What Are Half Board Holidays and Are They Worth It?

When was your last holiday? Where did you go? What was the flight like and what did you get up to when you arrived?

For many of us, holidays are something we plan all year around. We spend hours comparing destinations, looking at hotels and trying to work out which option gives us the best value.

One question that often pops up when browsing travel websites is what are half board holidays?

You’ll see the phrase everywhere — especially on package holidays — usually alongside options like bed and breakfast, full board and all-inclusive.

But what exactly does half board mean, what is included, and most importantly for a money-saving blog… is half board actually worth the extra cost?

Let’s break it down.

Quick answer: What is half board on holiday?

Half board means your hotel stay includes two meals per day, usually breakfast and dinner. Your accommodation is included along with these meals, but lunch, drinks, snacks and activities normally cost extra.

What Is Included in Half Board Holidays?

Half board holidays include your accommodation plus two meals each day.

Those meals are usually:

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Some hotels allow you to swap dinner for lunch, but breakfast and dinner is by far the most common option.

Breakfast typically includes drinks such as tea, coffee and juice. However, drinks with dinner are usually not included, which is one of the most common surprises for travellers.

So when you book a half board holiday, you are normally paying for:

• Accommodation
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Everything else — including drinks, snacks, excursions and activities — will usually be extra.

How Half Board Meals Usually Work

Breakfast is often served as a buffet.

This might include pastries, cereal, fruit, yoghurt and toast, along with hot options like eggs, bacon or sausages.

Dinner varies depending on the hotel. Some resorts offer buffet dinners, while others provide a set menu or three-course à la carte meal.

Many smaller boutique hotels have moved away from large buffets in recent years to reduce food waste, so you may be offered a more traditional sit-down meal instead.

Meals are normally served in the hotel’s main restaurant rather than across multiple restaurants in the resort.

What Is Half Board Plus?

Some hotels now offer Half Board Plus, which is an upgraded version of half board.

It includes the same two meals — breakfast and dinner — but also allows a limited selection of drinks during dinner.

These drinks may include:

• house wine
• beer
• soft drinks
• water

The drinks are normally only included during the dinner service, not throughout the day like an all-inclusive holiday.

Half board plus can be a good middle ground if you want drinks with dinner but don’t want to pay the higher cost of an all-inclusive package.

Half Board vs Full Board vs All Inclusive

The main difference between these packages is simply how much is included in the price of your holiday.

All-inclusive holidays usually cover most food, drinks and sometimes activities.

Half board sits somewhere in the middle — giving you meals but still allowing flexibility.

Does Half Board Actually Save Money?

Whether half board saves money depends on where you are travelling and how you plan to spend your holiday.

In many European resorts, hotel dinners can cost £20 to £35 per person if you pay separately.

If half board adds around £15–£20 per night to your booking price, it can actually work out cheaper than eating out.

For example:

For a 7-night holiday for two people, that could save around £98.

However, the maths can flip completely in destinations where food is cheaper.

In some countries you might be able to eat a fantastic local meal for £5–£10.

This is why half board is often better value in destinations such as:

• Switzerland
• Iceland
• Scandinavia
• Major European resorts

But in places where food is inexpensive, eating out locally might work out cheaper.

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Who Half Board Holidays Are Best For

Half board holidays work particularly well for certain types of travellers.

Travellers sticking to a budget

Half board can make budgeting much easier because two of your biggest daily holiday expenses are already covered.

Instead of worrying about restaurant prices every evening, you already know dinner is sorted.

Holidays in expensive destinations

Eating out every night can get expensive very quickly in some countries.

If restaurant meals cost £30 per person, half board may actually be the cheaper option.

Family holidays with kids

Children often eat a lot on holiday, especially after long days swimming or exploring.

Having meals included can help control costs and makes life easier for parents.

Buffet meals are also useful for picky eaters because they can choose what they want.

Travellers who like a simple routine

Half board works well if you enjoy a relaxed routine.

You can have breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring, then return to the hotel for dinner.

It removes the hassle of finding a restaurant every evening.

When Half Board Holidays Might Not Be Worth It

Half board holidays are not always the best option.

Travellers who explore all day

If you leave early and return late, you might miss some of the meals you’ve already paid for.

That means you could end up paying for food twice.

Visiting destinations with cheap food

In many countries, local food is incredibly affordable.

If half board adds several hundred pounds to the price of your holiday, eating locally may be the better option.

People planning to drink a lot

Drinks are rarely included with half board dinners.

A couple of glasses of wine each evening could easily add £15–£20 to your bill.

In those situations, all-inclusive may actually be better value.

Food lovers

For many travellers, food is a huge part of exploring a new destination.

If you want to try different restaurants every night, half board might feel restrictive.

Are Half Board Holidays Worth It?

Half board holidays can offer a great balance between saving money and still having flexibility.

You get breakfast and dinner included, but you’re still free to explore local restaurants during the day.

Half board often makes sense when:

• restaurants are expensive
• you want predictable holiday spending
• you plan to explore during the day

However, if you plan to eat out every evening or visit destinations where food is very cheap, you may find bed and breakfast offers better value.

Money-Saving Tips When Booking Half Board

If you’re thinking about booking a half board holiday, a few small checks can help you get better value.

Compare the upgrade price

Sometimes half board only adds a small amount to the booking price. Other times it can add several hundred pounds.

Check restaurant prices nearby

Look up nearby restaurants on Google Maps to get a rough idea of typical meal prices.

Look at drinks prices

Drinks with dinner can quickly increase your spending.

Consider Half Board Plus

If drinks are included with dinner, half board plus may actually work out cheaper.

Conclusion

Half board holidays can be a great balance between convenience and flexibility.

You get breakfast and dinner included, but still have plenty of freedom to explore local restaurants during the day.

For travellers who want to avoid expensive restaurant bills every evening, half board can sometimes work out cheaper overall.

However, if you plan to spend most of your time eating out locally or drinking by the pool, other options such as bed and breakfast or all-inclusive might offer better value.

As with most travel decisions, the best option depends on how you like to holiday and how much you want to spend.

Also worth reading

Another easy way to save money when travelling is using the right debit card abroad, as many banks charge hidden foreign transaction fees.

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