What does full board mean? Three meals, what is left out and who it suits

Three meals in the rate: what the plan covers

Hospitality software company Mews defines full board as a meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner within the cost of a hotel stay. The travel company Kiwi.com describes it in the same terms, and the UK tour operator TUI says that with full board your breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included at your accommodation.

In practice, Mews says meals are served buffet-style or through a set menu, during the property's scheduled dining hours. The plan is a package, not a promise about the menu, so the detail is worth checking.

Wikipedia's page on the term American Plan describes it as a hotel rate that includes accommodation and three meals per day, and a modified American plan as one that includes breakfast and dinner but not lunch. The modified plan follows the same breakfast-and-dinner pattern that TUI and Kiwi.com describe as half board.

Drinks, snacks and activities: what full board usually leaves out

Full board covers meals, not everything you might eat or drink. KAYAK says it typically includes breakfast, lunch and dinner in the room rate but not usually alcohol or activities. Mews lists snacks and refreshments between meals, most beverages beyond those included with breakfast, and room service unless specifically included, as usual exclusions. Kiwi.com adds that water, tea and coffee are included at some hotels but drinks are otherwise usually extra.

Some operators sell a version that goes further. TUI lists Full Board Plus, in which drinks are included with meals, and says the choice and quantity of drinks vary by hotel, so you should read the individual hotel description. Where drinks, snacks and some activities are all covered, the plan is usually called all-inclusive instead.

The sources do not cover dietary needs, so if you have allergies or follow a particular diet, ask the hotel before you book how its set menus and buffets work and whether alternatives are provided.

From room only to all-inclusive: where full board sits on the ladder

Meal plans are easier to compare when laid in a row. The table follows the wording used by TUI, Saga Holidays, Kiwi.com and KAYAK. Operators vary, so treat it as a guide to the usual pattern, not a contract.

Seen this way, full board is the point at which a hotel takes over all main meals but not yet snacks and most drinks. Saga notes that full board is less common at land hotels but standard on cruise ships, and that at an all-inclusive resort all meals are included and drinks almost always are too. See what is a cruise for the ship version.

Resorts, cruises and remote hotels: where full board is most common

Full board makes most sense where the property is the main place to eat. Mews says it suits resort holidaymakers who plan to spend most of their time on property and families who want simpler meal planning. KAYAK calls it a popular option for families, for convenience and budgeting, and a particularly good option at a resort with multiple restaurants.

KAYAK also says the terms full board and half board are appearing less and less, that smaller hotels may not have the restaurant facilities to offer half board, and that fewer half-board stays are offered in cities, where there are lots of other restaurants and cafés nearby. Full board, which covers more meals, makes most sense where the hotel is the obvious place to eat. What is a resort describes the format, and countries with all-inclusive resorts looks at where the neighbouring all-inclusive plan is common.

Resort areas such as Tenerife, Antalya and Cancun have many properties, so check the board basis shown for each one rather than assuming it from the location.

Fixed times and repeat menus: the case against full board

Mews lists the advantages of full board as all three main meals being covered, predictable daily food costs and no need to search for restaurants. It lists the drawbacks as fixed meal times, less reason to explore local dining, menus that may become repetitive on long stays, and snacks and drinks that still cost extra.

Fixed times are the first drawback on that list. If you are out sightseeing at lunchtime, you may have paid for a meal you are not eating. If the hotel is far from other restaurants, that matters less. Saga puts the general principle simply: it is always worth doing a few sums, and the cheapest option is not always the best value.

• For: three meals sorted, predictable food budget, convenient with children.
• For: no hunting for a restaurant after a long day, useful where the hotel is isolated.
• Against: fixed meal times and a limited choice of menu.
• Against: you may pay for meals you skip on days out.
• Against: drinks and snacks still add up unless you buy a plus or all-inclusive plan.

Working out whether full board earns its place on your trip

KAYAK suggests comparing the hotel's meal package with the typical cost of eating out nearby. That comparison depends on how you will spend your days, which is something only you know. A few questions help.

If you answer yes to most of the first group, full board probably fits. If you answer yes to most of the second, half board or bed and breakfast may leave you more room to eat out.

• Will you be at the property for lunch on most days?
• Is the hotel far from other places to eat?
• Are you travelling with children who need regular meals at set times?
• Do you want to try local restaurants for several evenings?
• Will you be out all day on trips or tours?

When a kitchen replaces the meal plan

For stays of a week or more, some travellers choose a self-catering apartment instead of a meal plan. TUI defines self-catering as a stay where meals are not included but catering facilities are provided to cook light meals. You shop and cook when and what you like, and eat out when you want to.

That shifts the work onto you but gives flexibility over timing, diet and budget. Cooking in an aparthotel kitchen explains what to expect from the kitchen, and what is included in a serviced apartment covers what the rate usually includes. If you like the idea of a bed and breakfast with other meals out, see what is a bed and breakfast. To see apartment-style options, browse Barcelona stays with a kitchen or family stays in Tenerife.