Very much considering this hotel for our Sienna stretch in September, but I don't fully understand the HB for high season. I know we get breakfast, does that mean the dinner is also included in the price? Or does it mean we have to eat dinner there and pay? I've been to Italy 2 times and this is the first time I've heard of this phrase.
Thanks, LisaS

If the price given is for HB, then the meal - most often dinner, but some places also do lunch; we had dinner at the Palazzo Ravizza, in the garden - is included in the HB price, with the exception of wine and other beverages.

Half board means that you get, in addition to breakfast, one full meal included in the price of your hotel room (usually dinner). Full board means two meals in addition to breakfast. The house wine is often included in the price, but sometimes not.

I almost never take half-board, unless I am in the countryside, with few other restaurants within walking distance, or unless the hotel is famous for its cuisine.

If you decide to leave your dining options open and not to take it, you can change your mind once you get there. You can either ask for the half board rate at the hotel or, if that's no longer an option, reserve a table for dinner and pay the usual customer prices, usually not all that much more than if you had taken the half-board rate.

My post crossed with Eloise!

Nessundorma,

As I recall and as Lisa1271 has posted, HB is not an option at the Palazzo Ravizza; they will only accept HB during high season.

Lisa1271, you may get a better dinner at some of the - probably more expensive - restaurants in Siena, but the dinner is of high quality and the setting in the garden is lovely.

We enjoyed dinner one night at Palazzo Ravizza. It was too cool to eat outside. But inside the restaurant was very nice and we ate by candlelight. The food was very good and the service was very elegant.

We shared a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino and I keep the empty bottle on my kitchen counter in plain sight to remind me of that lovely trip.

Thanks all, its settled then, Palazzo Ravizza it is!!
Thanks again, LisaS

Huh?

Oh.

I didn't get from Lisa's post that the HB was required. Got it now. Thought it was just on offer, as is sometimes the case in other hotels, who only offer meals during the high season.

Hi Lisa, we stayed at Palazzo Ravizza mid September last year and were not required to take half board. Their website only mentions that breakfast & parking is included in the rates. Check again with them, especially if you are there more than one or two nights. We never ate in the restaurant. If interested click on my name to see our Tuscany Cinque Terre trip report.

Here is their pricing http://www.palazzoravizza.it/pricelist.htm

I would also suggest you double check this. I stayed there last Sept, and even though half board was listed on their website, I was told they were no longer offering it at all. I did eat dinner there the first night but just paid for it like you would at any restaurant.

Thanks Susan & Easygoer for the follow up. Their site didn't mention HB but some magazine article I read did so I was a bit confused. All better now.
Easygoer: loved the report. Not only read it, I printed it for future reference. Thanks!!
Take care, LisaS