Hotel Meal Plans: What BB, HB, FB, AI and UAI Mean

Choosing a hotel, you open the rate details — and instead of the familiar “breakfast included”, you see BB, HB, FB or AI. At first glance, it may look like an internal code used by hoteliers. In fact, each abbreviation has a simple explanation: how many meals are included in the accommodation price and what you will have to pay for separately.

Hotel meal plans affect not only the room price, but also the format of the trip itself. If you set off to explore the city in the morning and return late in the evening, paying for three meals a day may not make sense. If you are travelling with children or spend most of your time at the resort, not having to look for a restaurant several times a day becomes a significant advantage.

Let’s take a closer look at what BB, HB, FB, AI, UAI and RO mean, how half board differs from full board, what is actually included in All Inclusive and which meal plan is best for different types of travel.

What hotel meal plans are and what the abbreviations mean

A meal plan is a set of rate conditions that determines which meals and, in some cases, drinks or additional dining services are included in the accommodation price.

When booking, you will most often come across the following designations:

• RO — accommodation without meals;
• BB — accommodation with breakfast;
• HB — half board;
• FB — full board;
• AI — All Inclusive;
• UAI — Ultra All Inclusive.

The abbreviation helps you quickly understand the basic rate conditions, but it does not replace the full description. This is especially true of AI, UAI, HB+ and FB+: different hotels may include different selections of drinks, snacks and additional services in these plans.

Hotel meal plans: BB, HB, FB, AI, UAI and RO table

In short: the further we move from RO towards AI and UAI, the more food and related services may potentially be included in the rate. But “more included” does not always mean “better for you”.

BB, HB, FB, AI and other meal plans: a detailed explanation

RO — Room Only: accommodation without meals

RO (Room Only) means that accommodation is included, but meals are not.

You may also come across similar designations such as OB (Only Bed) or AO (Accommodation Only). In all cases, the logic is roughly the same: guests arrange their own meals.

RO can be convenient in the centre of a large city, where there are dozens of cafés, bakeries and restaurants nearby. You are not tied to breakfast or dinner times and can make discovering the local cuisine a separate part of your trip.

RO is worth considering if:

• you will spend most of the day outside the hotel;
• you want to have breakfast and dinner at different establishments;
• you are staying in the city centre;
• you are choosing an apartment with a kitchen;
• you do not want to plan your itinerary around the restaurant’s opening hours.

At the same time, Room Only does not automatically mean that a kitchen is available. If you plan to cook for yourself, check the facilities in the room or apartment separately.

BB — Bed & Breakfast: accommodation with breakfast

BB (Bed & Breakfast) means accommodation and breakfast.

This format is particularly convenient during active trips. You have breakfast at the hotel in the morning, and the rest of the day is completely free: excursions, meetings, the beach, the mountains, a driving route or walks around the city.

You do not need to return to the hotel for lunch or dinner, and local restaurants can become part of the journey.

BB is best suited to:

• city hotels;
• business trips;
• sightseeing tours;
• short weekend trips;
• holidays where most of the day is spent outside the hotel.

However, the BB designation only tells you that breakfast is included. It does not determine what kind of breakfast it will be. It may be a buffet, a continental breakfast, a set menu or an à la carte order.

HB — Half Board: what half board means at a hotel

HB (Half Board), or half board, usually includes two main meals a day.

The most common option is:

• breakfast;
• dinner.

At some hotels, lunch may be offered instead of dinner, so it is worth checking the exact conditions in the rate description.

Half board is a good compromise between the freedom of BB and more comprehensive catering. You have breakfast before heading out, spend the whole day on excursions, in the mountains or at the beach, and return to the hotel in the evening without having to look for a restaurant.

HB is suitable for:

• active travellers;
• guests staying at mountain and country hotels;
• those who do not want to be tied to the hotel during the day;
• travellers who want guaranteed breakfast and dinner.

Be sure to check the drinks served with dinner. With classic HB, they are not necessarily included in the price.

What does HB+ mean at a hotel?

HB+, or Half Board Plus, is an extended version of half board.

For example, a hotel may add certain alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks served with breakfast and dinner.

But there is no universal HB+ package. The “Plus” label alone does not guarantee a specific list of services, so you should rely on the rate description for the particular hotel.

FB — Full Board: what full board means

FB (Full Board), or full board, usually includes three main meals:

• breakfast;
• lunch;
• dinner.

FB is convenient if you spend most of the day at the hotel or nearby and do not want to plan each meal separately.

