Deciphering the types of food in hotels. RO BB HB FB AI UAI - decoding of food types in hotels

When going on vacation abroad, travelers will have to solve the difficult task of choosing a hotel to stay in. The quality of your vacation 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 encounter when searching for a hotel is the letter designation of the food system. What does this mysterious abbreviation UAI mean and how does it differ from many others?

What does UAI nutrition mean?

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

Power UAI, when deciphered, gives the definition of Ultra. Translated into Russian, it sounds like the “All inclusive. Ultra” system. According to the rules, the price of accommodation already includes multiple meals for guests, namely:

breakfast;
second light breakfast;
dinner;
light lunch;
dinner;
ice cream and baked goods throughout the day;
B-B-Q;
soft drinks and alcohol of local and foreign production.

The main hotel restaurants serve guests according to the “ Buffet”, in which each visitor can choose exactly what he wants from the dishes offered on the table.

Another feature of the UAI food service is that it extends to the hotel's bars and snack bars. In other words, guests can freely visit all establishments Catering free on site - everything is already included in the price of your stay.

Difference between AI and UAI

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

All Inclusive (or AI for short) means the inclusion of multiple meals in the hotel's main restaurant and bars in the price of your stay. However, some services are only available upon additional payment. This mainly applies to alcohol after 23:00, orders of imported drinks, alcohol and barbecue.

How is UAI power different? That this system offers 24-hour food at any time with the possibility of ordering all types of dishes. This also applies to drinks.

Another important detail is free meals in restaurants. These are those hotel establishments that serve visitors a la carte and offer cuisine different countries. With the "All Inclusive" system, visits to such places are paid or limited (1-2 times in 7-10 days).

Should I 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 tour, each tourist will have to decide for himself, based on his own dietary needs. It is worth remembering 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 attend many excursions and trips around the surrounding area, they will often have to eat outside the hotel (this is an additional expense).

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

Alcohol preferences - if you are planning a quiet family holiday without copious libations, 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 based on the type of food. This guarantees quality rest and rational financial spending.

Meals at the resorts - BB, HB, FB, All Inclusive

“Healthy eating” is an important (and for many, the most important) component of a successful vacation. Alas, there are no standards that allow you to be sure that the chosen hotel will provide food to your heart's content, tasty and varied. Of course, any tourist today knows that most leave Turkish hotels having significantly improved, but the French are unlikely to give you such an opportunity. Although, in any case, the choice of dishes in a 5* hotel will obviously be higher than in a 3* hotel.

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Most often, types of food in hotels are designated in Latin letters (BB, HB, FB) - such abbreviations can be found both in the tour description and in the catalog where the hotels themselves are presented.

Ep, RO, BO, AO, OB (only bed)- without power
BB (bed end breakfast)- breakfast only (buffet)
Continental Breakfast - light breakfast consisting of coffee or tea, juice, buns, butter and jam
English breakfast - full breakfast, usually includes fruit juice, ham and eggs, toast, butter, jam, coffee and tea
American breakfast - analogue of a continental breakfast + various cuts (sausages, cheeses) and hot dishes (omelet, sausages)
HB( half board) - half board, breakfast and dinner (buffet), free tea, coffee, water for breakfast
HB+ (half board plus)- extended half board, breakfast and dinner (buffet). Locally produced alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
FB (full board)) - breakfast, lunch, dinner (buffet)
FB+ (full board plus) - full board, breakfast, lunch, dinner (buffet), as well as drinks during meals
Mini all inclusive- full board with local drinks not only during meals, but also in limited quantities throughout the day
AI (all inclusive)- all inclusive, breakfast, lunch, dinner (buffet), local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Also additional food
UAI (ultra All Inclusive)- meals throughout the day with wide choice dishes, including imported alcoholic drinks.
A la carte– a menu in which each dish is indicated with a price

Meals BB (Bed&Breakfast)

BB means the hotel only serves breakfast. Typically, this option is offered for sightseeing tours or business trips. Continental breakfast (usually this is what is served in 2*-3* hotels) is most often not rich, some thinly sliced sausage and cheese, a bagel with jam, a small package of yogurt, coffee. If it is a buffet (known throughout the world as a buffet), then vegetable and fruit salads, several types of pastries, and boiled eggs are added. In hotels high level You can already count on hot dishes of sausages and scrambled eggs. Juice, which is usually poured from a machine, is also required at breakfast, but it almost certainly turns out to be a highly diluted concentrate.

