What’s included on an All Inclusive holiday?

Don’t like All Inclusive? Liar. It’s the ultimate holiday hack – you pay one price for your flights and hotel, then it’s piña coladas, no card required all week long, baby. You’ve sorted your budget so your future self doesn’t have to, then you can skip the spending stress because everything’s already paid for… Sure, All Inclusive had a rep for meaning British buffets in Benidorm, but that’s so 20 years ago. From rooftop pools and Michelin-star meals to pilates classes and private islands in the Maldives, here’s what’s actually included on an All Inclusive holiday these days…

The food

Eating out can be a big expense on holidays, so this is going to save you some serious £££. An all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner is standard at most places – handy for fussy eaters, if you’ve got kids or if you just can’t decide what you want… Pizza with paella? Dessert before your main? You do you. All Inclusive hotels love a themed night, too, so you could be eating Mexican one night and barbecue on the beach the next.

Main meals are usually served at fixed times, but if you miss breakfast or get hungry in between, most places have snack bars open all day for things like cakes, ice-cream, sandwiches and hot dogs. Some of the big-name stays take it to the next level with onsite patisseries, gelaterias and pancake houses on stand-by when you fancy something sweet. The free food usually ends with dinner, although bigger resorts often have midnight snack stations, and some even have 24/7 All Inclusive – no need to hunt for a post-club Maccies here.

All Inclusive can be foodie friendly, too. If self-service isn’t your vibe, go for a four or five-star stay and you’re likely to have à la carte restaurants where you can swap the buffet for a more boujie meal. In some spots you might have to pay a bit extra, but lots have an All Inclusive offer where you can eat for free once per person, per stay, and some will have à la cartes included. They’re usually restaurants where you can try the local food, order specialist cuisine like sushi or eat in an extra-special setting right on the sand. If it’s a luxe pick, expect a fine-dining situation and don’t be surprised if a Michelin-starred chef is making your meals.

The drinks

Let’s be honest, this is the reason everyone goes All Inclusive. Strolling up to the bar and walking away with a marg without paying never gets old. The classic All Inclusive set-up includes selected local alcohol like wine, beers and spirits, plus soft drinks and all the fave cocktails – we’re talking your cosmos, your piña coladas and your mojitos. Premium and branded drinks usually cost extra, so if you love a negroni or you’re a bit of a gin connoisseur, look out for stays that have a drinks package upgrade. This also goes for things like Coca-Cola and branded soft drinks, too, but a long list of local fizzy drinks and juices, as well as mocktails, tea and coffee are normally included everywhere else.

Most places have a main bar, then one outside for those poolside cocktails. Take it one step further and seek out a stay with a swim-up bar… drinks in the water = a win for hydration. You’re likely to find them at the more high-end hotels, along with rooftop bars, beach bars and even full-on nightclubs – imagine going out out, but your drinks are already paid for. You’re welcome.

The activities

If you’re idea of an ideal holiday involves you, your book and a lounger, go for it. But beyond the bar and the buffet, most places also have a line-up of free activities, entertainment and events – and it’s not all aqua aerobics and darts tournaments, either. It’s pretty common for hotels to have sport facilities like multi-purpose courts – we see you, padel fans – volleyball nets and games rooms. If you’re on the pilates hype, some have studios and outdoor classes, plus wellness and meditation sessions. Sunrise yoga on the sand? Say less. Seek out a stay right on the beach and it’ll probably have its own watersports centre, so paddle-boarding and kayaking along the coastline is so on. Or, you can just kick back and watch it all from a seafront lounger, maybe on a private island in the Maldives… it’s hard work, but someone’s got to do it.

Pick an Adults Only holiday and you’ll have wholesome things like wine tasting, cooking classes and cocktail making classes on the cards, and lots of luxury spots throw in free spa access, too. Looking for something lively? Go somewhere with DJs for big beach club vibes.

If you’ve got little ones, family-friendly hotels often have their own kids’ clubs and activity programmes, and some even have high rope parks, inflatable obstacle courses and entire waterparks, so you’ll save an absolute fortune on entrance fees. Across the board, evenings tend to involve entertainment like quizzes, karaoke, concerts and live performances, or if a low-key drink is more your thing, grab a table and soak up the holiday feels and sunset scenes.