This format can work well for a SPA weekend, a country getaway, a family trip or a hotel in a location with few establishments nearby.

It is important to remember: full board and All Inclusive are not the same thing. FB primarily means three main meals. Snacks between meals, alcohol, some drinks, the minibar and additional services may be charged separately.

What does FB+ mean at a hotel?

FB+, or Full Board Plus, is an extended full-board plan.

In addition to three main meals, the hotel may include a certain selection of drinks or other options. As with HB+, the exact package depends on the particular property.

AI — All Inclusive: what “all inclusive” means

AI (All Inclusive) translates as “all inclusive”, but the name should not be taken literally.

All Inclusive usually includes:

• breakfast;
• lunch;
• dinner;
• snacks between main meals;
• non-alcoholic drinks;
• a certain selection of alcoholic drinks;
• other services in line with the hotel’s concept.

At one hotel, AI may include ice cream, several snack areas, a poolside bar and local alcoholic drinks. At another, the list will be much shorter.

The following may be charged separately:

• premium alcohol;
• some imported drinks;
• room service;
• the minibar;
• certain à la carte restaurants;
• SPA treatments;
• freshly squeezed juices and special menu items.

So when booking, look not only at the words All Inclusive, but also at the full description of the concept.

UAI — Ultra All Inclusive: how it differs from All Inclusive

UAI (Ultra All Inclusive) is an extended All Inclusive concept.

Depending on the hotel, it may include:

• longer restaurant and bar opening hours;
• a late breakfast or late-night snacks;
• a wider selection of drinks;
• minibar replenishment;
• access to certain à la carte restaurants;
• additional snack areas;
• other services on the hotel grounds.

But UAI also has no universal package of services. Sometimes the difference from AI is genuinely significant, while at other times it comes down to just a few additional options.

So the question should not be “Is UAI better than AI?”, but “What exactly will I get for the extra cost?”.

BB, HB, FB and AI: the difference between meal plans

The main difference lies in the number of included meals and how closely you are tied to the hotel.

BB gives you the most freedom during the day. HB leaves the day free while taking care of dinner. FB removes the need to look for your main meals. AI is designed for a format in which a significant part of the holiday is spent on the hotel grounds.

Buffet, à la carte and continental breakfast are not meal plans

This is where confusion often arises. BB, HB, FB and AI describe the scope of catering, while a buffet or à la carte describes how the food is served.

What is a buffet at a hotel?

A buffet is a self-service format in which guests choose dishes themselves from a shared service area.

A buffet may be used for a BB breakfast as well as for lunch or dinner with HB, FB or AI.

For example, the website of the chain lists a buffet among the amenities at Ribas Karpaty.

What does à la carte mean?

À la carte is a restaurant format in which dishes are ordered from a menu.

The presence of an à la carte restaurant does not automatically mean that visiting it is included in the rate. At resort hotels, for example, some such restaurants may be included in AI or UAI under certain conditions, while others may be charged separately.

What is a continental breakfast?

A continental breakfast is a light morning menu. It is usually simpler than an extensive buffet breakfast and may include pastries, bread, butter, jam, a hot drink, juice and other items, depending on the hotel.

That is why two hotels with the same BB rate may offer completely different breakfasts.

Which hotel meal plan should you choose?

The easiest way to choose is to imagine a typical day on your trip.

Do not look for the rate with “the most included”. Look for the one whose services you will actually use.

For a city break — RO or BB

If you are travelling to Odesa, Lviv, Chernivtsi or another city and plan to spend most of the day walking, visiting museums and trying restaurants, RO or BB will usually be the most convenient options.

BB is particularly practical: you do not have to start the morning looking for a café, while lunch and dinner remain part of discovering the city.

For an active holiday and excursions — BB or HB

If you set off for the whole day after breakfast — into the mountains, on an excursion or along a driving route — a paid hotel lunch may simply go unused.

BB gives you maximum freedom, while HB is a compromise if you would like to return to a ready-made dinner in the evening.

For a mountain or country getaway — HB or FB

At a country or mountain hotel, restaurant infrastructure matters more than it does in the centre of a large city.

If the nearest restaurants are far away or you plan to spend most of your time at the complex itself, HB or FB may be more practical.

For example, at Mandra Morion Restaurant, guests can combine a stay in the Carpathians with dining at the restaurant without having to travel elsewhere for dinner each time.

For a holiday with children — the abbreviation is not the only thing that matters

During a family trip, being able to quickly get some water, a proper breakfast or a dish familiar to your child can sometimes be more important than the number of included meals.

