Editor: Irina
The hotel business does not stand still, and now the good old hotels add status and rating not only with stars, but also with various attachments in the style of apart- or boutique-style.
We offer to study the types of hotels, types of rooms and abbreviations of food in order to know exactly what to expect from staying in a resort in DBL according to UAI 🙂
What do the stars in the name of hotels mean?
Hotel stars are a conditional indicator of the level of comfort that allows you to navigate when booking.
- 1 star - a minimum set of services (towels, bed linen), rooms of the same type for 2 ... people, sparsely furnished. The presence of a bathroom and toilet in the room is not provided, you will have to be content with the common ones.
- 2 stars - housing with a similar range of services, but differs in the possibility of living alone / two people and, most often, with their own bathroom.
- 3 stars - mid-level hotels, the "stuffing" of which necessarily includes a bathroom, TV, air conditioning, mini-bar, refrigerator, safe. Large selection of rooms, plus, there is a restaurant, swimming pool, laundry.
- 4 stars - hotels with a higher level of comfort, which provide additional "goodies" to the above-mentioned services, for example, SPA
- 5 stars - the luxury segment, in addition to the standard set, may include exclusive options, such as accommodation in a villa with its own garden and pool, restaurants of various cuisines of the world, a golf club, etc.
But if everything were simple 🙂 The stardom system is not universal. In Greece, for example, a letter classification is used to designate various types of hotels, where DeLuxe corresponds to five stars, A to four, B to three, C to two, D to one.
And of course, it happens that the types of hotels of the same star classification differ in the level of service. So, 3 * in Barcelona and 3 * in Thailand are not close.
Where is the best place to book hotels?
Today, all reasonable tourists are looking for hotels online. We recommend using the RoomGuru service, and here's why: the widest database of hotels is collected here. That is, the site monitors offers from more than 50 booking systems and, accordingly, is able to find the lowest price tag.
What types of hotels are there?
Hotel types are determined not only by the number of stars. There are other designations that will help you book the types of hotels that a particular tourist needs. The most common are:
- classic hotels
- business hotels
- resorts
- apartments
- Bed & Breakfast
- ski hotels
- SPA hotels
- boarding houses and sanatoriums.
Many types of hotels do not have a classification. These can be hostels with rooms for 8-10 people, designed for a youth clientele, roadside motels used for overnight stays, guest houses in Bali or Thailand, where the family of the owner of the hotel can live in a small house in addition to tourists.
Hotel or hotel
Consider the types of rooms in a classic hotel. Visitors are offered single rooms, double rooms with one large bed, double rooms with two separate beds, triple rooms with the possibility of an extra bed for a child. The room can be of the class standard, superior standard, family, junior suite, suite, family suite, presidential suite.
Many hotels are chain hotels that offer standardized services to tourists in different cities and countries. They are popular because the tourist can be confident in the level of service. Among the classic hotels, you can find original ones - for example, flotels located right on the water and overlooking the sea.
Business hotels
Such hotels are designed for business people who come to meet with clients, participate in business negotiations, conferences. Accordingly, the infrastructure of such a hotel is designed taking into account the needs of businessmen. These types of hotels are equipped with conference rooms, meeting rooms, modern equipment. They are located in places of business activity of megalopolises.
Hotels resorts
Their main task is to provide tourists with everything they need for a beach holiday. These types of hotels are always located on the first, maximum of the second beach line and often have their own beaches. For the comfort of the tourist, there are swimming pools, cafes, restaurants, fitness centers, tennis courts, and animators. Many resort hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis, so staying in such a hotel may not require the slightest expense.
Bungalow hotels (lodges) are common in Thailand. These are small houses located in picturesque corners, often on the territory of national reserves.
Boutique hotels
These are luxurious exclusive hotels for a wealthy client who wants to enjoy increased comfort and extraordinary design. These types of hotels are small, only a few rooms, but the staff strives to find an individual approach to each visitor and earn positive reviews. In such hotels, you can stay with a view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Bosphorus in Istanbul. As a rule, they are located in the city center, in close proximity to local attractions.
Aparthotels
They represent a cozy house or part of a house that is rented out for living for a certain period. This type of accommodation is popular among families with children or large companies. A distinctive feature is the presence of your own kitchen, where you can cook on your own. Apartments belong to budget housing options.
