Meaning & use
European plan
Last updated
Meanings
nounusually singulartechnical
A hotel rate that covers only the room, with meals charged separately.
Grammar: Usually appears as 'the European plan' or 'on the European plan'; it names a pricing system, not one particular booking.
Patterns
- on the European plan
- book a room on the European plan
- the European plan rate
The conference hotel offers the European plan, so we paid extra for breakfast each morning.
If you like eating out, the European plan is usually cheaper than a full-board rate.
Their website lists both European plan and all-inclusive prices.
nounsingulartechnical
A system of paying for a room only, used to compare hotel prices across countries.
Grammar: Often contrasted directly with 'American plan' in the same sentence.
Patterns
- compared with the American plan
- the difference between the European plan and the American plan
Travel agents often explain the difference between the European plan and the American plan.
Under the European plan, meals are billed separately from the room.
Common combinations
- on the European plan
- We stayed three nights on the European plan to keep costs down.
- European plan rate
- The European plan rate was forty dollars less than the inclusive one.
- offer the European plan
- Many city hotels offer the European plan for business travelers.
- book the European plan
- She booked the European plan because she wanted to try local restaurants.
- European plan versus American plan
- The brochure explains European plan versus American plan in plain language.
Synonyms and how they differ
- room-only rate
- A plain everyday term with the same meaning; use it when you are not writing in the hotel industry.
- EP
- The short abbreviation used in price lists and booking systems; it is not understood by everyone outside the trade.
Opposites
Word family
- American plan noun
- A hotel rate that includes the room and meals.
- modified American plan noun
- A rate that includes the room, breakfast, and one other meal.
Commonly confused: European plan or American plan?
European plan vs American plan
This is the opposite arrangement: the price includes meals as well as the room, so it is usually higher.
Practice
A hotel advertises a low price and adds that meals are not included. Which term describes this rate?
Choose one answer.
'The European plan' means the room price does not cover meals. 'The American plan' and 'full board' both include meals, and 'all-inclusive' covers meals and extras, so none of them fits a room-only price.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “European plan”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.