Therese's experience with having the hotel keep her bottle of wine over for the next meal is a common advantage to the half or full board option. I've read posts from people who didn't like the food at their hotel, but my 5 or 6 experiences with this have all been good: the food has been good, the price was always less than most restaurants I would have otherwise happened into, you have a table assigned to you so you don't have to worry about having to wait for a table, you can often start your evening meal earlier than the 7:30 to 8:00 starting time for most restaurants, etc.

At Il Nido, it worked out to be pretty economical to go for the half board. If anyone wants to work up an appetite for dinner tonight, visit their website! The full menu is listed and it's enough to make you wish you could vaporise yourself, fork and knife in hand, and land right in the middle of that beautiful dining terrace, overlooking the Bay of Naples.

Sigh.

Another advantage I should have mentioned: some places that offer half or full board will pack a lunch to go for you. Very handy if you plan on hiking or boating that day, and also great if you're checking out early on a day you'd have otherwise had a meal---just stop for a picnic en route to your next destination.

My one time requesting half board worked out great. We were in Gengenbach, Germany. The restaurant was marvelous and by going half board we saved money. We stayed three nights and had no desire to have dinner elsewhere even though we usually enjoy trying different restaurants.

It's worth the gamble, especially if you're staying outside a major city.

Thank you very much for your responses! Now I just have to choose where to stay!