort and the ability to disconnect from all the worries associated with food and drink.
3. Before booking a hotel, try to find reviews about it and its cuisine. Poor quality food or poorly prepared food can ruin your vacation a lot.
4. Think about all family members - will your choice suit everyone else? Maybe you follow the figure, but then the children can eat ice cream and drink juices for a tidy sum, and even the nightly beer for the husband can fly out a pretty penny.

HB, BB, FB, RO, AI, AP, MAP, EP ... You will come across these abbreviations on any aggregator when choosing a hotel. They are indicated in the description of the services provided on the hotel website and in the voucher that was given to you for check-in. What is hidden behind these terms?

These are abbreviations for the names of food systems in hotels. Hotel food types are of Anglo-American origin, so deciphering them is not a problem. Let's divide them into groups and find out the values.

Food types with abbreviation and decoding

The standard system of the Russian segment of the tourism business often operates with the following abbreviations to designate the types of food in hotels. Let's present their transcript and description:

• RO (room only), it is also possible: OB (Only Bed) or AO (Accommodation Only)... In a direct translation: "room only" - only accommodation is provided. Acronym decoding OB (Only Bed) - "bed only" or AO (Accommodation Only) - "accommodation only".
• BB (Bed and Breakfast)... Literally - "bed and breakfast", means accommodation with the provision of a morning lunch. The main feature of "bb" is the absence of lunch or dinner included in the paid booking.
• HB (half board)... Only breakfast and dinner are mandatory.
• HB +... The “hb” food subtype denotes the addition of local alcoholic drinks to the evening meal.
• FB (full board)... It should be translated as "full board", as well as "whole table", the origin of the concept is similar to "hb". Accordingly, catering in hotels of this type today must include dinner and lunch in addition to BB conditions. The hotel can offer different types of serving meals, both à la carte and buffet.
• FB + Corresponds to FB like HB and HB +, this is the same full board system, but local drinks are served.
• AI (all inclusive)... Literally "all inclusive", room type with full service. Typically, the three meals are served in a buffet style with snacks all day. The bars offer local drinks all day.
• UAI (ultra all inclusive)... Ultra all inclusive, used in Turkey and Egypt to indicate a higher level of food and drinks than All inclusive, foreign made. An additional afternoon snack and a second late dinner buffet are also possible.

Types of food in hotels: American classification

Traveling to different parts of the world, you may also come across other designations of food types, otherwise - a plan. Here is a decoding of such a food system in hotels:

• AP (American Plan)... "American" - in addition to the room, the declared cost of living includes morning, afternoon and evening meals. European hotels accordingly designate this system as "full board" - FB.
• MAP (Modified American Plan)... "Modified American" assumes lunch (it can be served in the afternoon or evening at the request of the guest) and, whatever the choice, morning lunch. It is possible to relate this "plan" to the "half board" HB.
• CP (Continental Plan)... Continental: A guest occupying a room under these conditions will be offered a complimentary breakfast. Compliant with BB.
• BP (Bermuda Plan)... However, in the American classification, BB has another analogue - "Bermuda" - in the morning a particularly dense morning lunch is served, in fact, closer to dinner.
• EP (European Plan)... "European" is usually the least expensive for the guest and includes only the provision of accommodation, fully complying with RO, OB, AO systems.

Features of specifying types of serving

Separately, for the convenience of choosing the type of food, you should indicate the types of serving breakfast and their differences.

• Continental... Includes coffee, hot chocolate, tea, sugar, milk, cream, lemon, jam, jams, honey, hot rolls, croissants, bread, butter and olive oil. A Sunday option is possible with a cold boiled egg.
• Extended... Guests are offered all positions of the standard continental, as well as juices, deli meats, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, dry cereals. Serving is often carried out according to the "buffet" system.
• English... Very dense, buns, toasts, jam, honey, butter, tea jam, coffee and hot chocolate are possible but not required. The main dish is scrambled eggs with ham or sausages, smoked fish, red beans in tomato sauce.
• American... Be sure to offer plain water with ice, juices, fruits, sometimes compote, cereal flakes, served with milk, fried or baked meat, pie.
• Late breakfast... Combines breakfast and lunch elements: tea and coffee, juices and mineral waters, milk, buns, butter, jam, cheese, soups, hot meat dishes, desserts.