It is important to note that in a hotel of any level breakfast is included in the price of your stay and it is impossible to refuse it. Usually breakfast is served no later than 7 am, but if a tourist leaves for the airport or on an excursion earlier, then the receptionist must be informed about this - he will be served breakfast earlier (though without a hot dish) or will be given a lunch bag with him.

Power supply NV (Half-Board)

HB - half board, that is, breakfast and dinner most popular look food in almost all resorts, with the exception of Turkey, which loves to “include everything”. Breakfast in this case is usually a traditional buffet; dinner can be a buffet and a salad bar with some choice of hot dishes according to the menu. Any drinks in this case are paid (this also applies to plain water, if it is brought not in a jug, but in glass bottles) and are not cheap. True, if you order a bottle of wine at dinner and it is not drunk entirely, then it is left for the next days. There is no need to pay for drinks each time, you just need to tell the waiter the room number, and upon departure the receptionist will issue an invoice for all days (which is recommended to be checked carefully!).

Power FB (Full-Board)

FB is full board (three meals a day). Lunch, like dinner, in this case can be either a buffet or à la carte, but in any case, drinks during the day and evening are again paid separately. Given the opportunity to choose between “half board” and “board”, tourists usually choose the first, since in Spain, Greece or Cyprus, finding a good tavern near the hotel even in high season is not a problem. Unfortunately, it is not possible to replace a hotel lunch with dinner or vice versa in all hotels, although hotels in the UAE provide a similar service.

Sistama AL (All Inclusive)

All Inclusive "all inclusive" - most common in Turkish resorts, in other countries it is much less common. In inexpensive hotels 2*-3* assumes the usual three meals a day with a standard choice of dishes and 1-2 bars that serve free tea and coffee throughout the day, mineral water, cola and local spirits.

The selection of local alcohol is the same everywhere: rakia grape vodka (in Turkish “raki”), which is drunk diluted with water, as a result of which it acquires a milky color, local cognac (konjak), a drink under the strange name VoTka, dry red wine, in principle, not bad, but without any "frills" and, of course, national pride, Efes beer. Of course, in these hotels you can also order imported alcohol, but for an additional fee.

All other types of All Inclusive offered by Turkish hotels under the names “Ultra”, “Maximum”, “Imperial”, etc. provide almost round-the-clock food (and drinking, including imported alcohol). Tourists who find themselves in a Turkish “club” hotel can attend two consecutive breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and “late soup” after a disco during the day, and during the breaks enjoy sandwiches, pizza, ice cream and sweets.

The variety and choice of dishes here often exceed reasonable limits, the quality is excellent, especially since best hotels many dishes are prepared directly in front of you. If you wish, you can book a table in advance and spend the evening not at the general buffet, but in an Italian or Japanese restaurant located on the hotel premises. As for imported alcohol, the choice is usually limited to several types of whiskey, martinis, and gin. However, such hotels often warn that several types of elite alcohol (expensive cognacs, wines) are offered for an additional fee.

By the way, often in all-inclusive hotels you are asked to give the room number and sign on the receipt, even when ordering “free” alcohol. You shouldn’t be afraid of this; it’s just one of the forms of monitoring the work of waiters.

