All included in the tours designation. RO food: what's on the menu

Many tourists, before going on vacation, look through the offers of various hotels and encounter incomprehensible abbreviations of food forms. And they often ask the question: “What does RO nutrition mean?” Which is not surprising, because offers with this designation are the most profitable.

What is RO nutrition?

The abbreviation “RO” stands for Room Only, which means “room only”. It follows from this that the hotel offers only room services, and meals are completely excluded. The hotel probably does not have a kitchen. Or the hotel has its own cafes and restaurants, but you can only eat there at your own expense. In addition, no one guarantees that they will contain free seats, especially during rush hours. The hotel completely relieves itself of the responsibility to provide a free RO service - this means taking care of your diet on your own.

A number of other designations may also have a similar meaning, for example, OB (Only Bed) or AO (Accommodation Only). To correctly understand all the abbreviations you encounter, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Food system in hotels

RO power system		Lack of power
Exhaust power supply system
Power system NA
AO power system	Accommodation only
EP power system
BB power system		One meal. Breakfast only
BT power system	Breakfast & therapy	One meal and care. Breakfast and treatments
HB power system		Two meals a day. Breakfast and dinner
HB+ power system		Two meals a day with drinks. Breakfast, dinner and local spirits
HBT power system	Half Board & therapy	Two meals a day and care. Breakfast, dinner and treatment procedures
FB power system		Three meals a day. Breakfast lunch and dinner
AP power system		Three meals a day. Breakfast lunch and dinner
AI power system		Three meals a day and drinks. Breakfast and local spirits
FB+ power system		Three meals a day and drinks. Breakfast and local spirits
UAI power system	Ultra All Inclusive	Three meals a day and any drinks. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, local and imported alcoholic drinks
FBT power system	Full Board & therapy	Three meals a day and care. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and treatment procedures

There are also different breakfast symbols that are also worth knowing. Moreover, it’s worth understanding all the intricacies before the trip. Otherwise, you may be disappointed by a too meager set of products, as, for example, with a continental breakfast. Or, conversely, you don’t need a hearty breakfast if you’re used to drinking only a cup of coffee in the morning.

Types of breakfasts in hotels

So, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the information that will be useful to you many times later.

CB - continental breakfast

Continental breakfast

Drinks: tea or coffee, juice.

Food: buns, toast or croissants.

Optional: butter, honey or jam.

May be included: boiled egg, cereal, fruit, cheese, yogurt, milk.

AB - English breakfast

American breakfast

Drinks: tea or coffee, juice.

Food: scrambled eggs from two eggs of your choice (fried, scrambled, poached or scrambled), bacon, sausage or sausage, beans in tomato, tomato, fried champignons, 2 pieces of toast.

UAI- Buffet

Ultra all inclusive

Drinks: tea, coffee, milk, juice.

Food: scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs, cereal, bacon, sausages, oatmeal, pastries, cold snacks, fresh vegetables and fruits, toast.

Additionally: butter, honey, jam.

Please note that in different hotels different countries your food system rules. The menu, quantity and quality of dishes, as well as drinks may vary significantly. Therefore, you will only find out specific information if you contact the hotel administration. As a last resort, take a look at their website.

Pros of RO

RO system - which has both advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects include the fact that you can visit different cafes and restaurants in the city, and not just in one hotel. And every time you are free to choose the time to visit this or that establishment, you can order any dish you like, which is not always possible when meals are included in the price of your stay. Often work is limited in time, for example, breakfasts are only from 8 to 10 am. If you are used to getting up later, you will remain hungry. In the case of RO, this will not happen; you will not have to change your schedule and preferences. In addition, there will be more possibilities get acquainted with local cuisine. After all, buffets, as a rule, contain exclusively classic European dishes.

Cons of RO

RO power also has a number of disadvantages. Taking care of your daily food falls solely on your shoulders. This is not very convenient for those who do not like to actively search for food, starting in the morning. In addition, in some cities and countries it may not be so easy to find at 9 am open cafe. Also, separate meals will most likely cost you much more than what is included in the price of the tour. And if you don’t have a very large supply of available funds with you, you risk not fitting into the budget. If you are planning a calm, measured vacation, without surprises and unnecessary expenses, then it is better not to take risks and choose a hotel that offers meals already included in the price of your stay.

