What Is Half Board In a Hotel?

The hotel industry has a lot to offer. While that is almost always a good thing, it can get a bit confusing for the uninitiated. This leads to questions such as what is a half board in a hotel? Does my hotel offer three meals? And so on.

So, to make the process of finding the right hotel with the ideal meal option easier for you, and to avoid excessive expenses on an extra meal on your next trip, we will clear all your doubts in this article.

What Is Half Board In A Hotel?

A half board is a type of meal plan some hotels offer. By selecting a half-board meal option, guests can usually enjoy an included breakfast and dinner. This comes with the hotel accommodation and its price is a part of the package.

Other meal plans usually offer a different combination of meals or a different number of meals throughout the day.

As mentioned earlier, the half board typically includes breakfast and dinner. Some hotels do like to mix it up and offer lunch instead of dinner, but that is a rare occurrence. 

The reason why half board is so popular has to do with how guests spend their time at the hotel.

For example, it doesn’t matter if you are visiting neighboring towns or new countries, chances are you won’t be spending the whole day in the hotel. 

Unless it’s a staycation, you are bound to go out exploring and visiting neighboring towns, cities, and attractions for the whole day.

That means guests only spend their early mornings and late nights at the hotel. This is why they prefer going for a half-board option. 

This allows them to leave the hotel with food in the morning and ensures that they don’t have to run around late at night in search of drinks or dinner.

At the same time, guests have the freedom of exploring local cuisine, and trying out new food and drinks during lunch when they will be out anyways.

Half-board packages can include a variety of meals. But this can vary largely depending on the hotel, location, season, and availability. Most hotels offer a buffet spread for breakfast and a set menu for dinner.

Some hotels can also do a-la-carte dinner options with a better selection. 

Breakfast can range from continental to full English breakfast, to the classic American pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Depending on the hotel, your half-board may also include drinks and snacks.

If you are planning on spending your whole day at the hotel itself, then you would be better off avoiding half-board and going for either a full-board option or an all-inclusive service.

This will make it easier to get the three main meals while avoiding excessive expenses if booked in advance.

Similarly, if you are only staying the night, then opting for a bed and breakfast option makes more sense. This makes it easier for you to get breakfast before you leave in the morning.

How to Book a Half-Board?

You can book a half board well in advance while booking your rooms. This can typically be done by either going to the hotel’s website or by selecting the half-board option on travel aggregator platforms such as Booking.com, Priceline, or Expedia.

If you are unable to find the half-board option, then you can contact the hotel directly. You can ask them if they offer a half board or not, and in case they do, you can add it to your accommodation over the phone itself.

Booking two meals in advance allows you to avail of various offers on half-board meals which helps you avoid excessive expenses on extra meals later on.

What To Expect From A Half Board?

Guests can expect to receive breakfast and dinner as a part of their half-board meals. This can sometimes also include drinks and non-alcoholic beverages such as Coca-Cola or snacks and fruits. The exact specifics of the meals depend on the hotel itself. 

Guests can also call in advance to make the hotel aware of dietary restrictions.

Pros & Cons of Half Boards

As is the case with everything, half boards to have their own pros and cons, let us look at what they are to help you make a more informed decision.

Pros

1. Convenience – Finding a good breakfast early in the day, and a filling dinner at night can be a task. But with the half board option, these two main meals are taken care of. You can enjoy great food in the place of your accommodation with ease.
2. Cost-effective – Half board can also be a cost-effective food option, as it’s available at low rates. Eating out when you visit neighboring towns can be a bit expensive especially when you don’t know the local spots. By paying for half-board meals in advance, guests can thus get a better deal.
3. Variety of food options – This advantage depends on the hotel, but half boards can offer you a lot of great options. Guests can enjoy a buffet-style dinner while trying a variety of dishes and drinks.

Cons

1. Limited flexibility – If you enjoy a good hearty lunch, then half board might not be the one for you. Half board means guests are limited to just breakfast and dinner at the hotel. As such you will have to arrange for lunch yourself.
2. Potential food quality concerns – This goes for any meal not just half boards. If you do not enjoy the food at the hotel or if it’s not high-quality, then paying in advance for a half board can be a bit of a problem.