IN sightseeing tours when hotel accommodation is temporary, the following types are used:

- Continental Breakfast(Continental Breakfast) - light breakfast consisting of coffee or tea, juice, buns, butter and jam;
- English breakfast- full breakfast, usually includes juice, scrambled eggs, toast, butter, jam and coffee (tea);
- American breakfast- similar to a continental breakfast, includes a variety of cold cuts and hot dishes.
- "Buffet"- This is an organized free breakfast in many hotels around the world. It is included in the price of the room you occupy at the hotel.
this could be a fenced part of the restaurant, a special room. In the middle of the hall there is a table, which can be located along the wall of this room. Various foods are laid out on it: fruits, cottage cheese, juices, gastronomic snacks, hot dishes under a lid in special bowls, and packaged products in foil (butter, pates, jam, honey). And on a separate table or on the same table there are dishes and cutlery.

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Naturally, not only the cost of the trip depends on the type of service, but also how quality the vacation will be.

Let's take a look at all the details in order.

RO (room only), RR (room rate), OB (Only Bed), AO (Accommodation Only) means only hotel accommodation without the possibility of free meals. Choosing this type will allow you to save a decent amount of money when purchasing a tour. At the same time, you will need to take care of your own food, which can sometimes be very inconvenient.

However, many tourists specifically choose “accommodation only” in order to explore the flavor local cuisine and try out several restaurants and cafes. Before your trip, you can study the place and the nearest popular establishments in advance; fortunately, there is now such an opportunity on the Internet.

BB ( bed breakfast) - literally translates to "bed and breakfast". Breakfast is usually either continental or buffet. A continental breakfast is a certain fixed set of dishes that is offered to the guest, and unlike a buffet, it is a lighter form of breakfast. As a rule, this type of food is chosen active tourists- travelers who do not want to be tied to hotel meals.

BB+ (bed breakfast plus), unlike BB, a more dense, expanded menu option is offered.

HB (Half Board) or "half board" means accommodation with breakfast and dinner. You will need to take care of your own lunches. This type of meal does not include additional snacks or alcoholic drinks.

HB+ (Half Board plus) similar to HB, only here you can get free alcoholic drinks, mostly locally produced.

FB (Full Board) or “full board”, i.e. the tourist has three full meals a day. With the FB system you cannot count on free alcoholic drinks. However, this type of food is very convenient for couples with small children, because... everything has already been thought out and there is no need to look for a place to eat. Many modern hotels also offer their guests a children's menu, which makes life much easier for parents.

FB+ (full board plus)- also “full board”, but includes a small list of free alcoholic drinks, most often locally produced.

AI, ALL, UALL (all inclusive) or all-inclusive. The dream of many tourists, because... You can eat without restrictions, especially if you are not on a diet. Depending on the star rating of the hotel, this type of food can be either three times a day or multiple times throughout the day (restaurants, barbecues, grills, bars). Depending on the level of the hotel, mainly local alcoholic drinks are provided, and sometimes imported alcohol.

UAI, UALL (ultra all inclusive) or “ultra all inclusive” - similar to the previous type of food, only a large selection of local and imported alcoholic drinks is provided. This type of accommodation with meals will of course be the most expensive, but also the highest quality.

Alternative classification and decoding

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

EP (same as OB) and means that visitors will not receive free food here at all, because... this is not included in the price;
CP (or continental plan), which provides tourists with a choice of light meals (tea/coffee, buns, sandwiches, fruit) and only once a day in the morning;
BP (bermuda plan)- this is a hearty morning lunch in American style, i.e. they will offer meat/fish dishes, salads, pastries and many other products that are not at all suitable for a vegetarian or a person on a diet;
MAP- half board, consisting of a full breakfast and a hearty lunch. Can also be supplemented with afternoon tea according to the British tradition, even in hotels in the UAE;
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 in an 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:

Continental Breakfast– a light and simple set of dishes and drinks (coffee/tea/juice, buns, fruit);
English type, consisting of hearty scrambled eggs, hot toasters, scones with jam and butter and coffee/tea;
American type– this is the most satisfying and high-calorie set of dishes: hot and cold appetizers, baked goods, sliced dishes, etc.