Who is the RO power system suitable for?

The absence of power supply is perfect for short-term and very active trips, when you initially plan to walk a lot and get to know the city as best as possible. This the best way get to know not only the local cuisine, but also the national flavor, and maybe even some customs. You will have more opportunities to take beautiful and original photographs. You can be sure that after such a vacation you will definitely not have the feeling that you missed something. On the other hand, if you are terribly exhausted over the working year, and stable three meals a day, a swimming pool and a bar counter nearby are all you need, then there is no point in spoiling your vacation by constantly searching for inexpensive and high-quality restaurants. You are not immune to the fact that the local cuisine will not suit you.

RO is also suitable for business trips and professional conventions, team building or conferences. In this case, a professional reason for the meeting can relieve the host of concerns about the nutrition of the participants.

We usually make sure in advance that it matches our preferences. We are talking about comfort, amenities, entertainment and, of course, food (see our section " ").

This article is intended to make sure that your vacation is good. In it you will find all the necessary information about catering in hotels abroad, an explanation of the abbreviations that are given in the characteristics of a particular hotel regarding food.

According to the rules, the types of meals indicated in this type of information about the hotel are already included in the price of your stay. And this is a very important detail when drawing up a budget for a future vacation.

Types of food in hotels

The type (type) of food at the hotel is indicated in the characteristics (description) hotel room, directly after the type of accommodation you are booking. Its abbreviation consists of two or three Latin letters. Here's the full list:

R.O.(room only) - accommodation without meals.

E.P.(european plan), B.O.(bed only), A.O.(accommodation only), R.R.(room rate), OB(only bed), NO- accommodation without meals.

BB(Bed breakfast) - breakfast is included in the price (it can be organized as a buffet). The menu for this meal consists of cold and hot dishes and drinks. The range of dishes depends on the traditions of the country and the preferences of the hotel owners.

HB (half board) - half board, including breakfast and dinner (can be organized as a buffet), in addition you can order tea, coffee, and water for free.

HB+(half board +, extended half board) - the hotel’s food system is based on the principle of extended half board, the price includes breakfast and dinner (buffet), in addition, throughout the day you can order local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, which are available hotel bar.

FB(Full board) - full board(breakfast, lunch and dinner), food is served on a buffet basis.

FB+(full board +), EXTFB(extended half board) - the abbreviation means extended full board, including breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet) and serving drinks (beer and wine are possible).

Mini all inclusive- full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with local drinks served throughout the day, but in limited quantities.

ALL, Al(All inclusive) translated means all inclusive - breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet). During your stay at the hotel, throughout the day you can drink the offered soft and alcoholic drinks in unlimited quantities; additional forms of food are also served (light breakfast consisting of buns, butter, jam, coffee or tea, juice, second breakfast, light snacks, afternoon tea, late dinner, barbecue, etc.).

HCAL(hign class all inclusive) - if the description of the hotel room contains such an abbreviation, then you get everything for free, except for purchases while visiting stores, telephone, doctor services, hairdresser services, some entertainment ( aquatic species sports and diving).

AdditionalUAL, UAI(ultra inclusive) - breakfast, late breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner (buffet). Food will be supplemented good choice desserts, sweets, ice cream, all kinds of cold appetizers, local and imported drinks. Some of the hotels operating under the Ultra All Inclusive system may offer guests additional free meals in restaurants with different national cuisine. At the same time, food is available throughout the day and includes various drinks (including alcohol). Varieties of ultra aIl inclusive:

Elegance all inc

Super all inc

VIP all inc

De luxe all inc

VC all inc

MEGA all inc

Superior all inc

VIP Service

Ultra de luxe all inc

Royal Class all inc

Max all inc Extended all inc

Excellent all inc.

