Residence
Of course, the service is different in many countries. However, there are standards according to which the tourist is obliged to provide all the services for which he paid. The all-inclusive system means a room with all conveniences. The rooms should have a bathroom, a set of bed linen, a place to rest, dishes and bath accessories. This system assumes only what is in the room. FROM all inclusive a completely different story. It assumes that the hotel, in addition to room amenities, has a pool or sauna, as well as a restaurant and recreation and entertainment areas. Of course, not all hoteliers are honest with guests and tourists, so they often attribute to themselves something that does not exist in reality. That is why, before buying a tour, you need to check the availability of all services.
Service
These two types of recreation differ in the range of services. For "all inclusive" you cannot use the bar for free (or the list of drinks is limited) or visit beauty salons and spas, then, according to the rules of all inclusive, it provides all this for free.
Food
Quality is a very important factor that distinguishes all inclusive from all inclusive. Both of these systems include buffet and drinks. However, according to the first system, food and drinks are provided to guests only during breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you are traveling to a hotel with a second system, the bar and buffet must be freely available throughout the day. In Russian resorts, both of these concepts are very vague, so hoteliers use this and change names, hoping to deceive tourists. For services, there is no single rule about the number of dishes and their types. For example, at lunch you will have several buffets with various side dishes, and during the day burgers and fries will be served, this will also be all inclusive.
Catering at resorts - BB, HB, FB, All Inclusive
"Healthy food" 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 be fed "to the full", tasty and varied, does not exist. Of course, any tourist today is aware that most leave Turkish hotels with a noticeable recovery, but the French are unlikely to give you such an opportunity. Although, in any case, the choice of dishes in a 5 * hotel will certainly be higher than in a 3 * hotel.
The most HOT TOUR
on our Telegram channel: https://t.me/astartravel
news AVIA DEPARTMENT in our Telegram group: https://t.me/astaravia
Most often, the types of food in hotels are designated by 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, ОB (only bed) - no mealsBB (bed end breakfast) - only breakfast (buffet)
Continental breakfast - a light breakfast consisting of coffee or tea, juice, buns, butter and jam
English breakfast - full breakfast, usually includes fruit juice, scrambled eggs and ham, toast, butter, jam, coffee and tea
American breakfast (american bulet) - analogue of a continental breakfast + various cuts (sausages, cheeses) and hot dishes (scrambled eggs, 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). Local 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 with meals, but also in limited quantities during 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 from wide choice dishes, including imported alcoholic beverages.
A-la carte - a menu in which each dish is indicated with a price
BB meals (Bed & Breakfast)
BB means the hotel only serves breakfast. Usually, this option is offered for sightseeing tours or business trips. Continental breakfast (usually this is what is served in 2 * -3 * hotels) most often some thinly sliced \u200b\u200bsausage and cheese, a bagel with jam, a small package of yogurt, coffee are not rich. If it is a "buffet" (known throughout the world as "buffet"), then vegetable and fruit salads, several types of pastries, boiled eggs are added to them. In high-class hotels, you can already count on hot sausages and omelette dishes. Compulsory for breakfast and juice, which is usually poured from the machine, but almost certainly it 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 cost of living and it is impossible to refuse it. Usually breakfast is served no later than 7 a.m., but if a tourist leaves for the airport or for an excursion earlier, then the receptionist must be informed about this - he will be served breakfast early (albeit without a hot dish) or they will give him a lunch package.
HB power supply (Нalf-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 for dinner and it is not drunk entirely, then it is left for the following days. You don't need to pay for drinks every time, you just need to tell the room number to the waiter, and upon departure, the receptionist will issue an invoice for all days (which is recommended to be carefully checked!).
FB Power (Full-Board)
FB is full board (three meals a day). Lunch, like dinner, in this case can be a buffet or à la carte, but in any case, drinks in the afternoon and evening are again paid separately. When it is possible to choose between "half board" and "boarding", tourists usually choose the former, because in Spain, Greece or Cyprus it is not a problem to find a good tavern near the hotel even in the high season. Unfortunately, not all hotels can substitute a hotel lunch for dinner or vice versa, although hotels in the UAE provide a similar service.