Motels
Motels are very common in the United States. Actually from there they went all over the world. They were originally called MotorHotel. During our trip to the US national parks, we lived in motels.
What is the difference between a motel and a standard hotel?
In fact, these are small hotels that are located on the road, and the entrance to the rooms is from the street (more precisely, even from the parking lot). Many of you have seen them in American films. They also have a smaller range of services than a regular hotel. Although everything you need to relax and spend the night is there! In our blog from the USA you can see it from the inside 🙂
Usually such motels are one of the cheapest options for staying on the road, but surprisingly, for us, they turned out to be of good quality and even with some amenities - breakfasts and a pool. Many large hotel chains have their own motels.
Bed & Breakfast
Translated from English, the phrase "B&B" literally means "bed and breakfast". The name alone gives an idea of the peculiarities of such a hotel. The bed + and breakfast hotel is of interest to the less affluent travelers who need accommodation, first of all, in order to spend the night and get a hot breakfast.
For the first time, these types of hotels and inns appeared in the UK, gradually spreading throughout Europe and the United States. Today it is one of the most affordable and comfortable accommodation options for tourists.
Chalet or ski resorts
The chalet is a small rustic cottage located in the mountains. Today, this is the name for small hotels located in places where skiing is practiced. The chalet-style house is good for its unique color, elegance and location close to ski slopes and slopes. When settling in a chalet house, there is always a pleasant illusion of romance and unity with nature. Photos of guest houses attract with tranquility, tranquility and environmental friendliness.
SPA hotels
Such hotels are located near healing mineral or mud springs. Their goal is to provide holidaymakers with face and body care services. Various procedures are popular here, such as massages, peels, scrubs, relaxing baths, water treatments, and cosmetic wraps.There are also medical centers, fitness rooms, swimming pools, saunas. Spa hotels near hot mineral springs are popular.
Boarding houses
This is the name of hotels that are located in a resort area or in a picturesque place in nature. Some guesthouses may refer to themselves as eco-hotels. People come here to take a break from worries and relax from everyday affairs. Usually boarding houses provide not only accommodation, but also three meals a day, many are equipped with swimming pools, sports grounds, tennis courts. A wellness course can be taken in the guesthouses for a surcharge.
Sanatoriums
The sanatorium is a medical and preventive institution. Usually they are located near the sea, in places of healing natural springs or in secluded surroundings outside the city. Their main goal is to provide medical services. Living in a sanatorium, you will have to follow a certain daily routine and food. Many resorts organize entertainment programs and excursions to nearby attractions for their clients.
Classification of types of food in hotels
When choosing hotels for vacation, one cannot help but wonder what type of food they offer. Consider the decoding of the types of food in hotels:
- RO, AO, OB - various options for the provision of housing without meals;
- BB - the already mentioned "bed and breakfast", where the form of serving and the choice of dishes depends on the country and the traditions of the hotel;
- HB - half board, which includes two meals, usually breakfast and dinner, sometimes breakfast and lunch;
- FB - full board, that is, breakfast, lunch and dinner, as a rule, the form of serving is a buffet;
- Al - all inclusive, this type of food is common in Turkey and Egypt, during which you can consume food and drinks in any quantity, there may be restrictions on alcoholic beverages;
- UAl - ultra all inclusive, includes a varied menu throughout the day with a large selection of snacks, hot dishes, desserts and alcohol, including imported.
Types of breakfast in hotels
The types of meals in hotels offering breakfast may also vary. If the hotel offers Continental Breakfast (Continental), you should not expect much variety. During such a breakfast, tourists will have to be content with tea, coffee, rolls, jam. Continental breakfasts are usually offered by hotels in European countries (France, Italy).
The English breakfast is more varied and always includes hot snacks such as scrambled eggs, cereals, fried bacon. This type of hotel catering is often seen in Greece or Cyprus. A little more satisfying and richer will be the American-style breakfast with hot dishes, cold cuts, drinks and dessert.
Types of rooms in hotels
Explanation of the types of rooms in the hotel:
- SGL - single - room for one person;
- DBL - double room - room for two with one large bed;
- TWIN - twin - double room with two separate beds;
- TRPL - triple - room for three with one double and single bed (for a family) or three single beds;
- QDPL - quadriple - a room for four people, usually with one double and two single beds.
When describing the types of rooms, EXB extra bed can be additionally used - an extra bed for an adult (over 12 years old).
