To feel this is a bit sneeky of the travel agent

[mayaknew]

Booked a family holiday via a popular online travel agent.

Board basis half board

I was looking through the booking to price adding extra luggage and I noticed that the information on meals was breakfast and lunch !!

I've never in my life heard of half board being lunch! I've looked it up and it apparently can be lunch but never would I have expected that. It didn't specify this at time of booking and I certainly wouldn't have paid what I paid for lunches.

I feel a bit ripped off if I'm honest. This is our first holiday in 9 years.

I thought half board meant exactly that - breakfast and lunch. Otherwise it’s just bed and breakfast or full board

Ime half board has always been breakfast and dinner. I didn't even know it could be lunch.

That's disappointing - is there any way to change it?

I know it is more common that it would be dinner, but the definition is breakfast and one other meal - so either is possible

Have you checked the hotel with other providers?
We had the choice with half board on arrival of it being lunch or dinner so you might be able to otherwise I would call the travel agents and check.

I always assumed HB was breakfast and lunch. We always want to go out for dinner and if we don't we go full broad. Can you speak to agent and change it?!

This is very rare op. I would also assume breakfast and evening meal. I've been in travel nearly 20 years and have never come across a half board basis being breakfast and lunch.

Collins English Dictionary says Breakfast and evening meal. A quick glance at different websites says breakfast and an evening meal Only one said it could mean breakfast and 1 other meal either lunch or dinner although dinner is the usual option

It wouldn’t have even crossed my mind to think it meant lunch instead of dinner and I have stayed in a fair few hotels all over the world and Dh who has semi permanently lived in hotels for the better part of his working life wouldn’t have said breakfast and lunch.
No idea who you are booking with but even Tui says Breakfast and Dinner

I have never come across this before and I have travelled extensively and worked in a travel agents.

I would have assumed the same, breakfast and tea ..... why would anyone opt for lunch, I imagine the majority of people are out and about during the day anyway.

That would surprise me too, always had & assumed it was breakfast & dinner.

Is it Italy? In 1980-1990 it was common to be lunch in Italy as that is their main meal.

HB has always been plus evening meal or lunch - your choice.

I would speak to the travel agent about this. I would not be happy if evening meal wasn't an option

It won't be the travel agent that decides on which meal you have, won't that be up to the hotel?

I don't know if there's any kind of legal definition but depending on what type of holiday it is lunch isn't quite such an attractive option.

I have travelled on a half board basis for over twenty years and never had a hotel mean breakfast and lunch. Some holidays we’d only wake up and have breakfast at 10am so definitely wouldn’t be be ready for lunch at 12pm! Plus that means you can’t really leave the hotel area if you have rush back for lunch. It is definitely cheeky. Is there any way of calling up and asking them to change it?

Never assume op

Thats is what will get you in trouble... haha

We’ve been to Greece in a hotel where you could have lunch or dinner included in half board. Also to a resort where they had dine around programme which also included lunch or dinner. Check on hotels website or contact them by email. I’ve never come across half board being breakfast and lunch.

It wouldn't of crossed my mind either. It stinks of them hoping majority won't bother as they are out all day. Adds a lot more cost to your holiday.

I would have also assumed breakfast and dinner too OP. What’s the point of lunch, if your family are out for the day? I know a lot of hotels offered a packed lunch, so that could be an option, personally I would ask if you could change to dinner. Have a lovely holiday.

I just noticed how I spelt sneaky in my title 🤣🤣 that's what I get for writing MN posts on my break on nightshift 😳

I tried to call them yesterday when I noticed it but couldn't get hold of anyone. No option to contact them via the app. So I've tweeted them.

To be fair I really think that was a fair assumption 🫤

Was it On the Beach OP? I’ve heard they’re notoriously hard to get hold of or rectify any issues! AFWIW I would assume breakfast and dinner too!

I’d assume breakfast and lunch. I’ve been asked if lunch in, or otherwise you pick up a substantial picnic style lunch pack on way out.

I always thought breakfast and one other meal but I’ve never done half board

I would have done the same as you and assumed breakfast and dinner. Sometimes I have been at a place where you could switch to lunch instead if you wanted, but never anywhere that didn't offer dinner. With a big breakfast, I'm happy to have a small snack for lunch and then a decent dinner. I wouldn't want that another way and wouldn't want to pay to eat an evening meal when I had half board. Unless it was a really good deal maybe.

If you put the name of the hotel someone on here may have been and be able to tell you if they do offer breakfast and dinner as well, or try checking it out on trip adviser. An online travel agent like Tui Or Jet2 may be more likely to offer a change of package or totally different holiday than someone like On the Beach. Do the travel agent have a high street shop you can pop in?