Ro meaning. Types of food in hotels: choosing the right one. Among the disadvantages of RO are

Eating at the hotel is an important point when planning a vacation. However, the large number of varieties of this service makes the choice much more difficult. Explaining and translating the abbreviations used in vouchers can make finding the perfect vacation spot much easier.

There are 8 types of food in hotels (interpretation and translation of generally accepted abbreviations are presented below):

Name International

reduction

Translation Description
Only bed OB Accommodation only The guest only paid for the room. Organization and delivery of food is not provided. Sometimes abbreviations RO or Room Only, RR or Room Rate, AO or Accommodation Only are used.
Bed and breakfast BB Bed and breakfast In addition to the apartment, the guest paid for the morning meal
Half board HB Half board The visitor is fed 2 times. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are served only in the morning
Half Board + HB + Extended half board The guest is provided with 2 meals a day and local drinks.
Full Board FB Full board Meals are taken 3 times. Hot and cold drinks are served in the morning and / or afternoon.
Full Board plus FB + Extended or full board The visitor is provided with 3 meals a day and drinks, which are served directly during the meal. Another name for this scheme is Extended Full Board (ExtFB)
All Inclusive Al, ALL All inclusive The price includes main and additional meals, regional drinks.
Ultra AIl Inclusive UAI, UAL Ultra all inclusive Similar to All Inclusive. The only difference: along with local drinks, foreign drinks are served
Decoding of types of food in hotels. 11 types

In America, a slightly different classification is adopted. However, in essence, it is similar to the global one.

There are 5 types of food in hotels (for a breakdown and description of abbreviations used in the USA, see the table below):

Name Reduction International counterpart Description
European Plan EP RO Only accommodation is paid
Bermuda Plan BP BB The package includes a hearty brunch
Continental Plan CP BB In addition to accommodation, breakfast is included
Modified American Plan MAP HB Guest pays for accommodation and breakfast with lunch
American Plan AP FB In addition to the room, 3 meals a day are paid

RO Power

The guest has the right to use his room. However, in order to eat, he will have to go to the nearest cafe or restaurant. This situation has its pros and cons.

The first includes:


Among the disadvantages of RO are:

  • Relative high cost.
  • Inconvenience. Finding the nearest cafes and restaurants takes a lot of time and effort. The same goes for organizing self-catering.
  • In some regions, the catering system is very poorly represented, or there is absolutely no opportunity to go to any restaurant or bar. For example, in Egypt or the Maldives.

This option is more suitable for active tourists who want to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a particular place. It will also be appropriate for short-term trips or business trips, when attending conferences or seminars. For those who like a quiet holiday, who want to completely relax, it is better to stay at a hotel where visitors are fed.

BB Meals (Breakfast only)

In addition to accommodation, the price of the voucher includes meals. This option is good for short business trips or excursion-rich tours. Naturally, the region should have an extensive network of various catering facilities.

Breakfast can be different: from light continental to buffet. Occasionally, brunch is served with cold snacks, pastries and drinks. Various salads, soups, cheeses and hot meals can be served.

This model is used in large chain hotels. But more often than not, B&B are small family hotels with 4-12 rooms. In some cases, the hosts live in the adjacent wing of the inn. They will most likely be engaged in cooking.

Therefore, the type and quality of breakfast depends solely on the imagination and culinary skills of the owners. Such hotels are often organized in interesting places: picturesque cottages, farms, lighthouses, decommissioned yachts and planes.

In concept, they are very close to the currently popular boutique hotels. Such varieties are most relevant in the USA, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.

HB Meals (Half Board)

The HB designation on the voucher refers to meals in the morning and evening. Very rarely, the latter option is substituted for lunch (for example, in the UAE). This type of food is mainly practiced in hotels of 3 or 4 stars.

Local drinks are served in the morning. At other times you will have to pay extra for them. The service is organized in the form of a buffet or carried out by waiters. You should specifically focus on breakfast and dinner.

The first usually runs from 7.30 to 10.00 and consists of:


Sometimes it can be served:

  • meat dishes (sausages, sausages, fried bacon, chicken thighs and breast, various chops and schnitzels);
  • fish (salted or baked as part of a Scandinavian breakfast);
  • salads, vegetables, fruits.

