What precisely does half board consist of?

Question

...and does it differ from destination to destination. I'm going to Mauritius in October and staying in a hotel on a half board basis, and didn't know if it was breakfast and lunch or breakfast and dinner?

thanks Tiger....

Answer 1

Ok people, lets just give one straight answer here ;-)
Half Board varies from hotel to hotel, now whilst most western countries will (as stated by practically everyone) will include your room, breakfast, and the evening meal. HOWEVER a lot of hotels consider half board to be, your room, breakfast and ONE OTHER MEAL per day, not necessarily the evening meal. It is important to check, as the meal plan offered by hotels varies from place to place!
Now, as for "precisely" what it consits of.... well you're asking a bit much there, but I can say this much:
It may contain eggs.... and nuts!!!

Answer 2

Half Board is your breakfast and evening meal freeing up the best part of the day to go shopping and to see that you have got a decent meal in you before you dance the night away.

It doesn't usually vary from destination to destination but the menu will. Why you didn't go All-inclusive as I do when I go to any hotel (whether or not I am writing a report on the hotel that I am visiting) leads to another question. Would it have been cheaper to have gone AI or half board when you will have to end up paying for all your lunchtime meals (if you eat at lunchtime) all your sports (rarely are sports included in the price of HB) some of your activities if not all of them and of course your drinks non alc. or alc. will need to be bought. Sometimes the advantage of going HB outweighs the advantage of going AI, but usually considering the additional costs that you would have to pay on site AI is by far the most economical money-wise in the long term.

Lots more hotels are becoming AI rather than HB

I am going to Tunisia next Sunday (24th) and my AI holiday/work was booked direct with the hotel that I am staying at and not through the travel agency. It set me back £200 for the hotel and £139 for the flight in high season (My flight fee has since been refunded by thomas cook airlines and technically my flight is free).

This is the other thing not usually shouted about in the travel agency MOST hotels will book you direct with them and you can usually pick up some decent flights to your resort. Ok so you have to make your own way to/from resort so a little research is needed. You can save a couple of hundred pounds doing it this way. It is usual to pay the hotel upon arrival and you should bear in mind they may want full payment up front in local currencies. Paying in local currencies can save you money also!

Have a nice trip to Mauritius (I will be doing a report there soon).

Answer 3

Half board basis could be either breadfast and lunch, breakfast and evening meal or lunch and evening meal. Can vary best to check with tour operator or brochure.

Answer 4

Bed breakfast and an evening meal

Answer 5

Breakfast and one other meal, depends on the hotel, most likely dinner

Answer 6

It's normally bed breakfast and evening meal

Answer 7

i went to spain last year half board, it consisted of breakfast and my evening meal, you have a set menu to choose from (about 5 different dishes) i don't know what breakfast was like as i was on holiday so never made it out of bed early enough to try it.
i don't eat meat abroad, so the chef cooked me egg and chips!

Answer 8

Usually it's your room, breakfast and evening meal. If you want lunch as well it's full board - or you can go all-inclusive

Answer 9

Bed and Breakfast, and one other meal

Answer 10

half board normally consists of breakfast and one other meal i.e.lunch/evening meal and what ever you get during the night if your hungary nod nod wink wink