European plan

American  

noun

1. (in hotels) a system of paying a fixed rate that covers lodging and service but not meals. EP

---

European plan British  

noun

1. a hotel rate of charging covering room and service but not meals Compare American plan

---

Etymology

Origin of European plan

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

The U.S. plan places a 600,000-person cap on the size of the peacetime Ukrainian military, while a European plan proposes a limit of 800,000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Yet a European plan to merely use the interest on the Russian funds would provide only a trickle of money every year — some $2.5 billion-$3 billion at current interest rates.

From Seattle Times • May 23, 2024

Many have called the bear to be captured and demanded changes to a European plan called "Life Ursus" which is aimed at reintroducing brown bears in the Alps.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2023

The European plan includes construction of two new factories in Magdeburg, Germany, a city between Berlin and Hanover.

From Washington Post • Mar. 15, 2022

This hotel of ours here keeps open all night; and it's on the European plan, I'm thinking—leastwise you can have anything you can pay for.

From Vignettes of Manhattan; Outlines in Local Color by Matthews, Brander