Drinks - water, juices, milk, tea, coffee. Alcoholic drinks are usually paid additionally.

If the service is a la carte, the menu will be less varied, but more refined. For example, beef tartare, grilled prawns with peppers, crab cake. In this case, the guest is provided with a list the day before, from which he chooses what to eat. However, this variety is extremely rare.

As for the dinner, it is usually held at 18.00 - 20.00.

If the service system is a buffet, then there will be presented:

  • salads;
  • cold snacks;
  • hot dishes;
  • several types of side dishes;
  • desserts, pastries and bread.

Drinks are not served (with rare exceptions - water, juices, tea, coffee).

The menu in the restaurant is more useful and interesting. For example, fried shrimp with coconut sauce or chicken breast with salsa sauce with crispy croutons. Most likely, you will have to take care of drinks in advance or pay extra for them. Although, in some restaurants, when ordering two or more main courses, alcohol is provided as a compliment. Most often these are dry white wines.

Half board is suitable for short-term tourists who want to be independent of the schedule.

Instead of lunch, they will prefer an active holiday, stay on the beach or get to know the local cuisine at a nearby restaurant. Each of the guests will be able to dispose of their free time at their own discretion. Choosing HB will allow you to save money and significantly diversify your vacation without being tied to the hotel.

HB Plus Meals (Half Board +)

The plus in the name does not mean the inclusion of lunch or afternoon tea in the price. He says that the tourist package includes local drinks: hot, soft drinks and alcohol, which are served with every meal.

Half Board is perfect for anyone looking to include cocktails and beer on their vacation without overpaying. The model is very similar to All Inclusive, but it costs several times cheaper. However, HB Plus is quite rare, because in the hotel business it is much more profitable to work on the "All Inclusive" scheme.

FB Meals (Full Board, Extended Board)

The cost of this service includes accommodation and 3 meals a day. Hot drinks and juices are served in the morning. During the day and in the evening, only water will stand on the tables. For the rest of the drinks you will have to pay extra. There are boarding houses with 4 meals a day. But they are extremely rare. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify everything in advance and agree with the hotel administration or tour operator.

Service can be provided in two forms: buffet or waiters. Despite the seeming lack of variety, in the second case there is a chance to get more original high-quality dishes in comparison with the first option. The menu depends on the area and specifically from the hotel administration. More often than not, it is similar to half board with a complementary meal.

This model is ideal for those who like passive recreation who want to explore local drinking establishments on their own, or who hardly drink alcohol.

Plus, FB is much cheaper than All Inclusive. And reusable meals completely frees tourists from spending money, time and nerves on cooking. Conversely, lovers of active recreation are better off choosing a room with breakfast or half board.

FB Plus Meals (Full Board +, Extended Board +)

This point is completely similar to the previous one, except that guests are provided with local drinks during meals. Sometimes they are available around the clock. This type is relatively rare, because it is unprofitable compared to the same All Inclusive.

It happens that the guest is provided with unlimited access only to certain types of drinks. This question should be clarified with the manager of the travel company

All inclusive food

Types of food in hotels, deciphering of names, differences between specific types, features in individual countries are different. A distinctive feature of All inclusive is that it provides main and additional meals. Moreover, guests have access to local alcoholic, hot and soft drinks.

Often, the purchased travel package includes:

  • animation
  • visit to the sauna, massage room, spa salon;
  • tennis court;
  • aquapark;
  • bonus trip to restaurants at the hotel complex.

All inclusive is not so much a type of food as a standard of service. Currently, hotel owners are coming up with more and more new types of this scheme.

Some of the examples are:

  1. AI. Light. It means reusable meals and unlimited access to locally produced drinks until 23.00.
  2. Royal AI. Paid for 3 meals, brunch, afternoon tea, additional dinner, night soup.
  3. AI hard. Allows you to use some services: yoga or surfing lessons, gym, sauna or massage.
  4. Select AI. The guest has the opportunity to visit for free from 1 to 12 specialized restaurants of the hotel (meat, fish, Italian, French).
  5. MAI (Maxi All Inclusive). Paid for an additional service package that does not apply to the use of the telephone, going to the laundry, the services of the first-aid post and shops.
  6. HCAL (Highclass All Inclusive). Gourmet cuisine and the opportunity to use the hotel services for free.