WE WISH YOU GOOD WEATHER AND A GREAT VACATION!

“Healthy eating” is an important (and for many, the most important) component of a successful vacation. Alas, there are no standards that allow us to be sure that in the hotel you choose we will be fed to our hearts’ content, tasty and varied. Of course, any tourist today knows that most leave Turkish hotels having significantly improved, but the French are unlikely to give you such an opportunity. Although, in any case, the choice of dishes in a 5* hotel will obviously be higher than in a 3* hotel.

Meals BB (Bed&Breakfast)

BB means that you will only receive breakfast at the hotel. Typically, this option is offered for sightseeing tours or business trips. Continental breakfast (usually this is what is served in 2*-3* hotels) is most often not rich, some thinly sliced sausage and cheese, a bagel with jam, a small package of yogurt, coffee. If it is a buffet (known throughout the world as a buffet), then vegetable and fruit salads, several types of pastries, and boiled eggs are added. In high-level hotels you can already count on hot dishes, sausages and omelettes. Juice, which is usually poured from a machine, is also required at breakfast, but it almost certainly turns out to be a highly diluted concentrate.

It is important to note that in a hotel of any level breakfast is included in the price of your stay and it is impossible to refuse it. Usually breakfast is served no later than 7 am, but if you are leaving for the airport or on an excursion earlier, you need to notify the receptionist - they will serve you breakfast early (though without a hot dish) or give you a lunch bag with you.

Power supply NV (Half-Board)

HB - half board, that is, breakfast and dinner, is the most popular type of food in almost all resorts, with the exception of Turkey, which loves to “include everything”. Breakfast in this case is usually a traditional buffet; dinner can be a buffet and a salad bar with some choice of hot dishes according to the menu. Any drinks in this case are paid (this also applies to plain water, if it is brought not in a jug, but in glass bottles) and are not cheap. True, if you order a bottle of wine at dinner and don’t drink it all, they’ll leave it for you for the next few days. You don’t need to pay for drinks every time; you just tell the waiter the room number, and when you leave, you receive an invoice for all days from the receptionist (which we recommend checking carefully!).

Evening alcoholic drinks in hotels in Egypt are especially expensive. In addition, their quality is questionable, so it is better to limit yourself to soft drinks at dinner (only without ice, here they are made from local unboiled water!), and purchase stronger drinks, for example, in the Hurghada version of the ever-memorable currency "Berezka", which is called here " Pyramid".

Power FB (Full-Board)

FB is full board, which in our childhood was called “three meals a day”. Lunch, like dinner, in this case can be either a buffet or à la carte, but in any case, drinks during the day and evening are again paid separately. Given the opportunity to choose between “half board” and “board”, tourists usually choose the first, since in Spain, Greece or Cyprus, finding a good tavern near the hotel even in high season is not a problem. Unfortunately, it is not possible to replace a hotel lunch with dinner or vice versa in all hotels, although hotels in the UAE provide a similar service.

Sistama AL (All Inclusive)

All Inclusive "all inclusive" is a favorite Russian entertainment at Turkish resorts, much less common in other countries. In inexpensive hotels 2*-3* assumes the usual three meals a day with a standard choice of dishes (say, in the evening it is 2-3 types of soup, 3 types of the second) and 1-2 bars, which “dispense” tea, coffee and mineral water for free during the day , cola and local spirits.

All other types of All Inclusive offered by Turkish hotels under the names "Ultra", "Maximum", "Imperial", etc. They provide almost round-the-clock food (and drinking, including imported alcohol). Tourists who find themselves in a Turkish “club” hotel can attend two consecutive breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and “late soup” after a disco during the day, and during the breaks enjoy sandwiches, pizza, ice cream and sweets.