Sistama AL (All Inclusive)
All Inclusive "all inclusive" - \u200b\u200bthe 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, free of charge "dispensing" tea and coffee during the day, mineral water, cola and local spirits.
The set of local alcohol is the same everywhere: grape vodka rakiya (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 "frills" and, of course, the national pride of the beer "Efes". Of course, in these hotels, you can order imported alcoholic drinks, but for an additional fee.
All other types of All Inclusive offered by Turkish hotels under the name "Ultra", "Maximum", "Imperial", etc., represent almost round-the-clock food (and drinking, including imported alcohol). Tourists who find themselves in a Turkish "club" hotel can visit two breakfasts, lunch, "tea" afternoon tea, dinner and "late soup" after a disco during the day, and in 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 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 territory of the hotel. As for imported alcohol, usually its choice is limited to several varieties of whiskey, martini, gin. However, even in such a hotel they 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 they ask you to name 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 control over the work of waiters.
IN sightseeing tourswhen hotel accommodation is temporary, the following types are used:
- Continental Breakfast (Continental breakfast) - a light breakfast consisting of coffee or tea, juice, rolls, 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 various cuts and hot dishes.
- "Buffet" is an organized free breakfast of many hotels in the world. It is included in the price of the room you occupy at the hotel.
it can be a fenced part of the restaurant, a special room. There is a table in the middle of the hall, which can be located along the wall of this room. Different food is laid out on it: fruits, cottage cheese, juices, and a gastronomic snack, and hot dishes under a lid in special bowls, and prepackaged products in foil (butter, pates, jam, honey). And on a separate table or on the same table - dishes and cutlery.
The most HOT TOUR
on our Telegram channel: https://t.me/astartravel
news AVIA DEPARTMENT in our Telegram group:
All-inclusive hotels are a big test for the health of our tourists. What is the best way to eat in this case? What foods and drinks are better to choose?
Consulted by a doctor at the El Gouna hospital in Ahmed Munir.
Buffet
"All inclusive" or "all inclusie" - the system is, of course, unique and attractive. It is a full board, which means that it relieves the vacationer of all worries related to nutrition. It remains only to visit the restaurant at a certain time and choose the most delicious dishes. This is where the problems begin.
As a rule, hotels feed their guests on a buffet basis. It is easy to imagine the state of a person facing a huge number of different goodies. These are salads, soups, hot dishes, and pastries. Recently arrived tourists simply run their eyes from the abundance of food, they want to eat everything at once.
Therefore, many go to doctors in the very first days of their vacation. The reason is stomach problems.
Food "hype"
Let's start with the amount of food eaten. At first it is prohibitively large - much larger than at home. After all, there are so many tasty and appetizing around, I want to try everything. The result is that more and more portions appear on the plate.
In a few days, this "food" excitement will subside and everything will return to normal. The person will get used to the new table, become more choosy and moderate. Until this happens, everything is tried.
This is a rather big test for the body. He has to get used not only to the new kitchen, but also to the new climate. All this makes a person extremely vulnerable. And if it is possible to reduce the load, this must certainly be done. We have no control over temperature, humidity and time zone differences. But you can control the quantity and quality of food eaten.
This is especially important in the first days of rest: you need to be careful and not overeat. Otherwise, you can provoke problems not only with digestion. A full stomach requires great attention: it is both energy costs and an increased blood supply to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. But it is necessary that all forces be used for adaptation. Overeating, on the other hand, greatly interferes with this, so it is imperative to control the amount of food.
Divide ... a plate
In order not to overeat, you need to use one simple, but very effective trick. A large restaurant plate must be mentally divided into two parts. And then visually divide one of these parts in half again. It turns out that the circle consists of two quarters and one half.
A vegetable salad is placed on the latter. You can take several salads, but then the variety of dishes will affect their quantity - in any case, the place on the plate is limited. The quarter is reserved for a hot dish - meat, fish or poultry. Well, on the second quarter you need to put a side dish.
Such a simple distribution clearly regulates the amount of food eaten, helps to eat competently and balanced.
Local kitchen
It uses unknown products, and known products can be found in completely unexpected and unusual combinations. Of course, this is reflected in your stomach.
He must restructure his activity and change the ratio of the enzymes produced. We need to help him - not to abuse new dishes in the first 3-4 days of rest. Of course, you can try some kind of exotic that you especially like, but this must be done extremely carefully. For a start, one, maximum two spoons will be enough.
