What do the terms American Plan and European Plan mean in reference to hotels? I notice that Expedia uses these terms frequently, especially for hotels that are in resort areas.
I thought the American Plan was what you typically find in an American hotel, i.e., the quoted tariff is just for your room and bed, and includes no food or other incidentals. The European Plan would presumably have to include a little more, but what? One or more meals a day? A Continental breakfast? Or does it not mean anything at all?
I’m sure you will all understand that googling on these terms is nearly impossible, as I found out.
No, very possible. Googling on “american plan modified american plan european plan” I got this site as the first hit, which explains these very nicely.
I see where I made my mistake; I tried “American plan hotel” and “European plan hotel” separately.
The explanation is interesting in view of the fact that I’ve never seen a hotel in the U.S. that provides anything other than the bed and room in the basic price.
I suspect it was more common in the earlier part of the 20th century, and lingers on in a handful of elite (or elitist) establishments. I once went to the Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia (my dad entertained for a weekend there), where they had the American Plan. The food was first rate. They still have the American Plan, and I’m sure there are some other luxury hotels that do as well.
“Continental breakfast” is very common, from what I have seen. I have also seen a lunch buffet and a happy hour with snacks. Even a “midnite warm cookie & hotchocolate” bar.
How did you enjoy Puerto Rico? As a matter of fact we’re casting about now for a summer vacation destination this year, probably to involve an island and warm tropical waters. Yaarrr!
American Plan was usually used at places like the Catskill resorts. You were doing everything at the resort, so you had all three meals there.
Modified American Plan skipped lunches, so you didn’t have to return in the middle of the day to eat. This let you visit areas points of interest all day without having to return to the hotel at noon.
Most hotels use European Plan, though a few give a breakfast as part of the package.
We loved Puerto Rico. I had been there a few times in the Navy, and had a blast, but going and staying at the Wyndham El Conquistador involved a big step up in luxury, and I don’t think I’ll be in as nice a place for a very long time.
The resort had numerous pools, a marina, a private island accessible by water taxi, eleven restaurants, and a golf course. The only thing we had to pay for was lunch every day and alcoholic beverages.
Isn’t that basically why it’s called a “Continental” breakfast?
An “English” breakfast is bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, toast, beans, and tomato, while a “Continental” breakfast is a demitasse of strong coffee, a roll, and a mouthful of juice to clear the palate, such as is enjoyed by those effete french and italians.
I always found a continental breakfast much too much to eat. Even Australia or Antarctica are too much to eat first thing in the morning, and when they server Eurasis – well, that’s just overkill.
I think the idea stems from the fact that very few European hotel guests would expect or desire to eat every meal in the same place, especially their own hotel.
If the hotel has a good restaurant one might eat there once or twice, but the same place every night-no way.
The exception is all-inclusive resorts, where you’re pretty much locked into the compound, so you have to eat there anyway, and it may as well be included in the price.
Most European hotels which offer dinner have a restaurant with an a la carte menu, rather than a buffet, while the smaller ones might have a simple dining room where breakfast is served.
The nicest hotel breakfast I ever ate was in Italy- coffee, fresh fruit, juice, cereal, toast and a number of yummy pastries were on offer.
The second nicest was in a small hotel in Kerry, Ireland, which was because the owner will make anything you like for breakfast- I had french toast with cinnamon, a poached egg on toast and some grilled mushrooms.
