I've been reading my travel books, but I can't seem to find out what it means by half board. Can anyone help explain this to me? Thank you.

It means two meals a day are included in the price--breakfast plus either lunch or dinner. Some places give you a choice as to whether you want the lunch or dinner. Some places may define it as one of them, or not be open for one of them. I think it's usually your choice, though.

Hi JP,

Half-Board is breakfast and one other meal - usually dinner.

You'll sometimes see "demi-pension" used as the term.

If you decide to take half-board terms at a hotel with its own restaurant, be sure to inquire about whether there's a special meal for residents or whether you can choose what you want from a menu.

Underhill - what do you do if it's one or the other?

oh, yeah, that's a good one -- usually it is the cheapest prix fixe. At least in the places I've stayed. I never do it because I want to be able to choose what I want. Also, again maybe just the places I chose, you didn't really save anything, it was priced about the same as if you ordered that prix fixe yourself off the menu.

I admit I like to roam around and eat elsewhere, also, I don't usually want to tie myself down to one place.

We gave demi-pension a try twice on our recent trip to SW France (and Spanish Pais Vasco), and it's true, it was the most basic prix fixe offering on the menu - - and snob that I am, NOT representative of what I might ordinarily choose. But both meals I had were very good, filling, and prepared and served <i>bien soign&eacute;e</i> as one can so typically expect all over France. One was a quarter duck (leg), and I wasn't sure I would like that dark meat, but it was delicious!

Best wishes,

Rex

When we've taken demi-pension in France we've usually been at places that let us choose from at least the mid-priced items on the menu. That's worked quite well, especially given that the demi-pension rates are usually good bargains compared with room cost and then a separately paid meal.

What's not good is the hotels that require you to take dinner in their restaurant during high season when you are NOT taking the demi-pension plan.

When we had demi-pension terms at a few places that had a specific menu for residents the meals were fine.