The variety and choice of dishes here often exceed reasonable limits, the quality is excellent, especially since in the best hotels many dishes are prepared directly in front of you. If you wish, you can book a table in advance and spend the evening not at the general buffet, but in an Italian or Japanese restaurant located on the hotel premises. As for imported alcohol, the choice is usually limited to several types of whiskey, martinis, and gin. However, such hotels often warn that several types of elite alcohol (expensive cognacs, wines) are offered for an additional fee. By the way, often in all-inclusive hotels you are asked to give the room number and sign on the receipt, even when ordering “free” alcohol. You shouldn’t be afraid of this; it’s just one of the forms of monitoring the work of waiters.

Tourists, planning a vacation, already mentally imagine themselves relaxing on the ocean shore or strolling along the cozy streets of unfamiliar cities.

At the same time, they quickly skim through the conditions of recreation in advertising brochures, paying attention only to the key points. Hotel with so many stars, swimming pool, leisure, rooms, food.

But few people take a closer look at abbreviations consisting of unfamiliar letters or words adjacent to the word “food”, but it is these letters that can later spoil the feeling of the vacation or improve it qualitatively.

In this article, Kidpassage will explain in detail the types of food in hotels so that you can choose the right vacation for yourself and provide the necessary food for you and your family.

Types of food in hotels

The designation of food types in hotels, or rather the meaning of the abbreviations immediately after the word “food”, is greatly understated, especially among those who are going on holiday abroad for the first time. Carefully read the list of food types and only after that look again at the offers of travel agencies.

. Power RO

These two letters are short for “room only”, which translates as “room only”. If you got a cheap ticket, then upon arrival you will only have accommodation without meals. Pay attention to other possible abbreviations, less common, which also indicate that you are purchasing only accommodation: RR - room rate, OB - only bed, as well as EP, BO, AO, NO.

. Meals BB (Breakfast only)

The letters stand for bed + breakfast. In English it sounds like “bed & breakfast”. If you choose this meal option, your room and breakfast with soft drinks will be provided. As a rule, we are talking about a “buffet” or “continental breakfast”, but there are exceptions.

. Meals HB (Half board)

The combination of letters indicates that the hotel offers half board, which includes a free morning meal and an evening meal. In some variations - breakfast and lunch. It is worth noting that in this case, drinks will most often be served only with breakfast.

. Meals HB Plus (Half board +)

Extended half board option, when the price also includes drinks for breakfast and dinner.

. Meals FB (Full board)

Buffet style meals including breakfast, lunch and full board dinner. In this case, drinks can be counted on during breakfast, but in some cases they are served with each of the meals.

. Meals FB Plus (Full board +)

Three meals a day with free alcoholic drinks, usually locally produced.

. Meals All inclusive

The famous all-inclusive meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as meals such as barbecue, snacks and, of course, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Free alcoholic drinks on an all-inclusive basis, local and less often imported. Some hotels provide 24-hour food service. In this case, the clarification “24 hours” will be added to the phrase “all inclusive”.

. UAI meals (Ultra all inclusive)

Ultra all inclusive food (UAI all inclusive) is an even more expanded version of the “all inclusive” system, including not only breakfast, but also a second breakfast, afternoon snack and dinner.

The assortment of desserts and drinks will be expanded on the tables, including high-quality wines and strong alcohol. Most often, UAI meals are offered at and, but there are exceptions at other resorts.

Types of breakfasts in hotels

Breakfast is the start of the day, so hotel management tries to pay special attention to this item. There are several breakfast options that await guests, and they will be discussed below.

Continental breakfast- This is a breakfast that includes freshly baked pastries, butter, jam or honey of your choice, as well as coffee, tea or hot chocolate. This breakfast option is common in hotels located in Europe, but is also practiced in some exotic hotels as a separate item on the menu. The abbreviation for this type of nutrition is CBF.

