Full board includes overnight accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the regional price-list template displayed at reception by Emilia-Romagna hotels, it has its own entry: price per person per day, excluding drinks, with any minimum stay. Parking, beach services and other services are included in the price only if the offer specifies them.
Arrival and departure: how many meals are charged
The actual number of meals depends on the meal with which the stay begins and the one with which it ends. An afternoon arrival excludes lunch on the first day; a morning departure excludes the last day's main meals. The price list also states the time by which the room must be vacated on departure day, helping establish whether the last lunch is part of the stay.
Lunch and dinner in the same place simplify days spent near the hotel but tie them to dining-room hours. For excursions or entire days away, this plan can be compared with half board, which also covers rules on meals not taken.
The regional template also excludes drinks from full board. Bar service, snacks and room service have their own conditions, described in the all inclusive guide.
Comparing the three plans
| Item | Half board | Full board | All inclusive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals included | breakfast and one main meal, lunch or dinner | breakfast, lunch and dinner | those listed in the offer |
| Entry in the regional price list | “1/2 pensione”, per person per day, excluding drinks | “pensione completa”, per person per day, excluding drinks | no dedicated entry |
| First question to ask | lunch or dinner, and whether alternating is allowed | which meal starts and ends the stay | which drinks and refreshments between meals are included |
Reading the cost of a stay
In Emilia-Romagna, prices on the list displayed in the hotel are maximum prices: lower amounts can be agreed with the guest. They must include duties, taxes and every service, except services expressly excluded with their price stated. Tourist tax can remain separate, provided that the exclusion is highlighted.
Two quotes can be compared for the same dates and number of people. Children's reductions, room supplements, deposits and cancellation or early-departure terms can change the total even between offers with the same daily price.
Anyone who believes they paid more than the stated price can complain to the Provincia; complaints about services missing from those declared go to the Comune. Tourist information offices (IAT) also accept complaints in both cases.
Sources: Regione Emilia-Romagna, determinazione n. 20997/2016 and “Disciplina delle strutture ricettive dirette all'ospitalità”, accessed on 10 October 2026.
Resorts
Tourist tax, areas and connections vary between Comuni and are covered in the resort guides: hotels in Rimini, hotels in Riccione, hotels in Cesenatico, hotels in Cervia, hotels in Milano Marittima, hotels in Bellaria Igea Marina, hotels in Cattolica, hotels in Misano Adriatico and hotels in Gabicce Mare. Gabicce Mare is in the Marche: the displayed-price rules described above apply to Emilia-Romagna hotels.