Want better value on a Europe holiday? Try this option

Half-board is what most Europeans book when holidaying during peak travel seasons, as it’s regarded one of the best-value ways to travel.

You can ask your hotel or travel agent for the half-board option, or book it online. A typical package includes buffet breakfast, access to the wellness centre or onsite facilities, and a generous dinner of three to seven courses.

Still a concept foreign to many non-Europeans, half-board is similar to an all-inclusive stay – though without lunch included, as that would be full-board. The option is well suited to guests who want to leave the hotel during the day – perhaps to go skiing or exploring – but then return in the evening for dinner.

You won’t find these stays in cities like Paris and London – half-board packages really only exist outside popular European metropolises where restaurants are sparse. It’s most common in mountain resorts where guests would rather not spend time hunting down the “best pizza” or “best ramen” amid more pressing matters like ascending the great Matterhorn.

Some properties may offer a special rate for boarders staying on longer than a week – though such lodgings are usually small, family-run operations with more limited services.

Europeans will book week-long stays in places like Lech, for example, skiing the Austrian Alps or Crans-Montana by day, but always returning for breakfast and dinner in the hotel restaurant – which is nearly always excellent because that’s what expected of hotels with half-board packages.

The concept isn’t restricted to humble B&Bs, either; many five-star hotels offer half-board, like Hotel Tannenhof in St Anton, Alpaga in Megeve and Tremezzo in Lake Como.

Some do it better than others –in fact, some packages border on exceptional. Germany’s Hotel Bareiss takes the cake with morning smoothies by the pool, buffet breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner and midnight snacks in the bar – though expect to pay upwards of €856 ($1420) a night for two.