full-board

Word family

• board
  nounB1
• half-board
  nounB1
• bed and breakfast
  nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four terms describe different levels of meal inclusion at hotels and guesthouses. 'Full-board' includes all three meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — in the nightly price. 'Half-board' includes only breakfast and dinner, leaving lunch to be paid separately; it suits travellers who are out during the day. 'Bed and breakfast' (often abbreviated 'B&B') includes the room and breakfast only, offering the most flexibility but also the most additional meal costs. 'Room only' (also called 'self-catering') covers the accommodation with no meals at all. For example, a family staying a week at a remote seaside hotel might prefer full-board to avoid hunting for restaurants each day, while a business traveller staying one night may find bed and breakfast perfectly adequate.

Common collocations

Etymology

The word 'board' has meant 'food provided at a table' since the 1300s, from the Old English 'bord' meaning a plank or table. The phrase 'full board' first appeared in the 1800s in the context of lodging houses and inns, where 'board' already referred to daily meals. Hotels offered different levels of 'board' (full, half, or no board), and by the early 1900s 'full board' was a standard term in British hospitality.