Imperial all

Additional forms of food in hotels decoding

C.B.(Continental breakfast) - continental breakfast (the name "French breakfast" (breakfast) can be used). It is a light breakfast, the list includes coffee (tea), juice, buns, butter and jam. As a rule, this form of food is offered in European city hotels. Usually it consists of an economical set of “coffee + croissant”, which characterizes these types of breakfast very well. It has a minimal variety of choice, but you are guaranteed significant savings if additional payment is provided.

AB(American breakfast) - American breakfast, the menu of dishes is similar to a continental breakfast, it involves serving various cuts; the only hot dishes served are scrambled eggs with bacon (or sausages).

EB(English breakfast) - breakfast, a complete and hearty breakfast, usually the menu includes juice, scrambled eggs (omelet), toast, buns, butter, jam and coffee (tea).

UAI(Ultra all inclusive) - this type of food includes the maximum list: breakfast, late breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner (buffet). You will be offered a large selection of various sweets, desserts, ice cream, all kinds of cold appetizers, local and imported drinks.

When booking a hotel stay, we often encounter various types nutrition. Unfortunately, their decoding is not always given, so today we decided to fill this gap and consider each of them in detail.

Most often there are 3 types of power supply: BB, HB and FB

BB – Bed & Breakfast– type of food when only breakfast is included in the price. Lunch and dinner in this case are provided only for an additional fee, or the hotel generally only serves breakfast; at other times you will have to eat outside the hotel.

Breakfast is different, each country has its own characteristics, which are also worth keeping in mind.

Continental breakfast- the most common in Europe, more precisely on its continental part. Sometimes there is a special abbreviation - CB (Continental breakfast). This very light breakfast. You will be served coffee/tea, pastries, jam, butter. Sometimes an extended continental breakfast is available, but don't be fooled too early. To the standard set they will add yogurt, muesli or cereal and, if you're lucky, ham and cheese.

Another thing, or it is sometimes called American breakfast (AB - American breakfast), it is very filling and high-calorie. A classic English breakfast includes sausages, fried bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs, and toast. All this is served with a glass of juice or coffee/tea. In the USA, small pancakes are often added to the standard set.

In Turkey, Egypt, Asia and resort towns In Europe, breakfast is buffet style. The variety depends on the hotel, but in principle, from the products offered you can collect both breakfast options, sometimes even at the same time :)

HB – Half Board– another popular type of food, half board. The price includes breakfast and dinner.

FB – Full Board– full board or three meals a day. The price includes breakfast, lunch and dinner at times set by the hotel.

The disadvantage of this type of food is that it ties you to the hotel. If you want to spend the whole day in the city, on the beach or on excursions, then you will have to skip lunch, because... returning to the hotel is a waste of time.

If, on the contrary, you like to spend your holidays in a hotel by the pool, but the hotel does not operate on an All Inclusive system, then Full Board is an ideal option for you.

Please note that drinks are not included during lunch and dinner.

Very rarely, but still there are such options as HB+ and FB+, usually at resorts. The plus in this case indicates free drinks. The standard is free drinks throughout the day.

Please note that the day is not 24 hours a day; the hotel has certain limits from _ to _ hours.

In addition, there are hotels that decipher “plus” in their own way. Often this means that drinks are free only during breakfast, lunch and dinner; at other times you have to pay for them.

AL -All inclusive or “all inclusive”. The most favorite type of food among Russians. Found everywhere in Turkey and Egypt. Recently, this trend has reached Bulgaria and Greece, as well as other popular resort destinations.

All inclusive meals means that the price includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks throughout the day. In addition, there are additional meals - late breakfast/brunch or afternoon tea or both.

Another type of “All inclusive” is ultra all inclusive Ultra All Inclusive. Let's be honest, this formulation is sometimes used only to attract clients; often AL and UAL are no different. In theory, “ultra all inclusive” includes, in addition to local ones, foreign drinks, more wide choose dishes and desserts. Some hotels serve food and drinks almost 24 hours a day, and you can also dine in A-la carte restaurants, where the service is à la carte.

If meals are not included in the price, this is designated as RO (Room only), EP, BO, AO or NO.