English breakfast consists of:

scrambled eggs, which are usually prepared according to your choice: it can be fried, scrambled, scrambled or poached, the classic English scrambled egg is, of course, fried eggs;
choice of bacon or sausages;
pieces of fresh or canned tomatoes;
several fried champignons;
2-3 toasts with butter;
servings of white beans in tomato;
jam, butter and honey;
orange juice or coffee.

American breakfast. In this case, the list of dishes may vary depending on the season and day of the week, but in general it includes cold cuts, yogurt or cottage cheese, dry cereal flakes, fruit salads and juice. The abbreviation for this type of nutrition is ABF.

Champagne breakfast. A gourmet breakfast dedicated to any special occasion. Typically, this breakfast option occurs from 10 to 11.30, during which not only hot drinks and cold snacks will be served, but also desserts with champagne wines.

Late breakfast. Morning meal, gradually “turning” into lunch. This breakfast option is ideal for those who do not plan to get up early. Brunch includes dishes from the first meal and lunch. As a rule, serving takes place from 10 am to 2 pm and operates in buffet mode.

Buffet at the hotel, what is it and what are the advantages?

A buffet is one of the most common food serving options in most modern hotels. In essence, this option is self-service, when visitors independently put on their plate those products and dishes that they like best.

At the same time, there are no restrictions on the amount eaten, except that it is forbidden to take food with you.

As for drinks, they will either already be installed on adjacent tables, or it is possible to use the option of automated pouring of non-alcoholic products. For those who want to brighten up their meals with alcohol, there are bars where, depending on the level of the hotel, drinks of a certain quality will be served without restrictions. The abbreviation for this type of nutrition is BBF.

Meals a la carte

In a la carte restaurants, which means “a la carte”, they will offer their visitors the service of a waiter. As a rule, this service is paid, but without crowding and with due respect.

In hotels with an all-inclusive system, visitors are offered to visit a la carte restaurants for free from one to several times. To do this, you need to register with the administrator.

Depending on the star rating of the hotel, there may be several such restaurants, and each of them will be styled for a specific cuisine. It could be an Italian restaurant, Turkish, Chinese or any other whose cuisine is of interest to visitors.

Baby food in hotels

When going on vacation with a child, be sure to inquire not only about the type of food, but also what exactly on the menu will be offered to the hotel’s youngest guests.

The fact is that not all dishes offered will correspond to your ideas about healthy nutrition. To the delight of the child, instead of cereals and healthy vegetables, varieties of fast food can be served.

Ideally, the menu specifically provides for children's (dietary) dishes, including fruits, vegetables and balanced foods, but if this is not the case, then it is better to order an individual menu for an additional fee. Check all these details before you go on vacation. Let your tour operator take care of the correct information.

The same rule applies to travel to exotic countries, such as, or, where unusual food, richly flavored with spices, can simply harm the child’s fragile body.

Make sure your baby gets European cuisine or prepare everything yourself in your hotel room.

Now some advice, because knowing what kind of food awaits you at the hotel, you can not only choose the ideal option for yourself and your family, but also significantly save on the cost of your trip.

Let's start with the fact that you must decide on the type of vacation on your upcoming trip. For example, you have long dreamed of a 24-hour holiday on the beach or near the pool, then the “all inclusive” option is ideal for you, as it will allow you to have a snack or cool down with drinks at any time.

This type of food is perfect for families with children, because parents won’t have to worry about what to feed their child at one time or another - drinks and food will always be at hand.

But if your plans include an active holiday option, with regular excursions and walks around unfamiliar city from early morning until late evening, then it is not at all necessary to overpay for food at the hotel. It is enough to limit yourself to only breakfast or skip meals altogether and try local cuisine in numerous cafes and restaurants.

So, eat well, tailor your meals to suit your preferences, and save wisely by knowing about hotel food options. And if you haven’t decided on a hotel yet, take a look at ours, where the service, including food, is always top notch!

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