The All Inclusive concept is suitable for families with children and people who have worked very hard and would like to relax as much as possible. In some countries, this type of food is the only option. This can be due to the climate, an undeveloped economy, or social instability.

Examples include Egypt, Algeria, Kenya, UAE, Cuba, India, Goa, Tunisia. Here hotel complexes can act as small towns with their own infrastructure: shops, hairdressers, dry cleaners, cinemas.

In Europe, with its rich history and many attractions, there is no point in overpaying to spend your entire vacation in a hotel. It is better to refuse All Inclusive for active tourists who do not plan to stay for a long time, and people who are going on short-term business trips.

UAI food (Ultra All Inclusive)

This is a more advanced version of the previous type.

Buying such a travel package implies the following privileges:


That is why there are so many All Inclusive varieties. For example, the concepts Premium All, Elegance All, Super All, Imperial All differ from each other only in the number and type of free services provided.

Who should choose this type of vacation:

  • Families with children who are very picky about food. After all, the presence of a children's menu, a wide variety of dishes and unlimited access to sweets and ice cream will allow you to feed any child.
  • Guests planning to spend a significant portion of their time at the hotel or on the beach.
  • If the hotel complex is located far from big cities, shopping centers or cafes.

Conversely, if it is located in a busy historical or commercial area, then it makes sense to choose an easier scheme in order to save money on visiting interesting attractions.

Types of breakfast in hotels

The types of food in hotels, the decoding and description of the main types of breakfasts are shown in the table below:

Breakfast type International

reduction

Translation Explanation
Continental breakfast CBF, CB Continental It includes coffee, juices, tea, croissants, pastries and toast. Milk, chocolate, jams, butter are served to them. May also include scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, cereals, fruits, cold cuts, cheese, cottage cheese, yoghurts
American breakfast ABF, AB, CA American It is an extended version of the continental. Sometimes fried or baked meat, poultry, fish, pies, vegetable salads are served
English Breakfast EB English In addition to hot and cold drinks, it includes scrambled eggs, special sausages or blood sausage with baked tomatoes, beans, bread and mushrooms, boiled potatoes and cabbage. Products can be replaced with more universal ones, or, conversely, supplemented with national dishes. Then, the voucher will indicate that it is a Scottish, Irish, Welsh or Cornish breakfast
Brunch dinner + ВD + Late breakfast It is very often practiced in the resorts of Austria and Switzerland, where brunch turns into an early lunch. Soups, hot meat, poultry or fish dishes, desserts can be served

Hotel buffet, what is it and what are the benefits?

This is the most democratic type of service in public catering. It is very popular in hotels of any class. Basically, this is a self-service option where visitors choose what they want to eat.

The number of meals is not limited.

The only rule is: you can not take food outside the restaurant... Drinks are either served on adjacent tables, or are served automatically from special devices. Alcohol is most often poured at the bar or served by waiters.

The undoubted advantage of the buffet is the variety of choices that can satisfy even the most demanding requests.

A la carte meals

There are 2 varieties of this food model - in both, the service of visitors is carried out by waiters.

In the first case, the night before or during breakfast, the guest himself chooses from the proposed menu what he will eat. Next, the order is sent to the kitchen.

In the second case, we mean restaurants at hotels with the "All inclusive" system. This is a great alternative for anyone tired of the buffet. In such hotel complexes, guests are invited to visit various restaurants for free: French, Italian, Japanese, fish, meat. This can be done one or more times by first registering with the administrator.

The advantage of this type of service is that the dishes here are more interesting, healthy and original. The disadvantages include the lack of a wide choice compared to the buffet.

Baby food in hotels

Going on vacation with a child, you should carefully study and think about baby food. After all, a situation may arise when, having arrived at the hotel, to the joy of the baby and the horror of the parents, it turns out that the main part of the menu is fast food. Therefore, you should discuss this issue with the tour operator.

Ideally, the hotel should have special dietary or children's meals. If they are not there, then it might make sense to order an individual menu for a fee.

Also, you should not overuse local or exotic cuisine on a trip, which can cause health problems for the child or simply not like him. It is best to find a type of food that will feature mostly familiar European dishes.