Food systems in hotels are always classified in a standard way, therefore this information on the designation and decoding of abbreviations will help you book hotel rooms with pleasure.

A tourist who goes on a trip abroad for the first time or has not yet mastered all the intricacies of visiting foreign countries will be interested in the types of food in hotels. Whether it is a survey or a trip to distant Argentina, when checking into a hotel, everyone is faced with this kind of information.

What do the forms of food in hotels mean?

Meal form is the number of meals a tourist pays for when purchasing hotel accommodation. The form can include one breakfast, or breakfast and dinner, or 3 meals and other services. You will have to pay extra for additional food.

BB

The abbreviation BB (Bed & Breakfast) is a service that includes payment for breakfast and bed only... The traveler pays for the rest of the meals separately or eats in other places (which happens very often with an intensive excursion program). Particular attention should be paid to additional abbreviations:

• CBF (Continental Breakfast) - Continental breakfast. The so-called "economical option", which is most often found in European hotels of 2-5 stars. In other parts of the world it is less common and mostly in hotels of the lower category up to 3 stars. Breakfast may include coffee or tea, pastries, cottage cheese, eggs, fruit or yogurt, and butter per serving.
• ABF (American Breakfast) - American breakfast. The menu includes an extended list of dishes, this type of meal is more dense. Includes a standard continental breakfast set, as well as additional options: sausages or sausages, cheese, vegetable salads. Most often found in hotels in North America and Western Europe.
• BBF (Buffet Breakfast) - buffet. The most popular type of breakfast. The composition includes the most diverse dishes, from which the tourist chooses new variations every day. At the buffet you can find both dairy and meat dishes, as well as vegetables, fruits, a variety of pastries and desserts. Among the drinks, hotels prefer local products. The variant with the inclusion of alcohol is slightly less common. The key feature of the buffet is unlimited portions, a person takes as much food as he wants. But the quality and abundance of products is always influenced by the hotel category.

A meal plan that includes only breakfast is best for active tourists. If you are going to either visit another beach resort, then you can pay attention to the meal plan with dinner.

HB

HB (Half Board) hides mode, including breakfast and dinner... An alternative name that can be found when booking a hotel is half board. There are also options where the tourist chooses himself - it will be breakfast with dinner or lunch.

Important: the cost of drinks is not included in the HB plan, for dinner you have to pay for them separately (in some hotels - even for water). And in the morning the price includes only non-alcoholic products.

Most often, type HB is found in European hotels - it is a varied and profitable food option. It can contain several types of breakfast, including a buffet. Its main advantage is the freedom of the tourist, since you don't have to think about skipping lunch when visiting excursions. But for those who go on vacation to entertain themselves at night, it is better to pay attention to another plan. After all, the hotel canteen in most cases is open only until 10 am, limiting the breakfast time. At other times, you will have to pay for food.

Important: there is also such a variety as HB +. This meal plan is similar to the standard meal plan, but includes a range of spirits. Most often, tourists are offered local products.

FB

FB (Full Board), or full board, is three meals a day plan... It includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, but strictly at fixed times. Skipped meals - wait for the next meal or pay separately. The main disadvantage of this plan is its strong dependence on the hotel. It is the best choice for those traveling on vacation to spend all their time on the beach nearby. But for fans of active travel and excursions FB will be an unprofitable decision.

Important: the plan includes only soft drinks, and you will have to pay for alcoholic products separately. The FB + format includes locally produced alcohol.

AI

AI (All Inclusive) - All Inclusive - meal plan that includes any amount of food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks locally produced. Some hotels even include snacks and lunches with pastries, fruits, canapes and other snacks. At the same time, you can enjoy culinary delights until midnight (the time is indicated in the plan). This is the most convenient type of food in the hotel, but too uneconomical for those who visit excursions and rarely visit their room.

UAI

Ultra All Inclusive, or premium all-inclusive system. This designation is used for VIP meal plan... It is most often found in such popular tourist countries as Egypt and Turkey. In other states, UAI is not widespread. It differs from the usual "all inclusive" mode by the presence of foreign alcoholic beverages in the assortment. Bonus when ordering VIP meals - increased quality of products, options for dishes with delicacies.