Pay attention to smell when choosing food. Smell in this case is your best assistant. Of course, it won't help with the choice of cold dishes. But aroma can tell a lot about hot. It perfectly reflects the presence of unknown seasonings and spices, which should be feared in the first place.
Talk to those tourists who have stayed at the hotel for more than a week. They already know everything about the local table and are happy to share their knowledge with newcomers. As a rule, old-timers give good advice that is worth listening to.
Fractional diet
Now it's time to talk about the power ratio. As a rule, it depends on the class of the hotel. For example, in three-star hotels, guests are usually fed three times a day. This is our usual breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Four- and five-star hotels most often offer five meals a day: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and late dinner. Sometimes this list includes an afternoon snack, which usually consists of fruits and tea with muffins or other pastries.
Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of such a system. The downside is the availability of huge amounts of free food. People who have free time will definitely run in for extra feeding. Not because of hunger, but because of the desire to pamper yourself with something tasty. But if the diet is structured haphazardly, then a visit to a restaurant will surely end with a tightly packed stomach.
It is quite another matter if a person is an adherent of systematic nutrition. In this case, you can make a fractional diet, which is a frequent meal in small portions. Those who are used to eating according to this plan can safely visit the restaurant all five times.
Unfortunately, most people eat haphazardly. Such people need to attend only basic meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks, brunches and dinners should be discarded.
Some may say that a fivefold table is a great opportunity to accustom yourself to fractional eating. Unfortunately, this is practically impossible in practice. So it is better not to expose yourself to the temptation and immediately refuse additional meals.
Beach or breakfast
It is imperative to mention what is best to choose for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It depends, first of all, on the holiday you prefer. If you come to a warm country hoping to swim and sunbathe, then the morning is given to the beach. This should be taken into account when sitting down to breakfast. It should be very light and consist mainly of fresh vegetables and fruits.
The latter, by the way, deserve special attention. The fact is that before tanning, doctors recommend eating a melon or watermelon. They prevent dehydration and also contain beta-carotene, which is considered a natural tanning agent.
As for lunch, it should also be loose, because after the meal there will probably be a "quiet hour". No wonder in hot countries there is a concept of siesta, which falls on the hottest time of the day. This custom is not only followed localsbut also visitors - many tourists prefer to spend the afternoon in their cool room. A semi-drowsy state and a full stomach are a very dangerous combination for a figure.
To those who love leisure, the stereotype of food can not be changed. Excursions, visits to museums, walks around the city - all this takes a lot of energy. So the meals can be more satisfying.
Turkish vodka
Local alcoholic drinks are also included in the "all inclusie", so access to hot drinks is almost unlimited. Bars open in the morning and work until late at night.
National drinks are especially popular. For example, in this buha, in Egypt - zibiba, in - raki. All this is nothing but vodka, and the vodka is not the most highest quality... As a rule, it contains a lot of fusel oils, which make drunkenness quick and hangover heavy.
You also need to be careful with red wine - it most often causes allergies. So first you need to try quite a bit, literally a few sips. If no negative reaction followed during the day, then the next day you can be a little bolder and drink a little more.
Don't drink at night
For those who often travel abroad, one pattern is well known: morning and day are devoted to an entertainment program - walks, excursions, the beach. But in the evening it is time to exchange impressions. Alcohol, of course, contributes to this. Therefore, in every hotel in the evening, groups of friends gather who spend time in leisurely conversation. Every now and then, someone comes to the bar to bring another drink. They are taken even more than necessary - this is how people prepare for the closing of the bar.
As a result, the main - often unnecessary - alcohol consumption occurs in the late evening.
This fact does not affect health in the best way. First, the kidneys are affected. That is why many tourists wake up in the morning with bags under their eyes and even with swollen fingers. All this is a consequence of the "alcoholic blow" that the urinary system suffered. In addition, the work of the heart, liver is disrupted, and digestion suffers.
And there is no need to talk about the mood. From the very morning, a person feels overwhelmed and depressed. In general, a whole day of rest is lost. But it costs a lot of money.
Therefore, evening libations should be treated with caution. Semi-sweet wine is considered the safest drink - a couple of glasses will not hurt anyone.