Forms of service in hotel restaurants

Restaurants in hotels adhere to one of two forms of service - Buffet and a la carte service.

– you take a plate yourself and put on the dishes you like, in the quantity you want, if it is not limited by the hotel.

A la carte- This is a menu service, like in a regular restaurant. You choose dishes from the menu and the waiter serves you. Unlike regular restaurants, in many hotels the choice of dishes on the menu is limited, for example, 2 salad options, 2-3 hot dishes, etc.

In many hotels there is a mixed form of food, breakfast is a buffet, and lunch and dinner are a la carte.

16 Dec 2013 Anna Komok Tags:

When traveling to another city or abroad for various reasons, visitors pay attention to various factors, including food in hotels, the designation and interpretation of which require special consideration.

The abbreviations AL, DD, OB, FB, HB and others are often used in tourism.

What they mean, how they are deciphered, what is hidden under these letters - this is what our article is about.

In contact with

Buffet

This is a type of serving dishes associated with the principle of self-service. The place where it is placed has several tables or display cases where dishes are taken out.

Each corner is associated with a certain type of food - from salads to dessert.

Hotel guests can come an unlimited number of times with cutlery and be treated to any food in the desired quantity.

As for drinks, they are served differently in each establishment. They can be served by waiters, or machines can be used to dispense juices, water, wine, beer, and carbonated drinks.

There is a bar nearby where you can order cocktails, aperitifs or bottled drinks. It all depends on the hotel itself, organization, level and more specific type of food.

A la carte

The literal translation of this type of food service is “a la carte.” The choice can be made based on the menu, and the staff helps and serves. Establishments may or may not charge a separate fee.

Most often they are visited freely one or more times with an unlimited number of food orders. You must make an appointment in advance with the hotel administration.

As a rule, large hotel complexes include several different examples of such establishments based on nationality. Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, and Mediterranean cuisines are very popular.

During meals, visitors are often accompanied by live music and surrounds the interior of the respective state.

Hotel without meals (RO, RR, OB, AO)

R.O.(room only, or room only) - stay without eating.

Alternative designations are considered O.B.(only bed - only sleeping area) And A.O.(accommodation only – accommodation only).

This system involves hotel accommodation without food.

Take into account: The rooms of such hotels are often equipped with kitchens for possible personal cooking. This type of accommodation will also be a good solution for adherents of a certain place or diet.

The most popular abbreviation today is R.O.(RO).

Accommodation with meals (BB, HB, HB+, FB, FB+, Al, AIP, UAI)

Nutrition BB (bed breakfast– bed and breakfast). BB nutrition - what does it mean?

The translation from English gives a clear idea of its purpose. Living this way, you rely on your morning meal.

It is often organized on a buffet basis and filled in accordance with the hotel level and location. Thus, the European BB will be inferior in terms of abundance of dishes to the variant or Turkey.

Eating this way is optimal for business trips or for active tourists, when it makes no sense to pay for basic meals, they will simply “burn out.” And not everyone will like the possible lunch boxes.

Nutrition HB(half board - half board). HB nutrition - what is it?

In English, “half board”, translated as half board, means the following: the presence of morning and afternoon (breakfast and lunch), or morning and evening (breakfast and dinner) meals with an unlimited number of approaches. Any non-alcoholic drinks are already included in the price, and alcohol is paid for immediately or delivered to the room.

It is worth noting: This type of food means that night owls may miss their morning meal, but it is suitable for those who probably want to return to the hotel only in the evening. Dinner after a busy day will help you regain your strength.

Nutrition HB+(half board plus - half board plus). People often ask, what kind of meals is half board and what is the difference from half board plus? The main difference from regular half board is the inclusion of local alcoholic beverages in the free service point.

Nutrition FB(full board - full board). Food is provided three times a day on a buffet basis. Alcohol is not provided freely. The exception is a glass of sparkling wine in hotel complexes Lux class. Desirable drinks come with a separate price during the evening meal.

Nutrition FB+ (full board plus - full board plus) close to the FB category. The only thing is that this subtype allows free consumption of alcohol produced in the country where the hotel is located.

