Hotel Service: What It Can Be and How It Differs

When going on vacation, most of us choose so-called "package tours." This is when you don't have to worry about anything during your holiday because the package price already includes accommodation, plane or bus tickets, and a transfer from the station to the hotel. It would seem – just choose convenient dates, pack your suitcase (or buy a reliable and practical one in advance if you don't have one), and off you go to warm countries! But there is one nuance that can drastically change your trip or even nullify all the positive emotions from your vacation. We're talking about the hotel and the level of service it offers.

Let’s take a closer look at what determines a hotel’s “star rating” and what kind of service you can expect.

When Stars Matter

The star system was first introduced in France in the middle of the last century. With the emergence of new technologies, the quality of services also changed, and the star system adapted to new realities. Today, most European countries use a unified system with a fairly simple and understandable rating from 1 to 5 stars, where one star is the most basic budget option with minimal services, and five stars signify the highest level of vacation.

The main differences between the stars are the room size, level of infrastructure, and availability of additional services. For example, a 1* establishment can be considered solely as a place to sleep, while 5* is a true palace with pools, restaurants, shops, SPA salons, gyms, and even its own water parks. Many tourists may not even leave the territory of a five-star hotel for the entire duration of their vacation.

It is important to understand that the level of service in different countries will vary, because the “star” system remains a conditional classification and has no strict requirements. That’s why some European “three-stars” can be better than most Egyptian “four-stars.”

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In addition to the number of stars, it’s also worth paying attention to the Latin letters that appear in the description of a particular tour. They indicate the type of meal plan and have the following classification:

• RO (room only). This means that meals are not included in the cost of your tour. This is the cheapest accommodation option, but it’s worth choosing only if you plan to sleep in the room and spend all your free time outside the hotel.

• BB (bed & breakfast). These two letters mean room and breakfast. Usually, breakfast is a buffet, and the quality and quantity of food directly depend on the country and the level of the establishment.

• HB (half board). This is half-board, which includes breakfast and dinner. One of the most popular accommodation options for budget-conscious tourists who plan to spend most of the day exploring the resort rather than lounging by the pool. There is also an extended version, HB+, which includes some local alcoholic drinks (usually 1–2 glasses of wine during dinner).

• FB (full board). Full board, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but without alcohol. This type of accommodation is a great idea for people who don’t drink alcohol and don’t want to overpay for additional services.

• AI (all inclusive). This is "all inclusive," or the most desirable accommodation option for most Ukrainian tourists. Here, there are almost no limits, because in addition to the three main meals and almost unlimited alcohol, most establishments also have snack bars (on the beach and near pools). The only catch – alcohol is only locally produced. There’s also an extended version, UAI ("ultra all inclusive"), where you'll be served not only local alcohol but also drinks from well-known global brands.

A properly chosen hotel with a specific meal plan can significantly improve the quality of your vacation and bring additional positive emotions.