Half Board / Full Board Lodging Question
Jul 9th, 2003, 06:56 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Half Board / Full Board Lodging Question
Hello!
I am just starting my research for a trip to the Venice, Lake Como, and Riviera areas for the beginning of Sept. I notice that many hotels offer "full board and half board" options. Can someone please tell me what it is? I assume full includes breakfast and half does not - please educate me! thanks so much!
I am just starting my research for a trip to the Venice, Lake Como, and Riviera areas for the beginning of Sept. I notice that many hotels offer "full board and half board" options. Can someone please tell me what it is? I assume full includes breakfast and half does not - please educate me! thanks so much!
Jul 9th, 2003, 07:01 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In my experience, "half board" means breakfast only, while "full board" means breakfast and dinner. This seems to be the usual practice in Europe, but check to confirm this with the hotels in which you are interested.
Full board is good if you don't mind eating in the hotel each night, or if they offer an option to dine in other hotel restaurants which may be owned by the same owner. I have found this with the Seidler hotels in Switzerland, a nice option.
Full board is good if you don't mind eating in the hotel each night, or if they offer an option to dine in other hotel restaurants which may be owned by the same owner. I have found this with the Seidler hotels in Switzerland, a nice option.
Jul 9th, 2003, 07:02 AM
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Half board is breakfast, and full board is breakfast and dinner. Lunch is sometimes included as well. Before choosing between the two options (if you can choose), consider whether you will be around the hotel for more than breakfast. Also, you might want to try other restaurants in the area.
Jul 9th, 2003, 07:27 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From experience, I'm with Therese, Grandmere and Budman. Half-board when I did it included breakfast and dinner though I have heard someone say it could be breakfast and lunch.
If breakfast was the only meal provided wouldn't it be described as "bed and breakfast"?
If breakfast was the only meal provided wouldn't it be described as "bed and breakfast"?
Jul 9th, 2003, 07:32 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm with Therese and Grandmere. Never heard of half board with only breakfast. Cicerone, what would you call it if 3 meals are included, if full board means 2 meals, breakfast and dinner according to you ;-) ?
Obviously these terms are not familiar among Americans as I have seen this question before. Do you have other names for that? Would you understand half pension and full pension ?
Curious hike from Europe
Obviously these terms are not familiar among Americans as I have seen this question before. Do you have other names for that? Would you understand half pension and full pension ?
Curious hike from Europe
Jul 9th, 2003, 07:38 AM
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having been on many european "package" type holidays, Half Board is usually breakfast and evening meal, whilst Full Board covers all three meals. Personally I prefer bed and breakfasts or self catering holidays, then we can eat when and where we want, or even skip meals if not needed.
Jul 9th, 2003, 07:40 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh yes, Dave is right B & B for breakfast only. Thanks!
Cicerone, Seidler hotels you mentioned, would that be Seiler hotel? That's a common name in Swiss Valais areas and a family called Seiler has at least a few 4-5 star hotels in Zermatt.
Cicerone, Seidler hotels you mentioned, would that be Seiler hotel? That's a common name in Swiss Valais areas and a family called Seiler has at least a few 4-5 star hotels in Zermatt.
Jul 9th, 2003, 08:13 AM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
I suspect emw1000 got this when researching the hotels around Lake Como because a lot of them offer half or full board. Can you tell us which one it is (the hotel)since now everyone on this thread EXCEPT YOU has responded that they finally understand!!! We want to help...
Jul 9th, 2003, 08:52 AM
#17
"since now everyone on this thread EXCEPT YOU has responded..."
Patience Intrepid. Perhaps emw1000 has better things to do (like work for a living) and can't get to the computer for a few hours.
Patience Intrepid. Perhaps emw1000 has better things to do (like work for a living) and can't get to the computer for a few hours.
Jul 9th, 2003, 09:04 AM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you would prefer to have lunch instead of dinner on half-board, most places will accommodate you if you let them know the day before.
Half-board is very convenient and can be a good value but you miss trying different restaurants in the area.
Half-board is very convenient and can be a good value but you miss trying different restaurants in the area.
Jul 9th, 2003, 09:24 AM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
The hotel we're staying in at Sorrento, Il Nido, offers half board, either lunch or dinner. I was reluctant to commit to it even though I knew the restaurant was very good. I thought we'd be tied down--what if we were miles away and missed a meal we'd already paid for? And how about missing out on other local restaurants?
We decided to do half-board anyway. Why? My parents, who both stayed and ate there, commented that after one day you recognized faces in the dining room and that being the case, it was easy to talk to your fellow guests. Before long, there was the comraderie that only good food and good wine can facilitate. Everyone talked about everyone else's dinner, what they did for the day, where they lived... It all sounded like such a grand party that we couldn't resist! Half board it was for us.
I don't know if this is particular only to Il Nido, but I liked this little fringe benefit of dining in for dinner/lunch. It's something to consider if you're going to do several days at the same hotel.
We decided to do half-board anyway. Why? My parents, who both stayed and ate there, commented that after one day you recognized faces in the dining room and that being the case, it was easy to talk to your fellow guests. Before long, there was the comraderie that only good food and good wine can facilitate. Everyone talked about everyone else's dinner, what they did for the day, where they lived... It all sounded like such a grand party that we couldn't resist! Half board it was for us.
I don't know if this is particular only to Il Nido, but I liked this little fringe benefit of dining in for dinner/lunch. It's something to consider if you're going to do several days at the same hotel.
Jul 9th, 2003, 10:09 AM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like doing half (or even full) board when I'm staying at smallish places in the countryside precisely for that sense of community: you get to know your fellow diners, the staff makes a point of figuring out what kinds of cheese you prefer, you can keep a bottle of wine over for the next meal if you'd like.
On the one hand you don't have the adventure of picking out new places to eat, on the other you don't have to worry about where you'll be eating.
On the one hand you don't have the adventure of picking out new places to eat, on the other you don't have to worry about where you'll be eating.
