Full Board: Everything You Need to Know

This question often arises among tourists when organizing their vacations, upon realizing the diversity of accommodation options offered by the tourism industry. Full board, often confused with the all-inclusive regime, raises questions: Are these terms equivalent? How is an establishment offering full board characterized? We’ll clarify these and other uncertainties to avoid surprises on your next destination.

Within the hospitality industry, the full board option (FB) implies that the price paid by the guest covers accommodation plus the three main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for each traveler.

This lodging model is ideal for those who choose to have all their meals at the hotel. Naturally, the cost of this option is higher compared to half board, which only offers accommodation, breakfast, and an additional meal, either lunch or dinner. The amount should not change whether the reservation is made directly or through an Online Travel Agency (OTA), although it is advisable to check the hotel’s booking system for possible discounts or special promotions.

The initial meal service upon arrival at the hotel is lunch, and the final one is breakfast at the time of departure. If the guest plans to arrive in the afternoon or evening, it is advisable to communicate this in advance to ensure the availability of meals. In such situations, the first meal could be dinner, and the last one, lunch.

Now that we understand what full board entails in a hotel establishment, the question arises as to whether beverages are included. In Spain, it is common for hotels with full board not to offer drinks within the package, although some may include coffee or juice during breakfast.

Any other beverage during lunch or dinner incurs an additional cost.

It is prudent to carefully review all conditions and policies before making a reservation under this regime, as practices may vary among hotels.

Although at first glance full board and all-inclusive may seem similar, they are actually very different stay modalities, both in price and services offered.

An all-inclusive hotel provides, in addition to the three main meals, unlimited drinks inside and outside meal hours, snacks, and access to buffets outside conventional hours, among other benefits. All-inclusive hotels may exclude certain premium drinks, which are charged separately.

It is advisable to compare different hotels, taking into account your preferences and travel style. For example, if you plan to spend little time at the hotel, opting for full board may not be convenient.

This aspect is crucial since the cost varies significantly between a 4-star hotel with full board and a 3-star one. Decide what is more important to you: the facilities and extra services of the hotel or the inclusion of all meals.

Although the hotel offers full board, this does not guarantee that all services are included. Services such as free airport transportation, 24-hour restaurant, and Wi-Fi connection in the room can be decisive in your decision.

It is important to verify meal times, especially if they do not align with your daily planning, as this could influence the convenience of choosing full board or half board.