Half board or room only: the arithmetic
Half board works out when the daily premium per person is lower than the cost of eating out and the establishment sits away from any centre with restaurants, a common situation in coastal resorts and inland.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The half board premium runs 20 € to 40 € per person per day.
- A set dinner outside costs 15 € to 30 €.
- The location of the hotel weighs most in the decision.
- With a hire car, eating out opens far more choice.
The right comparison is not between two package prices. It is between the premium for dinner at the hotel and the real cost of dinner outside, travel included.
The basic sum
If half board adds 25 € per person per day and dinner out costs 22 € with a drink, half board is slightly dearer and also restricts the choice. If it adds 20 € and dinner locally runs around 30 €, it works. The figure varies by establishment and season, so ask for it itemised when booking rather than deducing it from the gap between two packages.
| Situation | Premium | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated hotel with no nearby offer | 20 to 40 € | half board |
| Hotel in a town with restaurants | 20 to 40 € | room only |
| With a hire car | 20 to 40 € | room only |
| With young children | 20 to 40 € | half board |
| Food focused trip | any | room only |
| Set dinner in the area | 15 to 30 € | |
| Dinner from a carte | 25 to 45 € |
Location decides
This is the factor that weighs most. A resort in an isolated cove 6 or 10 kilometres from the nearest town turns every dinner out into a 25 minute round trip with uncertain parking in summer. A hotel on a village promenade with 20 restaurants within 400 metres presents the opposite case, and there room only wins almost every time.
With children
Half board usually works for reasons that are not financial: an early flexible hour, simple options always available and no waiting. Eating out with small children at 21:00 in a restaurant full of holidaymakers is an experience many families do not repeat. That factor is worth more than the 5 € or 10 € per person of difference.
Many establishments apply reduced rates or free places for children up to a certain age, which changes the family arithmetic entirely.
What to ask
Whether dinner is a buffet or a set menu with limited choice. What hours apply and how rigid they are. Whether drinks are included or charged separately, which can add 6 € to 15 € per person. Whether dinner can be swapped for lunch on some days. And whether the board basis can be added on arrival, which some establishments allow and which leaves the decision until you know the area.
Frequently asked
+When does half board work?
When the premium is lower than the cost of eating out and the hotel is away from any centre with restaurants.
+How much extra does it cost?
Between 20 € and 40 € per person per day depending on establishment and season.
+And if I have a hire car?
Room only usually works better, because the car opens far more choice for dinner.
+What suits families with children?
Half board, mainly for the flexible early hours and the absence of waiting.
+Are drinks included?
Not always. They can add 6 € to 15 € per person, so it is worth asking.
Sources
- 1Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)
- 2Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE (August 2026)