Half Board without Drinks

eskbanker

iwant2asave said:

Planning for a half board and wondering if I'm going to find it difficult/awkward if I decline having drinks with my meals as a way to save money?!...I know it's a choice, just wondering how awkward/difficult it would be if anyone has any experience of this?!

I agree with earlier posters that there shouldn't be any reason for awkwardness or difficulty, but if you're seeking others' experiences then it would probably be helpful to say where you're going?  For example, you might find the atmosphere varies depending on whether you're in a cheap'n'cheerful bucket-and-spade mega hotel on the Costa del Sol or rocking up at a snooty Michelin-starred restaurant in the Burj al Arab, although either way you shouldn't be pressured to buy....

prowla

I nearly always ask for tap water when I eat out, because:

1. I don't want alcohol,
2. I don't like drinks with artificial sweeteners,
3. I don't want the hassle of going through the establishment's available drinks list to ascertain which ones remain after #1 & #2 are applied.

DullGreyGuy

prowla said:

I nearly always ask for tap water when I eat out, because:

1. I don't want alcohol,
2. I don't like drinks with artificial sweeteners,
3. I don't want the hassle of going through the establishment's available drinks list to ascertain which ones remain after #1 & #2 are applied.

In many places in the world tap water isn't drinkable so if you want water it's buying a bottle whereas the OP wants to save money. 

maman

I was given half board in a hotel in Majorca (hotel had messed up on our booking) and drinks were provided at breakfast and dinner (alcoholic if you wanted it). That might not apply everywhere but I agree, OP is maybe over thinking this.

Surely half board is just 2 from 3 meals , usually no lunch rather than no drinks. 🤔

NoodleDoodleMan

maman said:

I was given half board in a hotel in Majorca (hotel had messed up on our booking) and drinks were provided at breakfast and dinner (alcoholic if you wanted it). That might not apply everywhere but I agree, OP is maybe over thinking this.

Surely half board is just 2 from 3 meals , usually no lunch rather than no drinks. 🤔

Sounds as if your hotel was making amends for messing you around ?

The only time I've come across hotels supplying drinks at dinner was when a large party of Spanish pensioners were on their free state provided holiday in Mallorca.

In our ignorance on arrival night we sat down at the first available table unaware that the wine and bottled water was only for these guests - we didn't get one of these table again !!!

Lavendyr

Just say "no thank you" or if you want the simplest option, "water thank you". You're paying for your holiday and for your half board - you are not under any further obligation!

iwant2asave

Thanks all 😁... Appreciate the answers and I agree I was overthinking it!

Eldi_Dos

While it is understandable wanting to save money be wary of the dehydrating effects of air-conditioning and sun, it is important to keep hydrated.
Push the boat out, order a bottle of water with your meal and enjoy your holiday.

maman

NoodleDoodleMan said:

maman said:

I was given half board in a hotel in Majorca (hotel had messed up on our booking) and drinks were provided at breakfast and dinner (alcoholic if you wanted it). That might not apply everywhere but I agree, OP is maybe over thinking this.

Surely half board is just 2 from 3 meals , usually no lunch rather than no drinks. 🤔

Sounds as if your hotel was making amends for messing you around ?

The only time I've come across hotels supplying drinks at dinner was when a large party of Spanish pensioners were on their free state provided holiday in Mallorca.

In our ignorance on arrival night we sat down at the first available table unaware that the wine and bottled water was only for these guests - we didn't get one of these table again !!!

I was very lucky then and I'm certainly not a Spanish pensioner! 🤣

I thought that all AI included drinks. I'd assumed as the hotel did full and half board  that the only difference was that I didn't get lunch.

Being Spanish, the local red was very good too! 😁

NoodleDoodleMan

AI is indeed with drinks included, half board is not - unless the hotel has some special deal on offer, which I've never encountered anywhere.

AI in some selected parts of Mallorca and Ibiza became a hot topic in 2020 when the Balearic government placed restrictions on the number of drinks guests could consume each day - 6 (if memory serves) and 3 were only to be had with meals.

The local authorities were obliged to start clamping down on problems caused by too much imbibing in specific locations, largely, but not exclusively due to Brits  - this included booze cruises, happy hours and BOGOF deals etc.

Needless to say this did not receive universal approval from clients !!!

It would be interesting to learn if these measures were successful in anyway.