For the majority of travelers visiting French Polynesia, Half Board (Breakfast and Dinner) is the superior choice over Full Board. This plan offers the best value while maintaining flexibility. Since luxury resorts provide extensive breakfast buffets that often keep guests full well past noon, a heavy three-course lunch (included in Full Board) is rarely necessary. Half Board allows you to enjoy a light poolside snack or explore local dining options during the day without feeling like you are "wasting" a pre-paid meal, while still securing your evening dinner costs at a favorable rate.
Choosing between half board and full board dining options at resorts can impact your vacation experience. This guide will help you understand the differences and make an informed decision based on your preferences, dining habits, and budget.
What is Full Board Dining?
A full board package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner as part of your stay. This option is convenient if you prefer to enjoy all your meals at the resort without worrying about finding restaurants or managing meal expenses during your trip. Full board is perfect for a hassle-free dining experience.
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What is Half Board Dining?
Flexibility to explore local dining options during lunch.
With a half board package, your breakfast and dinner are included in your stay, but lunch is left open for you to explore. This option allows you to venture out and try local restaurants or different cuisines during lunch, giving you more flexibility in your daily dining routine.
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Factors to Consider
How to decide between full board and half board options.
Here are the key factors to consider when deciding between full board and half board dining:
- Dining Preferences: Do you prefer to have most meals at the resort, or would you rather explore local dining options?
- Budget: Full board is typically more expensive because all meals are included. Decide if the convenience of inclusive dining is worth the extra cost.
- Activities and Itinerary: If you plan to spend most of your day exploring, half board might suffice. However, if you'll be staying at the resort and want all meals covered, full board is ideal.
Additional Dining Options
Some resorts offer more than just full and half board options. You might also find all-inclusive packages that cover more than just meals or à la carte dining plans for more specific preferences. These options provide even more flexibility and might suit your personal tastes and budget better.
Making the Right Dining Choice for Your Stay
Ultimately, the choice between full board and half board depends on your personal preferences, dining habits, and overall budget. Take into account your daily itinerary and how much time you plan to spend at the resort versus exploring the area. With these factors in mind, you'll be able to choose the option that best suits your ideal vacation experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dining Plans Explained
1. What is the difference between Half Board and Full Board?
Half Board includes two meals: Breakfast and Dinner. Full Board includes three meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Both plans typically exclude beverages (alcohol and soft drinks).
2. Which dining plan is best for Bora Bora?
Half Board is widely recommended. Because the heat in Tahiti often suppresses appetite and the breakfast buffets are massive, most guests prefer a light, casual lunch (a la carte) rather than a heavy pre-paid meal.
3. Are drinks included in the meal plans?
Generally, no. Coffee and juice are included with breakfast, but water, soda, wine, and cocktails during lunch and dinner are billed separately. Some resorts offer separate "Beverage Packages," but they are rare in luxury properties.
4. Does Half Board save money?
Yes. Pre-purchasing Half Board is almost always cheaper than paying a la carte prices for dinner + taxes + service charges every night. It also locks in the exchange rate.
5. Can I eat at any restaurant on the meal plan?
Mostly, yes. You can usually dine at the main restaurant or specialty restaurants. However, ultra-fine dining venues (like Lagoon at St. Regis or Villa Mahana) may require a supplemental fee (surcharge) on top of the meal plan.
6. Is room service included in Half Board?
No. Meal plans are typically designed for dining in the restaurants to encourage ambiance. Ordering room service usually incurs the full menu price, even if you have a meal plan.
7. Can I switch lunch for dinner on Half Board?
Usually not. Half Board is strictly defined as Breakfast and Dinner. If you choose to eat a heavy lunch and skip dinner, you generally lose the credit for that day.
8. Do kids eat free?
Many luxury resorts (like Four Seasons and St. Regis) have generous policies where children under a certain age (often 5 or 6) eat free from the kids' menu, regardless of the parents' meal plan.
9. Is the food buffet or a la carte?
It depends on the night. Theme nights (like "Polynesian Night") are usually extravagant buffets. On other nights, the meal plan typically entitles you to a 3-course menu (Appetizer, Main, Dessert) at the a la carte restaurants.
10. Should I choose "Breakfast Only"?Only if you are very light eaters or plan to dine off-property every night (which is difficult in Bora Bora due to boat transfer costs). For most, the cost of paying for dinner a la carte every night will exceed the cost of upgrading to Half Board.
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