Lodging vs. Boarding — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
Lodging refers to a place to stay temporarily. Boarding implies both accommodation and meals provided, typically in a communal setting.
Difference Between Lodging and Boarding
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Lodging refers to providing or acquiring temporary accommodations. Boarding, meanwhile, has a slightly different nuance, often providing not just a place to stay but also meals.
Lodging can encompass a variety of establishments, such as hotels, motels, and inns. Boarding may often be associated with situations where meals or at least some degree of food service is included in the provision of a place to stay, such as in a boarding house.
In the case of lodging, it primarily points towards a physical space like a room or suite that is being rented out to individuals for a certain period. In contrast, when one speaks about boarding, it indicates a slightly more inclusive arrangement, offering both a place to sleep and meals, generally in a more communal setup.
Lodging is a term often utilized in the travel and tourism sector, implying that it caters to those looking for a temporary stay. Boarding can suggest a longer-term stay with provided meals, often found in contexts related to students or working professionals.
Lodging might be sought by travellers or tourists needing a place for short-term stays. In comparison, boarding may be sought by those desiring a more stable, longer-term accommodation option that includes food, such as boarding schools or boarding houses.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Meaning
Place to stay
Place to stay with meals
Primary Use
Temporary accommodation for travelers
Longer-term stay with provided meals
Associated Context
Tourism, Hotels
Boarding schools, boarding houses
Inclusiveness
Only includes accommodation
Includes accommodation and meals
Nature of Stay
Can be short-term
Often implies a longer-term, stable stay
Compare with Definitions
Lodging
Shelter or accommodation
The cabin provided lodging against the storm.
Boarding
Providing room and meals
He was boarding with an elderly couple during college.
Lodging
A place for temporary stay
I found lodging at a quaint bed and breakfast.
Boarding
Accommodation with daily food
The workers were boarding at the nearby hostel.
Lodging
A rented space to sleep
She secured lodging in a hotel downtown.
Boarding
To stay at a place with meals
Students are boarding at the school’s hostel.
Lodging
Temporarily residing
They sought lodging while their home was being repaired.
Boarding
A long flat slab of sawed lumber; a plank.
Lodging
Lodging refers to the renting of a short-term dwelling. People who travel and stay away from home for more than a day need lodging for sleep, rest, food, safety, shelter from cold temperatures or rain, storage of luggage and access to common household functions.
Boarding
A long flat slab of another material, used as a structural member.
Lodging
Temporary accommodation
A fee for board and lodging
Boarding
A flat, rigid, often rectangular piece of material used as a surface upon which to work
A cutting board.
An ironing board.
Lodging
A place to live
Found lodging near her new job.
Boarding
A blackboard.
Lodging
Often lodgings Sleeping accommodations
We found the lodgings on the tour rather primitive.
Boarding
A bulletin board.
Lodging
Lodgings Furnished rooms in another's house rented for accommodation.
Boarding
A scoreboard.
Lodging
A place to live or lodge.
Boarding
A toteboard.
Lodging
Sleeping accommodation.
Boarding
A flat piece of material designed or equipped to be ridden as a sport, especially a snowboard, skateboard, or surfboard.
Lodging
(in the plural) Furnished rooms in a house rented as accommodation.
Boarding
A diving board.
Lodging
(agriculture) The condition of a plant, especially a cereal, that has been flattened in the field or damaged so that it cannot stand upright, as by weather conditions or because the stem is not strong enough to support the plant.
Boarding
A backboard.
Lodging
Present participle of lodge
Boarding
A flat, rigid piece of material on which a game is played, such as a checkerboard or chessboard.
Lodging
The act of one who, or that which, lodges.
Boarding
A table at which official meetings are held; a council table.
Lodging
A place of rest, or of temporary habitation; esp., a sleeping apartment; - often in the plural with a singular meaning.
Wits take lodgings in the sound of Bow.
Boarding
An organized body of administrators or investigators
A board of trustees.
A board of directors.