Before the trip you must:


Recommendations will help tourists choose the most optimal of all types of food in any hotel. After all, the analysis of these incomprehensible designations will allow you not to get into a mess and keep only pleasant memories of the trip.

Article formatting: Vladimir the Great

Videos about food types in hotels

Explanation of designations of types of food in hotels:

Eating 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.

Types of food

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 breakfasts, lunches and dinners yourself. 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 lunches), 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 their figures 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 dinner 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, secondly, you can cool off alcohol and not only drinks during the day, and thirdly, as a rule, it costs less 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 heavily drink 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, barbecue 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 overpaying for All inclusive, make sure that it is worth overpaying for it by reading reviews about the hotel.

Club hotels of the 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 full 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 in what quantity? 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 pay 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 very badly.
  4. Think about all family members - will your choice fit 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 a pretty penny.

Especially if you go to distant overseas countries, where you don't really want to eat at local eateries. Any trip, business, tourist or recreational, implies the choice of a comfortable hotel. So that you do not have a question about what the HB power is - what is it, we propose to understand the system in more detail.

All famous and not so famous hotels have special designations of rooms and food. You are going to rest in an unfamiliar country, choose a hotel by the stars and then you come across a strange abbreviation near the "Food" column: HB. the question is asked by thousands of tourists choosing a tour for the first time.

Types of food

Most often they are indicated in English (international) language or in an abbreviated version. All hotels adjust to generally accepted standards, so memorize abbreviations in advance, and you will be able to navigate in them like an avid traveler, and what does HB, BB food mean, you will tell newcomers who want to go to one or another hotel.

BB, or Bed & Breakfast

In fact, it translates as "bed and breakfast". It is understood that you will only be provided with a morning meal, which was originally included in the tour price. For the rest, you have to pay an additional fee at the restaurant. As a rule, a buffet is offered. This implies that you yourself go to a large set table on which dishes are laid out and apply them in the amount you need.

The type of food, which implies only the morning meal and overnight stay, is most often found in European small hotels and small resort towns, as well as in those places where the main emphasis is on excursion tourism. This is convenient if the excursion program is scheduled for the whole day, that is, you leave the hotel early and return only late in the evening.

What is offered for breakfast

Meals at the HB hotel are more complete, but if you want to save money, let's take a closer look at the BB menu. These are a variety of sandwiches, stewed and fried vegetables, snacks on tartlets and unleavened bread, canapé sandwiches, fried pieces of meat or chicken wings, various salads and desserts. Also tea, water or coffee are free drinks. You will have to buy alcohol, cocktails and juices for your own money. HB food - what is it? You will read about this further.

HB (Half Board), FB and AL

If you don’t like the idea of ​​just breakfast and want to eat twice a day, then a system called "HB Meals" is worth choosing. "What is it?" - you ask. The abbreviation translates to "half board". You eat twice for free. More often than not, this includes breakfast and dinner only. Other hotels may offer breakfast and lunch, although this is not particularly welcome. Hotels in the UAE offer to replace dinner with lunch.

Free drinks are offered only in the morning. These are usually coffee, tea and water. You will have to pay for drinks at lunch or dinner. If a bottle of liquor is still underfilled by you, it is served the next day at the evening meal. What else is convenient when choosing the HB system? You don't have to pay for drinks every time. It's simple - you tell the waiter the number of the living room, and the invoice is provided after checking out from the hotel.

Who will love HB? Most often, this type of food is found in 3 * or 4 * hotels. This is ideal for travelers who have come to rest for a short time, as well as for those who prefer to go to a restaurant for lunch. If you spend all day at the beach and enjoying the sunbathing, choose a hotel with HB catering. At lunchtime, you can grab a bite to eat on the beach, and at noon, you don't feel like eating too much. A light salad in the afternoon or a snack, a glass of local beer will help you save money and preserve your figure, because usually more hearty and hearty dishes are served for lunch.

FB, AL - this is Full Board and What does HB power and BB mean, we have already figured out. Full Board - this is which includes a full three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). The price does not include drinks that are displayed for lunch or evening for dinner.

All inclusive has the same meal plan as full board. That is, breakfast, lunch and dinner are given to you from the hotel free of charge. In addition, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are served, mainly from a local producer. What does HB, BB and AL food mean is known, and you can choose your place of residence. But there is one more category, more elite - UAL.