Whatever one may say, “all inclusive” is a comfortable type of rest. I bought a tour - you can fly with almost no money. They will feed, give to drink, take you to the hotel. Although the all-inclusive system different countries different - and it happens that after the Turkish variety, tourists are unhappy with the modest choice of "all inclusive" in Jordan.
Read and memorize how all-inclusive works in different countries - now you will know exactly what to prepare for and you will not be disappointed!
All inclusive in Greece
Food... Healthy - a lot of fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits, which are brought to hotels directly from the garden. Chopped tomatoes and cucumbers do not have time to turn into a sour salad - the waiters serve fresh dishes on time. The cuisine is mostly Greek. There are fish and meat. In hotels it is not always "buffet" - most often it is à la carte meals with a choice of 3-4 main courses. Vegans and vegetarians always have something to profit from. The higher the hotel category, the greater the choice of food.
The most expensive Greek hotels (where the price starts from 250,000 rubles per tour) with all inclusive meals offer a unique service. It's called dining out: you can dine at any local tavern outside the resort for free.
Animation... No noisy parties and daily pool entertainment. You can count on live music and shows on weekends.
Additional services... Sun loungers and pools are free only if the hotel is on the first line with a private beach. Spa treatments, massages, meals in a-la carte restaurants are rarely included in all-inclusive prices. You will have to pay extra for additional options - for example, for a baby potty (it is considered disposable). In Greece you have to pay for everything that is done with your hands in front of you.
Don't take - it's better to have breakfast or half board, so as not to get attached to the hotel. But even if you are only planning a beach holiday, it is better to eat in local taverns: Greek local cuisine is delicious, aromatic and inexpensive. During a week of rest, you can try many different dishes and never repeat it.
All inclusive in Turkey
Food... 90% of Turkish hotels have a free buffet with salads, main courses, desserts, snacks. Local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the price; you will have to pay extra for famous brands of alcohol. Hot dishes - meat, fish, grilled sausages - are served in portions, the rest can be taken on a common table. Drinks are provided by the bartender.
Some hotels have an "ultra all inclusive" system: this is a round-the-clock service, meals at any time of the day, and foreign-made drinks. To match this type, hotels must have several restaurants (including a la carte, all free), a large area, heated pools.
Animation... There is entertainment by the pool even in the simplest 3 * hotel. This can be performances by dancers, bartender shows, torch juggling, contests for children and drunk adults, or a regular disco.
Additional services... In hotels 4-5 * there may be water parks for children - the visit is included in the tour price. Spa treatments are usually paid extra. Sun loungers and umbrellas on the beaches are often paid.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Definitely yes. Hearty, plentiful, tasty and economical. Yes, finding a tour to Turkey without "all inclusive" is still a quest.
All inclusive in Tunisia
Food... Usually 3-4 times a day, the restaurant is not open around the clock. The hotels may have bars, a-la carte restaurants, where meals are not included in the price. The variety of dishes is not as great as in Turkey. Soft drinks are free and you will have to pay for alcohol. In some hotels in Tunisia, plastic cards are used instead of bracelets: drinks and dishes are dispensed by bar codes, there should be a break of 5-7 minutes between portions of alcohol.
Animation... Aqua aerobics in the pool, evening shows, kids club - free. Activities on the beach - jet ski, parachute, banana - for a fee.
Additional services... Thalasso, balneo, spa treatments are paid separately. Some hotels offer a free hammam. Sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach are free, and towels can be charged.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take. Food outside of hotels is usually more expensive. Plus, the variety of dishes on the Tunisian buffet is almost as good as Turkish.
All inclusive in Cyprus
Food... A small selection of dishes, often drinks are not included in the price. The buffet is a lot of vegetables and meat (meatballs, kebabs, souvlaki and cutlets), but little fish. All fish and seafood dishes are prepared from frozen raw materials. There are also ubiquitous snacks: french fries, burgers, nuggets. The choice of dishes is limited, the same is served every day, changing 1-2 dishes.
Animation... If animation is announced, then it can be karaoke, discos, show programs and contests by the pool, water aerobics - everything, as in Turkey.
