United States Tour Operators Association: Smart Travel with Tours and Packages

Most tour operators try to make their brochures as attractive, informative and understandable as possible; however, in reading these brochures you will undoubtedly encounter some terminology that is unfamiliar to you.

To assist you, here's a glossary covering some of the terminology most frequently used in travel brochures. Your travel agent can give you further details on these and any other unfamiliar terms.

Tours
Vacation Packages
Accommodations
Air Transportation
Car Rental
Conditions
Documents
Meals
Services
Prices
Insurance

Tours

A tour can be defined as a trip taken by a group of people who travel together and follow a pre-planned itinerary. Most tours include accommodations, a number of meals, sightseeing, land transportation, and/or other transportation, plus the services of a professional tour manager or escort who accompanies the group.

Vacation Packages

Vacation packages are designed for those traveling independently. They include a combination of two or more travel services (e.g. hotel accommodations, car rental, air transportation) that are offered at a "package price." Many vacation packages offer a choice of components and options, thereby enabling you to customize the package to your tastes, interests and/or budget.

Accommodations

Single Room: A room with one bed for one person.
Twin Room: A room with two beds for two people.
Double Room: A room for two persons with a double bed.
Triple Room: A room for three persons, usually consisting of twin beds (or double bed) plus a roll-away cot.
Service Charges and Taxes: Service charges are a fixed percentage automatically added to room and meal charges. Taxes are set by the city, state or federal government.
Ocean Front: A room directly facing the ocean.
Ocean View: A room from which it is possible to secure a view of the ocean (usually located on the side of the hotel).

Air Transportation

Connecting Flight: A segment of an ongoing trip which requires a change of aircraft, but not necessarily a change of airline.
Direct Flight: A flight on which passengers do not have to change planes, but may involve one or more stops en route.
Non-stop Flight: Service between two points with no scheduled stop en route.
Add-on Fare: The cost of air travel from a domestic city to another domestic city from which the tour/vacation package originates and vice versa.
Baggage Allowance: The weight or volume of baggage that may be carried by a passenger without additional charge.

Car Rental

Drop-off Charge: Fee charged by a car rental company to defray the cost of returning the vehicle to its original location.
Value Added Tax (VAT): Tax imposed by governmental authority.

Conditions

Force Majeure: An event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled (such as storms or war).

Documents

Passport: An official government document certifying identity and citizenship and granting permission to travel abroad.
Visa: An official authorization appended to a passport permitting travel to and within a particular country.
Vouchers: Documents issued by tour operators to be exchanged for accommodations, sightseeing and other services.

Meals

Continental Breakfast: Usually consists of bread, rolls, butter, jam and tea or coffee.
AP (American Plan): Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
MAP (Modified American Plan): Includes breakfast and dinner.
Full Board (Full Pension): Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Half Board (Demi-Pension): Includes breakfast, and either lunch or dinner.
Table d'hôte: Published restaurant or hotel dining room menu, usually consisting of appetizer, two or three choices of main course and dessert. After-meal tea or coffee and other beverages are not usually included.
A la Carte: Unrestricted selection from the menu.

Services

Tour Escort/Director/Manager: Professional engaged to oversee the technical details of the tour operation and to accompany the group from one place to another.
Local Host: Generally a representative of the tour operator who provides assistance, information and optional sightseeing and entertainment arrangements in a particular city.
Local Guide: Professional engaged to point out places of interest and conduct tours of specific locations and attractions.
Driver-Guide: Professional engaged to drive a vehicle and to point out places of interest.
Transfers: Arrival and departure service consisting of providing transport between the airport, city air terminal, rail station, or pier and hotel.
Porterage: Baggage handling service.

Prices

All-Inclusive Price: Includes land arrangements and round trip airfare and/or other transportation.
Land Price: The cost for the land arrangements only.
Single Room Supplement: Difference in price between half of a twin room and the actual price of a single room.
High-Season Supplement: Additional charge imposed during the busiest time of the year.
Double Occupancy Rate: The price per person based on two persons sharing a room.
Double Room Rate: The price per room shared by two persons.

Insurance

Trip Cancellation Insurance: Purchased separately from either the tour operator or your travel agent, this provides a refund if you have to cancel your trip after completing payment. Refunds oftenvary according to the time frame in which you cancel.
Travel Insurance: Purchased from a private company or the tour operator, this provides coverage for emergencies abroad such as illness, baggage loss, accidental death/dismemberment. This policy often includes trip cancellation insurance.
Tour Protection (Consumer Protection Plan): A program designed to reimburse travelers if the tour operator goes bankrupt or becomes insolvent. A tour operator's participation in these types of plans is voluntary and can involve posting bonds, using escrow accounts or other types of financial security.