All inclusive etiquette

[BarkyMatherson]

Going on our first ever all inclusive holiday with the children this year, what do we need to know? Will we be expected to tip staff (Europe), do we take our own towels? Is there room service? If not, can we take food back to our rooms? What about drinks? Children are primary school aged so won’t be up late.

Please send me your hints, tips and advise!

Take your own cups for drinks around the pool as servings are usually in plastic cups which are small and a waste. The bar will usually wash them for you.

Check the reviews for the hotel or join a Facebook group as lots have them now to get the lowdown on towels / restaurants etc.

We usually take a night cap to the room. We watch stuff we've downloaded on prime on the balcony if the tv is rubbish :)

Up to you if you tip but no expectation to, towels have always been provided in ones we've been to both in the room and for swimming but you may want to bring one for beach. Room service will vary by hotel and may or may not exist and may or may not be included, generally not been. No you don't take food back to rooms generally. Drinks there's often an included mini bar in room but depends on hotel, check and check included or not, generally is included. You normally get given a wristband so don't need to carry cash around.

We also take inflatables from home. Loads cheaper to buy here and just leave there / pass along to another family.
Take a sharpie pen to write names on though. We've witnessed a few bust ups over the inflatables!!

You may well need an adaptor for plugs.

Have never taken own cups
We left tips at the end of our stay for housekeeping.
In some places you get tokens/tickets for pool towels but need your own beach towels. Does the info not mention towels?
You normally go to the bar and ask for your drinks. Often you get a wrist band at the start of your stay to show you are there all inclusive.

Every AI we've been too has kids entertainment from 8ish then a family show at 9ish so your kids will no doubt want to stay up later.

Take extension cables and adaptor plugs
Remember all your chargers ...I still remember the year we didn't bring the toothbrush charger!

Its worth taking suntan lotion with you (packing in suitcase due to liquids rule) as can be pricey on site.

If you are arriving early can be worth taking swim stuff in hand luggage so can go swimming straight away if room not immediately available.

Sometimes there are a la carte bookable restaurants on site, its best to book asap if you want those. With the buffets can be worth going at start time to get at its freshest and read food reviews. Its worth surveying everything before choosing and often the local things and things cooked in front of you are the best. Can be worth looking at excursions in advance if want to do those. There's often a meeting on arrival or next day which goes through excursions and hotel etc. You are met at airport by the company. Its all super easy.

Go for a walk round on the first day to find out what you can get where.

We once discovered that the bar at the other end of the complex did lots of speciality coffees on our last day. Dh is a coffee obsessive. Oops.

You won't need good in room there will be lots of chances to eat. We def took nightcaps and bottles of water back to room but kids did stay up really late , suggest you go with the flow rather than fret over time. Look on trip adviser etc for info and tips for your specific hotel . Took simple inflatable rings or lilo, the massive swans etc are sometimes not allowed. Take uno or cards to play with kids when having a drink.

Check if there is a dress code for the restaurant/s. We were caught out the first time we did one as the a la carte options required trousers for men and DH only took shorts. We had to go and buy some. Buffet is usually more casual.