What is an island full-board package?
You keep seeing full board on island offers and want to know, in plain words, what it means.
An island full-board package is one price that covers your room and three meals a day, and often the boat to the island. It is a way of bundling the main costs so you can plan with fewer decisions. What exactly sits inside the bundle differs from one resort to the next.
When you want the detailed list, read what a full-board package includes and excludes. When you are ready to count the cost, use the island trip cost calculator.
What do the labels mean?
Offers use a few labels. Here they are in plain words.
| Label | Everyday meaning |
|---|---|
| Room only | Just the room. You pay for meals and the boat separately |
| Bed and breakfast | The room and one meal, breakfast |
| Half board | The room and two meals, often breakfast and dinner |
| Full board | The room and three meals |
| All-inclusive | Wider than full board, and may include drinks or activities |
The label tells you the shape, not the detail. Always ask which meals are served on the day you arrive and the day you leave, because those days are often shorter.
Why do islands sell packages?
On a small island, there may be few places to eat apart from the resort. A package solves that, because the meals are part of the stay and you do not need to look for food. It also bundles the boat, which saves you from arranging it yourself.
That convenience is useful, especially for a first trip, a family or older parents. It does not automatically cost less. If you like to eat outside the resort or to choose your own boat, ask about room-only options too.
What does a day of full board look like?
A typical day has three meals at the resort. Breakfast starts the day, lunch comes between activities and dinner closes the day. Between meals you swim, snorkel, rest or walk.
On arrival day you may miss breakfast because you are on the road. On departure day you may miss lunch because you are on the boat. Ask what the resort offers on those days, as our guide on the last day of an island trip explains.
What three questions turn the label into a clear answer?
- Which meals are included on each day, including arrival and departure days?
- Are drinks included, and which?
- What else is in the price, such as the boat, the marine park fee and taxes?
Each answer should come in writing. Our guide on whether full board includes drinks helps with the second question.
A better fit if…
A full-board package may suit you if you want one price and one plan, travel with children or parents, or are visiting a small island with limited places to eat. Room only may suit you better if you like to explore food outside the resort. Either way, a clear list of inclusions is the real answer.
Common questions
What does full board mean?
It means the price includes three meals a day, usually breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with the room. What counts as a meal, and whether drinks are part of it, is set by each resort. Ask for the meals in writing.
What is the difference between full board and half board?
Half board usually means two meals a day, often breakfast and dinner. Full board adds the third. The exact meals vary by resort, so ask which ones are included on your arrival and departure days.
Why do island resorts sell packages?
Because the room, meals and boat often need to work together. A package gives you one plan and one price. It does not always cost less, so compare it with booking parts separately.
Does a package include the boat?
Sometimes. Many packages list the boat transfer, but some leave it out. Ask whether it covers both directions and which jetty it uses.