Madina Hotels

Useful Hotel Terms
Adjoining Rooms: Two or more hotel rooms located side by side but without private connecting doors. Rooms may be adjoining connecting.
Chauffeur Drive: A vehicle driven by a chauffeur (driver).
Check-In: The formalities attendant to arrival at a hotel, including signing the register or at an airline ticket counter prior to a flight.
Check -Out Time: All hotels post a time (usually, but not necessarily, 1 p.m.) by which guests must vacate their rooms. Late checkouts are often permitted but must be approved by the hotel management.
Concierge: In virtually all European hotels (and many elsewhere), the superintendent of minor services - porterage, mailing letters, making reservations and the like-for guests. The concierge is often a guest's principal link with both the hotel and the city in which it is located.
Continental Breakfast: At a minimum, a beverage (coffee, tea or milk) and rolls or toast. Sometimes includes fruit juice. In Holland and Norway, may include cheese, meat or fish.
Continental Plan: A hotel rate that includes bed and continental breakfast.
Deposit Reservation: A reservation for which the hotel has received cash payment for at least one night's lodging in advance and is obligated to hold the room regardless of the guest's arrival. Most commercial hotels do not feel obligated to refund deposits unless reservations are cancelled at least 48 hours in advance. Cancellation policies at resort hotels vary and should be verified in advance.
Double: Loosely, any hotel room for two persons; more specifically, a room with a double bed. A room with two smaller beds is a twin.
Double Room Rate: The full price of a room for two people, but be careful: Some people say double when they mean occupancy.
Downgrade: To move to a lesser accommodation or class of service.
English Breakfast: Generally served in the U. K. and Ireland. Usually includes fruit or fruit juice; hot or cold cereal; bacon, ham, sausages or kippers; eggs; toast; butter; jam or marmalade, and tea or coffee.
European Plan: A hotel rate that includes bed only; any meals are extra.
Hostel: An inexpensive, supervised lodging, particularly for young people.
Hotel Classification: The following designations are generally understood throughout Europe and, to an extent, the world, but it is sometimes difficult to know whether a hotel is being described by a reliable source or at the whim of a promoter. There is neither an official nor generally -accepted rating system for U. S. hotels.
Deluxe: In travel usage, presumably 'of the highest standard'. A much misused and, in many respects, meaningless term except where employed as part of an official rating system.
First Class: A medium-range hotel; at least some rooms have private bath; most of the usual public rooms and services are provided.
Tourist (Economy or Second Class): Budget operations; few or no private baths; services may be very limited. The Official Hotel & Resort Guide further subdivides these three categories into three groups; superior, average and moderate. Thus, a superior, deluxe hotel rates with the best in the world and an average, first class hotel is about in mid-range. OHRG says that Westerners should use hotels below its superior tourist rating with caution. In addition, many governments rate their hotels according to the international five-star system under which a five star hotel is the best. Some countries are meticulous and generally current in their ratings; many are not. In general, three star and better hotels (and a few two-star properties are believed suitable for Western travelers).
Hotel Package: A package offered by a hotel, sometimes consisting of no more than a room and breakfast, and other times, especially at resort hotels, of transportation, room, meals, sports facilities and other components.
Modified American Plan: A hotel room rate including breakfast and either lunch or dinner.
Petit Dejeuner: Continental breakfast.
Porterage: Baggage handling service. The client on a tour that includes porterage neither has to neither carry his luggage nor pay the man who does. Enlightened self-interest, however, might lead him to offer an occasional nominal tip.
Rack Rate: The official tariff as established and posted by a principal, however, not usually used by tour operators
Service Charge: (1) A specified percentage of a hotel bill (usually 10% or 15%) assessed against a guest; in return the guest presumably is relieved of the responsibility for tipping. (2) A fee charged to a client by a travel agent in addition to the commissions paid to him by his principals.
Supplement: An extra, or better grade of, service. (2) A charge for same.
Upgrade: To move to a better accommodation or class of service.