Additional services... Drinks and meals between meals, dry cleaning, laundry are charged separately. Sun beds and umbrellas are usually paid, because the beaches are mostly municipal.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take - if you are vacationing with children and do not plan to travel around the island. Take "half board" - if you do not want to be attached to the hotel. The cost of food outside of hotels is expensive but try local dishes in taverns you will still want. So breakfast-dinner is perfect.
All inclusive in Bulgaria
Food... A definite plus - all inclusive is available here, the dishes are familiar to us. Eating at the hotel is 2-3 times cheaper than going to a cafe every day. In a standard hotel 4 * you will be served seasonal vegetables and fruits, 2-3 fish and meat dishes, several types of soups, ice cream, pastries, pancakes. There is a children's menu almost everywhere. Restaurants are not open around the clock, but only for breakfast-lunch-dinner. Alcohol is usually paid, drinks outside the restaurant too.
Animation... Entertainment in hotels in Bulgarian is aqua aerobics and exercise by the pool. In 4-5 * hotels there are entertaining shows in the evenings.
Additional services... With all inclusive bracelets, you will be allowed to go to the hotel's private beach for free (though there are few of them - basically, all the beaches are municipal). If the hotel is simpler, you will have to rent sun loungers and umbrellas for money. It can be uncomfortable on your own towel on the sand: the beach all the way to the sea is forced with sun loungers, forcing you to pay rent.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take. Restaurants and cafes on Sunny Beach and Golden Sands expensive, all inclusive always pays off. Even if you do not plan to stay in the hotel, recommends half board - it will still be cheaper.
All inclusive in Jordan
Food... Red Sea, 5 * hotels, "all inclusive" - \u200b\u200bsounds very similar to Egypt. But no: this country is completely different, especially when it comes to food and service. Aqaba hotels have a good selection of dishes according to the "buffet" system: yoghurts, casseroles, omelets, sliced \u200b\u200bcheeses, sausages and vegetables, rice, potatoes, pasta, several dishes of meat and fish. Chicken is the most popular meat. The most delicious desserts are fruit jelly and local halva. Little fruit.
Keep in mind: In most hotels, drinks are not included in the tour price. You will have to pay for juices, drinking water, alcohol. But you can collect water in a cooler for free in your bottle.
Animation... There are practically no show programs, karaoke, contests. In the evenings in 4 * and 5 * hotels you will be entertained only with live music.
Additional services... Swimming on the municipal beaches of Jordan is uncomfortable - they are all the same for the locals. Therefore, almost all hotels organize transfers to private beaches (Tala Bay). There you have to pay for umbrellas and sun loungers, unless you live on the beachfront.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take. If only because the tourist infrastructure is not yet developed, it is problematic to eat in local cafes outside the hotels.
All inclusive in Israel
Food... As a rule, all inclusive is 3 meals a day, drinks in the bar are included in the price. The choice of dishes is usually large, but the hotels do not offer anything special to try - standard cereals, pasta, potatoes and several types of meat (mainly chicken and turkey). There are almost no fish. Lots of dairy products and yoghurts. You will not find delicious desserts in a standard Israeli hotel - except for fruits. As for drinks, they usually offer liqueurs, beer, juices from packages. Tourists are advised to take tea bags with them - there are problems with this.
Animation... Mainly designed for children. For adults there can be discos and music in the evenings.
Additional services... If the hotel has a private beach, sun loungers and umbrellas are free of charge. If not, you have to pay. But no one bothers you to lie down on your towel right on the sand.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take only if you are traveling with children. Do not take it if you are planning to walk without children - there are many inexpensive cafes and street tents with high-quality fast food in Eilat, Netanya, Tel Aviv. Self-catering will be cheaper than in a hotel. More delicious and more varied.
All inclusive in the UAE
Food... All inclusive in Arabic is a high level service. Starched tablecloths, a la carte dishes, drinks are served in beautiful glasses. The amount of alcohol is usually limited. Waiters may well refuse another portion if they think you've had enough. Local drinks are included in the price, imported drinks are paid separately.
Restaurants are open only for breakfast, lunch and dinner - there is no 24-hour food here. If you need to have a snack during the day, then only for money. The choice of dishes is large, but for delicacies (like lobsters) you will have to pay separately.
Animation... It almost never happens.
