What does this term mean?

Includes dinner--priced per person.

I understood it to mean both breakfast & dinner, but not a lunch.

Also includes breakfast -- Means Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Full board means all 3 meals

Oh - was posting the same time as alan64 . . . .

In many Provence hotels that offer this, you have a choice of either lunch or dinner when you pay for half board (and breakfast is a given).

I have found that a lot of the Northern Italy lake hotels require half-board (breakfast & dinner). Only problem is that it leaves the option for alternate dining choices.

Hotel Shelly in Lerici offered Half Board only for us - we wanted more options for dinner...If I were staying one night in a town as a stop over it might not be a bad idea, but not for multiple nights or in a town with lots of dining choices

I too noticed when looking last year at Itay that most places only offered Halfboard.I mean what is the point of going away and not eating out in the many resturants and Cafe bars. That is just my thoughtsd thou, My experience of dinners in places that only do half board is not very good. Help your self buffets with food that has been out for ages or a very small choice of main meals. We ended up going to Maderia instead.

When we were in Reutte, Austria, the hotel offered half-board but we didn't go for it because we thought we would want more options. It turned out though that the hotel had a good menu and wonderful patio that was perfect for relaxing after wandering around all day - hiking or whatever - and we didn't feel like walking or driving to restaurants. So we ended up eating in the hotel restaurant 2 out of 3 nights. It was very relaxing to just come back to the hotel, have dinner and drinks, and then just hang out.

I think whether or not half-board is a good idea really depends on the location and your plans.

Many hotels in France and Italy insist on demi-pension in high season; the rest of the year they are more flexible. Standard can be high, though, and usually they will let you choose a la carte for a supplement. also, there is nothing to stop you eating out perhaps one night if you've spotted somewhere better [or different!]

I could have sworn that laws in France, if not Italy also, required that meals be an option and that a hotel couldn't insist on including them.

Thanks everyone---here is my question: when I am quoted these very high hotel rates, do they automatically include "half board" or dinner when I don't want it? That could make a difference

They should specifically spell out that they include half board if they in fact do include it in their price.

All the Italian hotels that I've looked at included breakfast in their standard rate and there isn't an opt out option (and I'm glad because I loved the breakfast).

&quot;<i>when I am quoted these very high hotel rates, do they automatically include &quot;half board&quot; or dinner</i>&quot;

Absolutely do no assume it is half board. The website will clearly state what sort of meal plan(s) they offer. From you question it sort of sounds as if you are looking at expensive places and want to know if the rates are high beacuse they are also charging you for dinner. Unless they say so - dinner is not included.

And as others have said, the policy may be different at different times of the year.

I'm still a little unclear on this.
I'm looking at Hotel La Cisterna in San Gimignano.
http://www.hotelcisterna.it/inglese/frameset.html

The website says breakfast is included in the room price.
The superior double is quoted:
Bed/Breakfast 115
Half Pensione 161
Full Pensione 197

Now, would I assume Half Pensione includes a choice of lunch OR dinner? And Full Pensione is for all 3 meals?

Since this is a double room, is the rate for 2 persons or just one?

It should be for 2 persons. If you are uncertain, ask.

In Northern Italy, they show a price for a double room with just B&amp;B, then a price per person for half board. For example, for a double room, 130 Euro for B&amp;B, and 80 Euro per person for half board.

At least, that's been my experience.

The website gives separate rates for single rooms and double rooms. Based on the rates from the website the double room rate is for two persons. (The difference between room with breakfast and room with half board for a single is half of the difference for a double.)

I hadn't noticed the single rate.
Now I know better how to read such rate sheets. Thanks!