UAL or Ultra All Inclusive

Translated as "ultra all inclusive". This also includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks of local production are also served with imported ones. Various free services may be provided at the discretion of the administration.

English and continental breakfast

After we figured out what BB, HB, AL and UAL meals mean, let's move on to traditional breakfasts. In some hotels, the tourist can be offered English, American or Continental.

1. English breakfast. Made in the old traditions of England. A complete set of dishes includes juice (orange or any other fruit), scrambled eggs with ham slices (in some hotels, an omelet is supposed to be used instead), aromatic toasts fried until crispy. They are accompanied by butter and fruit jam. From drinks, of course, tea or coffee.

2. Continental breakfast. Simpler and more modest than English. Serve a bun with butter or jam for coffee, juice or tea.

3. Various types of sausages and cheeses (sliced), hot sausages, as well as scrambled eggs, coffee, tea, water or juice are brought to the table.

Travel is travel and breakfast should be on schedule. This is what tourists think. When booking a hotel, they pay attention to the "Food" column. Incomprehensible abbreviations opposite the food item confuse many. Revealing the "secrets", in this material we give a detailed explanation of the types of food in hotels: RO, BB, HB, BF, AI, UAI. English letter combinations make sense, the choice of services becomes easier after a detailed acquaintance with incomprehensible symbols.

Hotel food suggestions: what the letter abbreviations stand for

Nutrition is an important part of human life, on which energy, mood, performance, the desire to rejoice and rest depend. Predetermining questions about the food system in hotels, their designations and decryptions, we introduce you to international hotel standard abbreviations. The main designations used by hotel complexes around the world are as follows:

  • UAI (Ultra All Inclusive). This is the maximum set of services. There is everything - from round-the-clock food with drinks (alcoholic, non-alcoholic domestic and foreign producers) to swimming pools, saunas, nightclubs, etc. Accordingly, the cost of such accommodation is calculated by numerous zeros. These benefits are designed for wealthy vacationers who do not want to think about cooking and spending their leisure time.
  • AI, ALL INC (all inclusive). Convenient in that the meal is not limited by the time of the meal: a vacationer can satisfy his appetite with delicious dishes and desserts during the day, morning, evening. These types of food in hotels include 5 meals a day without restrictions. You do not have to pay for alcoholic drinks of a domestic producer. There is a second option for a hotel meal - three times a day, with free drinks throughout the day.
  • FB, FB + (full board). In this case, the meal is three times a day with all sorts of goodies. In the variant with a plus, free strong and semi-strong alcoholic drinks of a domestic manufacturer are assumed.
  • HB, HB + (halfboard) - half board accommodation. This type of accommodation in the hotel complex involves a nourishing 2 meals a day. Hearty breakfasts and dinners are offered as standard. Sometimes guests are given the opportunity to choose when to eat a second meal - lunch or dinner. You will have to pay for alcoholic drinks separately (HB) or not pay for domestic drinks (HB +), non-alcoholic drinks are free.
  • BB ("bed and breakfast"). Breakfast variations, depending on the level of the hotel complex. Cheap - light Breakfast Continental (fresh pastries, butter-jam-coffee (tea)). Expensive and hearty - americanbulet (after such a breakfast you can safely skip lunch: hot dishes, cheese and sausage cuts, hot drinks, fruit drinks). Average in cost and satiety - вreakfast English.
  • RR, RO, AO, BO, OB ("room only, accommodation, bed" - room only, Only Bed, etc.). Tourists who do not intend to spend time on the territory of the hotel complex do not need a meal. Choosing a cheap type of settlement that provides a place to stay does not imply food, even a light breakfast.

All establishments accommodating travelers use the standard hotel food conventions listed above. These are the first letters of English words. Knowing the transcript and translation, it is possible to easily navigate the number of services provided, to understand whether it is worth booking a hotel stay.

On types of food and the historical past of some words

We figured out the letter designations, it remains to understand the standard food systems in hotels with deciphering the meaning of words and phrases.

The words "boarding house", "half board" came from the past, in pre-revolutionary times they meant a small hotel with full or partial maintenance of guests. Today it is a standard range of services offered by hotels to residents. These types of food in hotels mean, respectively, a full meal - two times a day (breakfast, dinner), three times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner). You have to pay separately for drinks.