Additional services... Often, UAE hotels include free use of bicycles, boats, canoes, and a sauna in the all inclusive program. You will have to pay for sun loungers on the beaches if the hotel is not on the first line.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take in all emirates except Dubai - there you can eat more varied and cheaper in street cafes.
All inclusive in Spain
Food... In European resort cities, the all inclusive hotel is similar to the Turkish - a buffet with a large selection of dishes. Lots of fresh vegetables, fish, seafood, meat dishes. Vegetables are cut separately, sauces are placed separately - so that you can collect your own salad. Ice cream, pastries, cakes, jellies - a wide variety of desserts. All local drinks are free while the bar is open. Food and drinks cannot be taken out of the restaurant.
note: there is a significant difference between FB and ALL meals in Spain. With full board, drinks are free for breakfast only, and you will have to pay for lunch and dinner. You cannot bring drinks to the restaurant, and the price for them in the hotel rises 2-3 times.
Animation... Almost never happens, except for discos and live music.
Additional services... Sun loungers and umbrellas are free only on private beaches, on municipal beaches you have to pay.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Take in Mallorca and Tenerife - there it will be more expensive to eat in local cafes. On the Catalan coast, you can easily get by with breakfast or half board. There are plenty of cafes available, serving mind-boggling local tapas, paella, fresh seafood and sangria - definitely worth a try!
All inclusive in Cuba and the Dominican Republic
Food... Shrimps, crabs, mussels, fish of all kinds, grilled meat, fresh salads that are prepared in front of you and tropical fruits - all this is all inclusive in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Local rum, several types of imported drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails are included in the price. In 2-3 * hotels there is a small selection of meat, but there is always seafood. If you are leaving for an excursion, you can ask the hotel for "dry rations" with sandwiches. Most often, food is available around the clock.
Animation... In Cuba - discos, shows, sports, beach bars. In the Dominican Republic - live music, exercises in the morning. The higher the star rating of the hotel, the more entertainment.
Additional services... Usually, the cost of accommodation includes the use of water sports equipment - canoes, boats, catamarans, fishing rods, snorkeling masks. Sun loungers and umbrellas on private beaches are free. Towels are provided on bail.
To take or not to take all inclusive?
Definitely take! Eating outside the hotel is more expensive and the quality of food is about the same.
All inclusive is a convenient system when you are traveling with children. Less cost, less risk, less whims. If on a trip you plan to go on excursions and spend a minimum of time at the hotel, choose half board.
In Asia, India, Indonesia, it is better to do without hotel food altogether or take only breakfast: it is cheap, tasty and interesting to eat on the street in order to get acquainted with the local culture. And in some countries, for example, in the Seychelles, all inclusive is generally prohibited at the legislative level. So the government wants tourists to get to know the country more and get out of hotels more often.
A tourist who goes on a trip abroad for the first time or has not yet mastered all the intricacies of visiting foreign countries will be interested in the types of food in hotels. Whether it is a sightseeing tour or a trip to distant Argentina, when checking into a hotel, everyone is faced with this kind of information.
What do the forms of food in hotels mean?
Meal form is the number of meals a tourist pays for when purchasing hotel accommodation. The form can include one breakfast, or breakfast and dinner, or 3 meals and other services. You will have to pay extra for additional food.
BB
The abbreviation BB (Bed & Breakfast) is a service that includes payment for breakfast and bed only... The traveler pays for the rest of the meals separately or eats in other places (which happens very often with an intensive excursion program). Particular attention should be paid to additional abbreviations:
- CBF (Continental Breakfast) - Continental breakfast. The so-called "economical option", which is most often found in European hotels of 2-5 stars. In other parts of the world, it is less common and mainly in hotels of the lower category up to 3 stars. Breakfast can include coffee or tea, pastries, cottage cheese, eggs, fruit or yogurt, and butter per serving.
- ABF (American Breakfast) - American breakfast. The menu includes an extended list of dishes, this type of meal is more dense. Includes a standard continental breakfast set, as well as additional options: sausages or sausages, cheese, vegetable salads. Most often found in hotels in North America and Western Europe.