Nutrition A.I.(all inclusive - all inclusive). This is how food options are designated, where the main thing is multiple meals - from three to “infinity” times per day in various configurations.

Any alcohol produced in the state where the hotel is located is permitted without restrictions, and imported drinks are consumed freely in hotel complexes of a certain level.

Please note: Such a system is certainly attractive, but it is better not to skip meals with it - then you will have to pay twice.

Nutrition AIP(all inclusive premium - “all inclusive premium”). This type is organized infrequently, it is close to AI, it is only richer in the range of alcoholic options.

Nutrition UAI(ultra all inclusive, UALL - ultra all inclusive). The principle of unlimited food consumption every day in restaurants and bars works here; snacks are expected between main meals. Visitors have the right to freely drink foreign-produced alcohol, and the quality of the products is higher than in other systems. Most often, this VIP option is practiced in hotels in Turkey and Egypt.

When choosing the type of food, you should therefore be guided by the frequency and amount of time spent outside the hotel. This will determine the optimal food consumption system for you!

Watch a video explaining hotel food types:

All hotels in the world have generally accepted designations for types of food and rooms. Experienced tourists easily understand the variety of terms, but newcomers, when faced with them, cannot immediately understand what it is. When choosing a trip to foreign country they should clarify the meaning of each abbreviation in advance to avoid misunderstandings.

Depending on the classification of the hotel, there are different types of food, which are indicated in Latin in an abbreviated version. Any tourist who has a voucher knows in advance which room he will live in and how many times a day he will eat. He can choose food: BB, HB, FB, and HB+ FB+ Al or UAL.

Power supply HB

HB nutrition stands for "half board" (half board). This type implies only breakfast and dinner . There are no lunches or afternoon snacks.

This system is most popular in European countries. Most tourists prefer not to be tied to a hotel. They have breakfast in the morning and go sightseeing. Returning to the hotel in the evening, travelers have dinner and go to their rooms.

What does HB nutrition mean? Usually in the morning, hotels offer a buffet with a large assortment of dishes, soft drinks and hot drinks. In the evening there may also be a buffet or salad bar with some dishes from the main menu. Drinks are usually not included in the evening, so you will have to pay for them separately.

The assortment of breakfasts and dinners, as a rule, remains almost unchanged, but the choice of dishes is so varied that you don’t have time to get bored with them during your vacation.

Buffet

Food called "Buffet" distributed throughout the world. This is a very convenient system during breakfast and dinner. The following dishes are displayed on large tables:

Different types of meat and fish;
Salads;
Side dishes;
Dessert;
Fruits;
Cheese plates;
Sliced meat products.

Guests come to the table independently and choose from a wide variety of food to suit their taste. Approaches to dishes are not limited, which means you can eat as much as you like. A buffet is the most popular and rational type of food on vacation. It is used in all hotels, be it food AI, HB, HB+, BB, FB+

All tourists love buffets for their variety and the opportunity to choose their favorite dishes.

Beverages

HB power type means availability of soft and hot drinks only for breakfast . The rest of the time they are not included. At dinner you can order juice, lemonade, mineral water or alcoholic drinks. They will be included in the bill, which can be paid immediately after the meal or upon departure from the hotel.

If guests order a bottle of wine or spirits and do not finish it, the restaurant staff will serve it the next day during the evening meal.

Recently, some hotels have offered extended options - HB+

In this case, in addition to food at dinner local drinks available . However, they are also served in limited quantities. For example, only a certain amount mineral water and table wine (house wine).

Who is the HB food type suitable for?

HB meals are most often found in three or four star hotels. It is ideal for tourists who come for sightseeing and plan to go on educational excursions every day. At lunchtime, they can always eat elsewhere without having to return to the hotel for it.

Some tourists wonder if they can skip breakfast and replace it with lunch when eating HB. Alas, this is practically impossible. In rare cases, hotel staff will make concessions.

If tourists come to the resort and prefer not to leave the hotel premises, then the meal type FB (full board) - full board or All (all inclusive) - all inclusive is suitable for them.

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