By bridging the knowledge gap about how hotel food is meant, it is easy to understand what an all-inclusive service is. It includes obligatory hearty morning meals with unlimited drinks, barbecue, snacks; complex of services offered by the hotel.

The same service with the "ultra" prefix increases the number of hotel amenities that a guest can use, in addition to breakfast-lunch-dinner. The hotel complex determines their list individually - from massages and saunas to a pool and a nightclub. Everything for tourists who want to relax to the fullest.

Travelers abroad are familiar with the concept of "buffet". A convenient type of self-service during a meal, when from the many offered dishes it is possible to choose the dishes you like by type - salad, first courses, side dishes, meat, fish, dessert, fruits, drinks (juices, coffee, tea, milk, cocoa). There are no restrictions on the amount of food, it is forbidden to take out. Special dishes and cutlery have been prepared for the meal.

For tourists, spelling out meals in hotels is useful information. First, these are the standard designations for hotel complexes around the world. Secondly, when booking a room, you know what to expect and are spared from unpleasant surprises. Thirdly, knowing the nuances, you can save money.

The Key Element Hotel offers favorable flexible rates for accommodation in comfortable rooms, delicious hearty breakfasts delivered to your room. The menu is varied daily.

Everyone chooses the type of food in the hotel according to their character, habits, food preferences, and lifestyle. We wish you the right choices, delicious food, and successful travels!

Going on vacation abroad, travelers will have to solve the difficult task of choosing a hotel for accommodation. The quality of the rest will depend on the correct choice. Many do not rely on the advice of tour operators, but make decisions on their own based on reviews and descriptions of hotels.

One of the difficulties that you will have to face when looking for a hotel is the letter designations of the food system. What does this mysterious UAI abbreviation mean and how does it differ from many others?

What does UAI nutrition mean?

Studying the conditions of accommodation in large expensive hotels, you can often see this letter designation. Such service is considered to be the highest degree of comfort and quality of service.


Power UAI, when decrypted, defines Ultra. Translated into Russian, it sounds like the "All inclusive. Ultra" system. According to the rules, the cost of living already includes reusable meals for guests, namely:
  • breakfast;
  • second light breakfast;
  • dinner;
  • light lunch;
  • dinner;
  • ice cream and pastries throughout the day;
  • B-B-Q;
  • soft drinks and alcohol of local and foreign production.

The main restaurants of the hotels serve their guests according to the "buffet" system, in which each visitor can choose from the dishes offered on the table, exactly what he wants.

Another UAI catering feature that extends to the hotel bars and snack bars. In other words, guests can freely visit all catering establishments on the territory of the hotel for free - everything is already included in the cost of living.

Difference between AI and UAI

In general, these two power systems are very similar to each other. However, there are still differences.

All Inclusive (or abbreviated as AI) means the inclusion of multiple meals in the price of accommodation in the main hotel restaurant and bars. However, some services are only available at an additional cost. Basically, this applies to alcohol after 23:00, orders of imported drinks, alcohol and barbecue.

What is the difference between UAI nutrition? That this system offers 24/7 meals at any time with the ability to order all types of dishes. This also applies to drinks.

Another important detail can be called free food in restaurants. These are the hotel establishments that serve customers à la carte and offer cuisine from different countries. With the "All inclusive" system, visits to such places are paid or limited (1-2 times in 7-10 days).

Should you choose Ultra All Inclusive accommodation?

Not all hotels offer such an accommodation system. Usually these conditions are found only in very large luxury hotels. Many offers come from hotels in Turkey and Egypt.

Whether it is worth choosing such a ticket, each tourist will have to decide on their own, based on their own needs in the diet. It should be remembered that - UAI, significantly increases the cost of the tour.

To make the right decision, consider the following points. Purpose of travel - if tourists plan to visit many excursions and travels in the vicinity, they will often have to eat outside the hotel (these are additional expenses).

This suggests that this food is - UAI, may simply become an unnecessary service.

Preferences in alcohol - if you are planning a quiet family vacation without heavy libations, then you can get by with the All Inclusive system.

Having understood Ultra All Inclusive, it will be much easier for vacationers to choose a hotel by type of food. This guarantees quality rest and rational financial spending.