If you’re one of those people who gets confused between hotel rooms while looking for accommodation, then you’re not alone. Many of us have a hard time understanding the difference between double, twin, junior and medium… Like this is not enough there’s an additional concern: Do they call the rooms by the same name as we call it here?
Well, there are special standards determining the features of the rooms and their names around the globe. Only in some hotels, you might find different names for some rooms. This is usually based on the room’s design and the special added value offered by the hotel.
This guide is for you to learn all that you might need to know about the types of rooms in Iran and how to book them.

Hotel Rooms in Iran

You can find a variety of rooms in different hotels in Iran. But this is determined by the kind of hotel you choose to stay in the first place. You can find standard rooms and suites everywhere. This is while rooms at traditional boutique hotels or ecolodges serve another purpose, besides hosting guests. Their aim is to let the guests experience some aspects of the local life; sometimes in all simplicity and sometimes mixed with a bit of luxury and added comfort. Here is a list of these hotel rooms together with a general description which applies to all rooms of the same category in Iran.

Single Room (SGL)

A single room, as the name might imply, means a room for one person. The room usually has enough size for a bed that only one person can sleep on. All the equipment placed in the room is also usually intended for only one person. Sometimes a single room is abbreviated as SGL.

Double Room (DBL)

A double room usually refers to a room for two people, with a shared bed. In this kind of room, there is usually a king-size or queen size bed. The room is usually preferred by couples and has enough equipment for only two people. You might see DBL rooms, as the short form for double rooms.
Some hotels also have double double-rooms, which means there are two double beds in one room. This indicated that the room has a capacity for maximum of 4 people.

Twin Room

A twin room is usually a room with two separate single or quin size beds. These rooms usually have enough space for two people who like to stay in the same room but sleep on separate beds.

Triple Room (TPL)

A triple room usually has the capacity to host three guests. There may be a variety of layouts for the beds in triple rooms. Usually, there are three single beds, one double and one single bed, or two double beds. The abbreviation TPL stands for triple room.

Quad Room

Quad is the short form of quadruple which means 4. These kinds of rooms are configured to accommodate 4 people. There can be 4 single or queen size beds, 2 double beds, or 2 single and 1 double bed in such rooms.

Connected or Connecting Room

When two adjoining rooms have access to each other through a shared door, it is a connected or connecting room. These rooms have two different entrances from the main hall. Each room has a separate bathroom. It is usually good for families, where parents can stay in one room and kids in the other one. This way, they can have access to each other without having to go to the main hall.

Mini/Junior Suite

This is a kind of suite where one person can be accommodated. There is usually one bedroom and one living room in a mini or junior suite.

Duplex

In a duplex suite, the living hall is located downstairs while the sleeping area is located upstairs.

Medium Suite

There are two bedrooms in addition to a living room in a medium suite. You might not find many medium suites in Iran.

Studio

Studios are rooms or suites which usually can accommodate up to 2 people. The bedroom and living room are not separated in this kind of room. Sometimes, there’s also an extra bed and a small kitchenette, including a stove and refrigerator in the room.

Apartment

Apartments are good for longer stays for families or groups. They include a living room together with one or two bedrooms. There’s also a kitchen in the apartment equipped with the necessary utensils.

Villa

Some hotels have villas that offer more privacy to the guests. Villas usually have a pool or a jacuzzi, in addition to the bedrooms and living room. Villas are especially suitable for large families and groups.

Some Tips:

• Some hotels envision special facilities and rooms for people with disabilities.
• There are usually separate smoking rooms or spaces in many hotels.
• There are presidential and royal suites in five or four-star hotels.
• Most of the hotels add extra beds to the rooms, upon the guests’ request.
• It is possible to have a special bed for kids in many hotels.
• You can find a variety of services offered by the hotels: only room, bed and breakfast, half board, full board, and all-inclusive.
• All four to five-star hotels offer daily housekeeping services.
• Different kinds of accommodations are available for tourists in Iran. Consider the kind of rooms based on the kind of hotel you’re booking. The hotels include: Hotels, boutique hotels, apartment hotels, hostels, and guesthouses.

Things to Know About Booking a Room in Iran

Now that you know all about the room categories in Iran, let’s see how you can book one of them. Booking a room in Iran is possible via different mediums:
• Travel agencies
• Hotel’s websites
• Online, through booking websites
• Emailing the hotel directly
• Calling the hotel
• Reserving rooms at the airport or by visiting the hotel straight
Even though you have many options, you should remember that one or some of them may not be possible to use for whatever reason. Consider these tips for booking rooms in Iran.
• Look up the list of hotels in your destination in advance, and have a clear budget plan.
• You can find useful suggestions on TripAdvisor.
• Consider the location of hotels and the accessibility of your preferred attractions.
• Some hotels don’t have websites. This means you won’t be able to book directly or find their contact information.
• Many international booking websites, such as booking.com, are not allowed to offer services for hotels of Iran.
• Foreign travelers usually visit Iran during the high season. It’s not surprising that many hotels get booked quickly. So, it’s better to leave booking in person as a last resort.
• Travel agencies know which hotels are working at a given time, which ones are located in a suitable place, and which ones offer better services. So, they are able to get the best deals for their passengers.
• Hotel staff are required to speak at least the English language, and have a related professional or educational background. This ensures a pleasant experience for guests.
• You may be able to use Couch Surfing services in Iran. But you’d better know that this is not recommended nor allowed by the government of Iran.
• Airbnb is not available in Iran.