What Are The Meals Options Offered in Hotels?

Different hotels have different meal options. While some only offer breakfast, many hotels have offers for all-inclusive service which comes with either two meals or three meals with three main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and more!

Your hotel may also have a full board option or a half board option. All of these can either be included in your hotel accommodation price or availed by pain extra charges. 

Let’s quickly take a look at what these meal options are.

Room Only

First up we have a meal plan that does not include any meals. This is commonplace at a hotel that does not offer food and drinks. 

At such accommodation, the guests are responsible for finding their own meals outside the hotel. This is better if you are looking to explore local cuisine.

Bed and Breakfast

This is the common meal option that most hotels offer. The breakfast, complete with non-alcoholic beverages is offered as a part of the room rate. 

This gives guests the opportunity to leave the hotel with their stomachs full. A popular option among guests traveling for business purposes or for a short period.

Half Board

This meal plan generally comes with two meals, breakfast, and dinner. Their cost is included in the hotel room rate and you don’t have to pay separately later. Some hotels might also offer guests the option to pick either lunch or dinner as a part of this two meals deal.

Full Board

The preferred option among leisure guests, the full board meal plan comes with all three meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner included in the room rate. 

Guests can indulge in the three meals at the hotel itself. Most hotels also offer deals on non-alcoholic beverages and other drinks. 

All-Inclusive

On the more expensive side, we have the all-inclusive service, which is more than just a meal plan. As the name suggests, it includes all three meals, drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages), and even extra snacks or extra meals. 

All of it is included in the price of the accommodation. 

Leisure guests prefer this option at high-end accommodations as they can enjoy a range of food and drinks without needing to pay separately later.

Room Service

Lastly, we have room service. Most hotels offer this service round the clock where any meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) or snacks are delivered to the guests’ room, whenever they need it.

As we can see, different meal options are suitable for different people based on factors like the type of trip, budget, small or large appetite, and the type of hotel. 

So if you are looking to simply spend a day at your hotel or planning a luxury retreat to secluded resorts, make sure you pick the meal option that best suits your pallet and wallet.

Now that we know all the meal options that hotels offer, let us shift our focus to the half and full-board option, and understand the difference between half-board and full-board.

What Is Full Board in Hotels?

The full board in hotels comes with all three main meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The full board option is preferred by guests who are staying at a high-end accommodation. They can easily get their three main meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner, without ever leaving the hotel. 

Full board packages may seem too expensive when compared to half board. But they often come with a lot more than just lunch.

With a full board package, guests can enjoy a variety of meals, snacks, and drinks without worrying about additional costs. 

It can also be a good option for guests who want to save money on food expenses and not worry about budgeting for meals during their trip.

What Are The Differences Between Full Board vs Half Board?

Full board includes three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as well as lodging, while half board includes two meals (usually breakfast and dinner) and lodging. With full board, all meals are provided, whereas, with half board, guests are typically responsible for their own lunch arrangements.

The following table illustrates the difference between full board and half board. 

FAQs

What Does Half-board Mean In A Hotel?

Half board is a food plan offered by hotels where guests can get breakfast and dinner as a part of their hotel accommodation package.

Is Half-board A Good Value For Money?

Half board can help travelers save money and also save time choosing restaurants. Guests can avoid excessive expenses and “tourist tax” by paying in advance.

Can Guests Choose What They Want To Eat With Half Board?

The details of what’s included in half-board packages depend on the hotels and the location. Guests often have a limited say over what they can and can’t get. However, if you have any allergies or restrictions, make sure you announce that at the time of your booking.

How Do I Book A Half-board Package?

You can select the half board option while booking your accommodation directly from the hotel website or from other booking sites such as Expedia.

Can I Upgrade My Half-board Package?

Upgrades are subject to hotels. Some hotels offer add-ons and extra snacks that you can avail of by paying extra charges.

How Does Half Board Differ From Other Meal Plans?

The key difference between half board and other options is that it only comes with breakfast and dinner while other options may include more (lunch in full board), or less (only breakfast in bed and breakfast) options. 

Conclusion

We hope that clears things up about food and drinks. Now you know the difference between full board and half board and what a half board in a hotel is.