Travel and Vacations Dictionary

airport access fee: Fees paid to any airport management by businesses that operate services in the airport. This charge is usually passed on to airport consumers.

airport transfer: A service that transfers customers from the airport to their destinations, such as their hotels.

all-inclusive: A resort where accommodation, food, drinks, and activities are all included in the vacation package price.

all-inclusive: A travel plan in which all hotel rooms, meals, drinks, tours, etc., are covered in the price of the plan.

amenities: Facilities provided to the traveler. Amenities include bathrooms, televisions, Internet service, etc.

American Association for Retired Persons (AARP): A non-profit membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of Americans aged 50 and older.

American Automobile Association (AAA): A company that provides travel-, insurance-, auto- and financial-related services. Members pay a fee to join.

American plan: A hotel's meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA): A trade group consisting on travel agencies, travel agents and allied members.

American Stock Exchange (AMEX): A New York City-based stock exchange that facilitates the issuance and trading of securities of medium-sized corporations. The second-largest stock exchange in the U.S.

amidships: The middle section of a ship.

armoire: A cabinet where clothes are stored, often used in hotels.

autobahn: German word for "motorway." An expressway for automobiles in Germany-speaking countries.

autostrada: Italian for "expressway." An expressway in an Italian-speaking country.

baggage allowance: The maximum amount of luggage an airline allows an individual to check in and carry on. Passengers who exceed the baggage allowance can be asked to pay a fine.

baggage check: The area inside the airport where passengers give their luggage to airport employees in order for it to be placed on their flights.

base fare: The price of an airline ticket before any taxes, surcharges, airport fees, etc.

bay view: A hotel room with a view of an ocean bay.

beam: The widest part of a boat.

bed and breakfast (B&B): Typically a quaint home that offers a small number of rooms to travelers. B&Bs typically provided breakfast, and some provide additional meals as well.

berth: A shelf-like sleeping area on a boat, train or plane.

blackout dates: High-traffic dates on which certain tickets or fares or not available.

blackout periods: Dates during which travel or accommodations are not available.

boarding pass: A pass given to airline passengers when they check in for a flight. A boarding pass features a seat number, gate number and other important flight information.

bon voyage: A French term that literally means "good trip" or "good travel." It is now used internationally to mean, "Have a good trip."

 

bonded: Protected or guaranteed, usually used in reference to the money a passenger has paid for a trip.

bridge: On a ship, the ship's control room.

buffet: A method of serving meals where the diners serve themselves. Often a buffet is all-you-can-eat.

bumping: When passengers get deprived of their reserved seats, usually as a result of overbooking.

business class: A class of travel, generally below first class but above coach in terms of accommodations.

cabana: A hut with a thatched roof, common in tropical resorts and usually built near water.

cabin steward (ess): On a cruise ship, a crew member who cleans and prepares cabins and attends to passengers' needs.

cancellation penalty: The amount of money a person must pay for canceling travel arrangements.

Captain’s table: The table in a cruise ship dining area where the captain eats. Passengers may be invited to eat at the Captain's table.

carry-on: A piece of luggage that is the appropriate size and shape to be stored in the overhead compartment of an airplane.

change fee: A fee that people pay when they make changes to their airline tickets.

checkout time: The time at which a hotel occupant must exit his or her room at the end of a visit. Checkout times vary per establishment.

checkout: The act of returning hotel room keys and paying the bill.

chunnel: The railroad tunnel that was constructed under the English Channel in order to connect Britain and France.

coach class: The cheapest seats on an airline, railroad car, etc.

coach: The economy section of an airplane.

collision damage waiver (CDW): Damage insurance that a person renting a car can obtain.

commercial carrier: An airline, boat, train, etc., on which the public may purchase a ticket for travel. A carrier that offers transportation to the public.

complimentary: Free, or on the house.

concierge: A hotel staff member who handles special services for hotel patrons, such as scheduling tours, obtaining theater tickets or recommending restaurants.

concourse: An airport terminal in which passengers can gather prior to boarding a plane.

condo: Short for condominium. Many time-share properties are condos.

confirmation number: A number that confirms your ticket purchase, reservation, etc.

connecting flight: If more than one flight is required to reach a destination, any flights after the first one are called connecting flights.

consulate: The officiate residence of a government appointed consul in a foreign country. One of the consul's responsibilities is to assist his or her country's citizens should the need arise.

consumer protection: In the United States, the Bureau of Consumer Protection's International Division provides consumer protection against unfair consumer practices internationally.

continental breakfast: A continental, or European, breakfast consisting of bread, rolls, or croissants served with butter and jam. A continental breakfast is a small meal, meant to tide a person over from breakfast to lunch.

continental U.S.: A term referring to the 48 lower United States that are located on the North American continent. Sometimes includes Alaska.

corporate rate: Special rates offered by hotels and airlines for business travelers.

courtesy shuttle: A shuttle that takes passengers from one place to another without charging a fee.

currency exchange: The exchange rate between two currencies. Specifies how much one currency is worth in relation to another.

customs: A government agency responsible for collecting custom duties and controlling travel in and out of a country. Also responsible for enforcing import and export laws.

debark: To leave a ship to go ashore.

deck: The floor of a ship. Large ships may have several levels of decks.

dine-around plan: A meal plan that allows travelers to dine at various restaurants in one area.

double booked: To overbook by making two reservations for the same hotel room or airline seat.

double booking: Booking two reservations for one space.

double occupancy: When two people share one room.

Down Under: Common nickname for Australia.

duty free: Shops, usually in the departure areas of airports, where national taxes are not applied to goods sold.

duty-free goods: Items that are sold without the usual import or export taxes.

duty-free: Items that are exempt from any import tax.

eco-tours: Vacations that travel to natural areas. An eco-tour might consist of a trip to the Galapogas Islands, or a SCUBA tour of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

electronic ticket: A "paperless" airline ticket issued to travelers. Often called e-tickets, electronic tickets allow travelers to check in at the airline counter with only proper identification.

embark: To board a ship or airplane.

embassy: An embassy is the residence of an ambassador in a foreign country. Embassy grounds, although in a foreign country, are considered the national soil of the ambassador's country.

en suite: Typically refers to a bathroom or kitchen that is included in a hotel suite.

escort: A person who accompanies a child or dependant on a journey. A person who leads a tour group. Also, a man who accompanies a women in public.

e-ticket: Short for electronic ticket. E-tickets are issued at check-in upon presentation of proper photo identification.

Eurail: The European railway system that services most of Europe and is a popular travel choice for vacationers.

Europass: A special-fare ticket that allows either unlimited train travel or travel for a certain time period in many European countries.

eurorail pass: A pass that allows people unlimited train travel across Europe.

excursion: A short trip that is generally taken for pleasure.

executive lounge: A lounge in a hotel or airport reserved for first class travelers or guests who are staying in the best rooms.