So check:

• the restaurant’s opening hours;
• whether a children’s menu is available;
• snacks between main meals;
• access to drinking water;
• whether dietary restrictions can be accommodated;
• the dining arrangements for an early departure or late arrival.

More practical recommendations can be found in our guide to family holidays.

For a resort holiday — FB, AI or UAI

If the main plan for your holiday is the pool, beach, SPA and relaxing on the complex’s grounds, a more comprehensive rate may be more convenient.

In this case, compare not only the price of BB and AI, but also potential daily costs for lunch, dinner, drinks and snacks.

What travellers most often confuse about hotel meal plans

“All Inclusive” does not mean that absolutely everything is free

Every hotel has its own AI concept. Some services may not be included in the rate even with All Inclusive.

FB and AI are not the same thing

FB primarily means three main meals. All Inclusive usually adds drinks, snacks and other services defined by the hotel.

BB does not mean a buffet

BB only means that breakfast is included in the accommodation price. The serving format should be checked separately.

The meal plan does not determine the hotel’s standard

AI does not automatically make a hotel better than a hotel with BB. The meal plan and hotel category are different characteristics.

You can read separately about how classification works in the article “How and why are hotel star ratings awarded?”.

What to check before booking a hotel meal plan

Even if you can now easily tell BB and HB apart, it is worth spending a few more minutes checking the details before paying for the rate.

• Which meals exactly are included. Especially for HB and rates with a “+” sign.
• The restaurant’s opening hours. This matters for early excursions and late returns.
• Which drinks are included in the rate. Especially with HB, FB and AI.
• The breakfast format. Buffet, set menu or à la carte.
• Whether snacks are included. They are not automatically part of FB.
• What AI or UAI includes at this particular hotel.
• Whether all restaurants operate during the season you need.
• Whether allergies and special dietary requirements can be accommodated.

If something is not mentioned in the description, it is better to clarify it with the hotel before booking. Communicating with the administration before arrival often resolves more questions than trying to sort everything out on site. We also wrote about this in the article “12 hotel guest hacks”.

Frequently asked questions about hotel meal plans

What does BB mean at a hotel?

BB (Bed & Breakfast) means accommodation with breakfast. Lunch and dinner are not included in the standard BB rate unless the hotel states otherwise.

What does HB mean at a hotel?

HB (Half Board) means half board. It usually includes breakfast and dinner, and less often breakfast and lunch. Check the rate conditions for the exact inclusions.

What is included in FB?

FB (Full Board) means full board, which usually includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drinks and snacks between meals may not be included in the price.

What is the difference between HB and FB?

HB includes two main meals, while FB includes three. In other words, with full board, lunch is added to breakfast and dinner.

Which is better: BB or HB?

For an active city or sightseeing trip, BB is often more convenient. If you travel during the day but want to have a guaranteed dinner at the hotel in the evening, HB may be more practical.

Which is better: HB or All Inclusive?

HB gives you more freedom to spend the day away from the hotel. AI makes more sense when most of your holiday takes place at the resort and you will use the included drinks, snacks and other services.

How does Full Board differ from All Inclusive?

Full Board usually includes three main meals. In addition to these, All Inclusive may include drinks, snacks and additional services in line with the hotel’s concept.

Are drinks included in HB and FB?

Not necessarily. The selection of included drinks depends on the rate at the particular hotel. HB+ or FB+ may include more, but the exact selection should be checked separately.

What does UAI mean?

UAI (Ultra All Inclusive) is an extended All Inclusive format. It may include longer dining hours, a wider selection of drinks, the minibar, additional restaurants or other options, but there is no universal UAI standard.

Is a buffet a meal plan?

No. A buffet is a way of serving food. It may be used with BB, HB, FB and All Inclusive.

BB, HB, FB or AI: which hotel meal plan should you choose?

There is no single meal plan that will be best for every trip.

RO gives you maximum freedom. BB is convenient for city breaks, excursions and active holidays. HB means you do not have to worry about breakfast and dinner while keeping the day free. FB suits those who want three main meals at the hotel. AI and UAI work best when most of the holiday is spent at the resort.

So before booking, ask yourself not “Where is more included?”, but “What will a typical day look like on this trip?”.

If you disappear after breakfast until late evening, you probably do not need the most comprehensive package. If you plan to relax by the pool, in the SPA or simply take your time, additional catering may instead make your holiday more comfortable.

You can find the accommodation format that suits your trip among Ribas Hotels: from city hotels to getaways in the Carpathians and country complexes.