Your Board Basis and What It Means

Choosing the right board basis can make or break your holiday budget. Pick the wrong option, and you’ll either end up paying twice for meals you missed or watching your daily expenses spiral out of control at local restaurants.
Here is a straightforward breakdown of every travel board option to help you pick the perfect setup for your next trip.
1. Room Only (RO)

• What’s Included: Just the room key. No meals, snacks, or drinks are provided.
• Best For: Explorers and budget travelers who plan to eat at local cafes, street food markets, or high-end dining spots every single day.
• The Catch: You’ll need to factor a full daily food budget into your trip, including basic morning coffees.

2. Self Catering (SC)

• What’s Included: Accommodation equipped with basic cooking facilities (such as a kitchenette, fridge, stove, and utensils). No prepared meals are included.
• Best For: Families with picky eaters, travelers with strict dietary restrictions, or anyone looking to save money by cooking their own meals with local supermarket produce.
• The Catch: You still have to do the grocery shopping, meal prep, and dishes while on vacation.

3. Bed & Breakfast (B&B)

• What’s Included: Your room plus breakfast each morning (ranging from a simple continental spread to a full cooked buffet with hot drinks and juice).
• Best For: Sightseers who like starting the day with guaranteed fuel before heading out for long day trips, returning only in the evening.
• The Catch: Lunch, dinner, snacks, and afternoon drinks all come out of pocket.

4. Half Board (HB)

• What’s Included: Accommodation plus two meals a day—typically breakfast and dinner.
• Best For: Travelers who want a structured start and end to their day at the hotel, but plan to spend the afternoon out exploring local beach clubs or town centers.
• The Catch: Drinks during dinner (even basic bottled water at times) are often charged separately. Lunch is entirely up to you.

5. Full Board (FB)

• What’s Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel’s main restaurant.
• Best For: Relaxing trips to remote destinations where off-site dining options are sparse or overpriced.
• The Catch: Drinks outside of breakfast juice/coffee (like evening wine or poolside soft drinks) are usually billed extra. It also ties your daytime itinerary strictly to the resort's dining hours.

6. All Inclusive (AI)

• What’s Included: Three main meals a day, daytime snacks, and unlimited local alcoholic and soft drinks throughout the day.
• Best For: Stress-free resort stays where you want to lock in your total holiday cost upfront without worrying about poolside bar tabs.
• The Catch: "Local" spirits might not include your favorite top-shelf brand, and à la carte dining venues on-site often carry an additional surcharge.

7. All Inclusive Premium (Ultra All Inclusive)

• What’s Included: Everything in standard All Inclusive, plus branded international liquors, 24/7 room service, access to specialty à la carte dining, filled in-room minibars, and often bonus perks like spa vouchers or water sports.
• Best For: Luxury travelers who want high-end food and top-shelf beverages without ever pulling out a credit card during the trip.
• The Catch: Higher upfront costs, which only make financial sense if you plan to make full use of the premium perks and specialty restaurants.