Lodging
Abiding place; harbor; cover.
Fair bosom . . . the lodging of delight.
Boarding
A table, especially one set for serving food.
Lodging
Housing structures collectively; structures in which people are housed
Boarding
Food or meals considered as a whole
Board and lodging.
Lodging
The state or quality of being lodged or fixed even temporarily;
The lodgment of the balloon in the tree
Boarding
(Sports) The wooden structure enclosing an area for skating, such as the ice on which hockey is played, or enclosing a playing area, as for indoor soccer.
Lodging
The act of lodging
Boarding
A theater stage.
Lodging
Rental units for travelers
The village offered various lodgings to tourists.
Boarding
(Basketball) A rebound.
Boarding
An electrical-equipment panel.
Boarding
(Computers) A circuit board.
Boarding
The side of a ship.
Boarding
A leeboard.
Boarding
A centerboard.
Boarding
(Obsolete) A border or edge.
Boarding
To cover or close with boards
Board up a broken window.
Boarding
To furnish with meals in return for pay.
Boarding
To house where board is furnished
Board a horse at a stable.
Boarding
To enter or go aboard (a vehicle or ship).
Boarding
To allow (passengers) on board.
Boarding
(Nautical) To come alongside (a ship).
Boarding
(Sports) To force (an opposing hockey player) into the boards with a body check.
Boarding
(Obsolete) To approach.
Boarding
To receive meals or food and lodging as a paying customer.
Boarding
(Sports) To use a snowboard, skateboard, surfboard, or similar item.
Boarding
Present participle of board
Boarding
The act of people getting aboard a ship aircraft, train, bus, etc.; embarkation.
Boarding
The act of a sailor or boarding party attacking an enemy ship by boarding it.
Boarding
A structure made of boards.
Boarding
(uncountable) The riding of a skateboard.
Boarding
(ice hockey) A penalty called for pushing into the boards.
Boarding
The act of entering a ship, whether with a hostile or a friendly purpose.
Both slain at one time, as they attempted the boarding of a frigate.
Boarding
The act of covering with boards; also, boards, collectively; or a covering made of boards.
Boarding
The act of supplying, or the state of being supplied, with regular or specified meals, or with meals and lodgings, for pay.
Boarding
The act of passengers and crew getting aboard a ship or aircraft
Boarding
A structure of boards
Boarding
Taking meals in a dwelling
She began boarding at the local inn.
Boarding
A living arrangement with food
Boarding at the facility made daily commutes easier.
Common Curiosities
Does boarding include meals?
Yes, boarding typically includes both accommodation and meals.
What does lodging provide?
Lodging primarily provides a place to stay.
Are boarding houses common for student accommodation?
Yes, students often utilize boarding houses for accommodation and meals.
Can lodging imply long-term stays?
Lodging usually implies short-term stays, but it can be used for longer periods.
Is boarding always a long-term arrangement?
Boarding often implies a longer-term arrangement but can be used short term with the inclusion of meals.
Are vacation rentals considered lodging?
Yes, vacation rentals are a form of lodging.
Is boarding similar to half-board?
Not exactly, boarding implies all meals, while half-board typically includes breakfast and dinner.
Can lodging include luxury hotels?
Yes, lodging can range from basic to luxury accommodations.
Is a bed and breakfast a form of lodging?
Yes, a bed and breakfast is a type of lodging.
Can boarding refer to pet accommodations?
Yes, boarding can refer to providing shelter and meals for pets.
Can lodging establishments provide meals?
Some lodgings, like hotels, may provide meals, but it's not implied in the term.
Is boarding primarily residential?
Boarding typically includes residential accommodations with meals.
Can lodging refer to an apartment?
Yes, an apartment can be considered a form of lodging when rented temporarily.
Can lodging be booked through online platforms?
Yes, lodgings can typically be booked online through various platforms.
Do boarding schools provide education and residence?
Yes, boarding schools provide both education and living accommodations with meals.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.