In addition, the tourist is waiting for food in the A la carte restaurant - it is located on the territory of the hotel complex, but offers a certain cuisine: Japanese, Chinese, Italian or any other. This is the most expensive food system in foreign hotels, and is dangerous for people who are addicted to drinking. Drinking unlimited amounts of alcohol can be harmful to your health and ruin your holiday.

RO

RO (Room Only) plan does not include any food - the tourist pays only for the room. This scheme is widespread in inexpensive hotels. There are additional abbreviation options:

• OB - Only Bed;
• RR - Room Rate ;.

But on the territory of the hotel, as a rule, there is a cafe or restaurant where you can eat for a separate amount.

Alternative abbreviations

The standard food classification is not found in all countries. So, on the territory of the UAE, you can find additional abbreviations:

• CP instead of BB - denotes a continental meal plan with light meals 1 time per day (in the morning);
• BP - Bermuda Plan - a hearty morning lunch with meat or fish dishes, scrambled eggs, salads, pastries;
• MAP - an alternative abbreviation for half board, which includes a combination of breakfast + lunch, sometimes there is an additional snack during an afternoon snack;
• AP - American Meal Plan, or Complete Diet. It includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as 2-3 snacks.

It is much less common to find other abbreviations, but the presented list is the most common.

Summing up

A meal plan is an additional cost item that you can reduce when thinking about your vacation and calculating your budget. The saved finances will allow another country to have more unique gifts and souvenirs, as well as expand the possibilities of the tourist when visiting excursions.

If the trip is planned mainly for a beach holiday, then the tariff that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner seems more attractive. If you want to save as much money as possible, then you can completely refuse from meals, preferring a voucher with RO.

If you have BB written in your voucher, it means that apart from breakfast you have no meals included.

Breakfasts are of the following types

Continental Breakfast (CBF)

Continental breakfast - the breakfast that our tourists love least of all - it is a breakfast that leaves behind a feeling of lightness and flight - it consists of coffee / tea, juice, buns, butter and jam.

Such breakfast very often you can come across in France.

English breakfast

An English breakfast usually includes scrambled eggs, toast, butter, jam and coffee (tea), juice.

ABF American Breakfast

The American breakfast is more hearty than the continental CBF - you will be given additional cuts, salads, and hot dishes.

Everyone's favorite, richest breakfast:

Buffet - Buffet Breakfast

The system serves breakfast:
meat and dairy products, fruits, vegetables, salads, fish (more often in Scandinavian countries), pastries and pastries, tea, coffee, milk, yoghurts several types of hot dishes - obligatory sausages and omelette, baked tomatoes can also be on the buffet , porridge, pancakes. The richness of the buffet varies greatly depending on the star rating of the hotel and from the country.
The buffet meal means you can walk up and take as much food as you like. But you can't take food with you.

HB (half board) - half board

Half-board HB means that you will receive two meals a day - the price will include breakfast and dinner (buffet), free tea, coffee, water for breakfast. DINNER DRINKS FOR AN EXTRA CHARGE

FB (full board) - full board

Full board is breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet style);
LUNCH AND DINNER DRINKS FOR AN EXTRA CHARGE
Extended half board and boarding options are available, when drinks for dinner and lunch are included. But this is a rare case, more often a jug of water is placed on the table - it is included in the price, and everything else - tea, coffee, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks - is paid separately. If you ordered a bottle of wine and did not finish it - you can ask to put it off until tomorrow - the bottle will be corked and your number will be written on it.

ALL, Al (all inclusive) - all inclusive

breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet)

Also included are local drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in unlimited quantities. Lots of extra meals - afternoon tea (tea with cookies), ice cream, barbecue, light snacks.

There are many all inclusive options.
Often meets UAL, UAI (ultra all inclusive) - significantly differs from the simple ALL in that not only local drinks are included, but also imported ones.
The food is practically round the clock - you will be fed all day, whenever you decide to eat. For example, in the five-star Kremlin Palace hotel in