- BBF (Buffet Breakfast) - buffet. The most popular type of breakfast. The composition includes the most varied dishes, from which the tourist chooses new variations every day. At the buffet you can find both dairy and meat dishes, as well as vegetables, fruits, a variety of pastries and desserts. Among the drinks, hotels prefer local products. The variant with the inclusion of alcohol is slightly less common. The key feature of the buffet is unlimited portions, a person takes as much food as he wants. But the quality and abundance of products is always influenced by the hotel category.
A meal plan that includes only breakfast is best for active tourists. If you are going to either visit another beach resortthen you can pay attention to the meal plan with dinner.
HB
HB (Half Board) hides mode, including breakfast and dinner... An alternative name that can be found when booking a hotel is half board. There are also options where the tourist chooses himself - it will be breakfast with dinner or lunch.
Important: the cost of drinks is not included in the HB plan, for dinner you have to pay for them separately (in some hotels - even for water). And in the morning the price includes only non-alcoholic products.
Most often, type HB is found in European hotels - it is a varied and profitable food option. It can contain several types of breakfast, including a buffet. Its main advantage is the freedom of the tourist, since you don't have to think about skipping lunch when visiting excursions. But those who go on vacation to have fun at night, it is better to pay attention to another plan. After all, the hotel canteen in most cases is open only until 10 am, limiting the time for breakfast. At other times, you will have to pay for food.
Important: there is also such a variety as HB +. This meal plan is similar to the standard meal plan, but includes a range of spirits. Most often, tourists are offered local products.
FB
FB (Full Board), or full board, is three meals a day plan... It includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, but strictly at fixed times. Missed meals - wait for the next meal or pay separately. The main disadvantage of this plan is its strong dependence on the hotel. It is the best choice for those traveling on vacation to spend all their time on the beach nearby. But for fans of active travel and excursions, FB will be an unprofitable decision.
Important: the plan includes only soft drinks, and you will have to pay for alcoholic products separately. The FB + format includes locally produced alcohol.
AI
AI (All Inclusive) - All Inclusive - meal plan that includes any amount of food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks locally produced. Some hotels even include snacks and lunches with pastries, fruits, canapes and other snacks. At the same time, you can enjoy culinary delights until midnight (the time is indicated in the plan). This is the most convenient type of food in the hotel, but too uneconomical for those who visit excursions and rarely visit their room.
UAI
Ultra All Inclusive, or premium all-inclusive system. This designation is used for VIP meal plan... It is most often found in such popular tourist countries as Egypt and Turkey. In other states, UAI is not widespread. It differs from the usual "all inclusive" mode by the presence of foreign alcoholic beverages in the assortment. Bonus when ordering VIP meals - increased quality of products, options for dishes with delicacies.
In addition, the tourist is waiting for food in the A la carte restaurant - it is located on the territory of the hotel complex, but offers a certain cuisine: Japanese, Chinese, Italian or any other. This is the most expensive food system in foreign hotels, and is dangerous for people who are prone to drinking. Drinking unlimited amounts of alcohol can be harmful to your health and ruin your holiday.
RO
RO (Room Only) plan does not include any food - the tourist pays only for the room. This scheme is widespread in inexpensive hotels. There are additional abbreviation options:
- OB - Only Bed;
- RR - Room Rate ;.
But on the territory of the hotel, as a rule, there is a cafe or restaurant where you can eat for a separate amount.
Alternative abbreviations
The standard food classification is not found in all countries. So, on the territory of the UAE, you can find additional abbreviations:
- CP instead of BB - denotes a continental meal plan with light meals 1 time per day (in the morning);
- BP - Bermuda Plan - a hearty morning lunch with meat or fish dishes, scrambled eggs, salads, pastries;
- MAP - an alternative abbreviation for half board, which includes a combination of breakfast + lunch, sometimes there is an additional snack during an afternoon snack;
- AP - American Meal Plan, or Complete Diet. It includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as 2-3 snacks.
It is much less common to find other abbreviations, but the presented list is the most common.
Summing up
A meal plan is an additional cost item that can be reduced when thinking about a vacation and calculating a budget. The saved finances will allow another country to have more unique gifts and souvenirs, as well as expand the possibilities of the tourist when visiting excursions.
If the trip is planned mainly for beach holidaythen the rate that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner seems more attractive. If you want to save as much money as possible, then you can completely refuse from meals, giving preference to a voucher with RO.
