Explain ‘All Inclusive’ to me?

[Harrumphhhh]

I know this is going to sound stupid, but please can someone explain how All Inclusive holidays work?

I’m going on one for the first time and am not sure what to expect.

Firstly, surely it’s not all inclusive? I mean, I can’t go ordering the Bollinger? So how do I know what is included?

Then, the place I’m going to have buffet restaurants, but also an a la carte. Is that included? Or do I have to pay if I go there?

Finally (though I’m sure I’ll think of more!), I’ve been told not to drink the water / ice. Does that also include the sodas? If they come off a ‘tap’, are they drawn off local water supply?

Thank you!!

You will be fine with the ice in Spain. Bottled water is the norm for drinking altogether many sever from nozzles in the bar.

That’s really helpful to OP who is going to Fuerteventura…

Ooh I’ve been there, a few years ago. It’s in a beautiful location.

We had a room in the main hotel which although was clean it was dated. There’s an annex over the road, which are a bit like apartments, but are still part of the hotel. The annex has its own pool, and there’s a restaurant there where you can get snacks iirc and then it’s the Asian restaurant in the evening.

The food and drinks were fine. We’ve been to a few Riu hotels, they’re all similar. They have a good selection in the buffet, the Asian restaurant is a buffet but I think the Canarian one was a la carte. You’ll need to book them but you can do that on the app. One lunchtime they cooked a huge paella by the pool in the main hotel.

Ooh, and btw it’s very windy so take towel clips otherwise you’ll spend your whole time trying to stop your towel blowing away

I hope you have a great time.

It completely depends on the hotel. For example, some include branded alcohol and others only include locally produced stuff (which is usually fine btw).

How was I supposed to know if it wasn’t mentioned in the original post 🤔

🤣🤣

My top tip is to tip. I always tip the bar staff and they then remember our orders. Equally they will give us a bottle of (house) wine to take to our room.
there are water fountains everywhere as the canaries are trying v hard to reduce their plastic usage. Have a lovely time!

Thank you again. I really appreciate all of your advice and that no one mocked me for asking a stupid question!

Because the info was in her other posts.

RIUs are nice hotels, the food gets a bit samey but there's plenty of choice and nice quality. You won't spend money unexpectedly, staff are nice too in all the RIUs I've been to.

See All.

We've done AI for the last few holidays. I'd join a Facebook group for the hotel as we did this and found out loads of things. It really helps knowing which supermarket near the hotel is the best, where there's bank machines, etc, who does good trips.

Witt the a la cartes - you will have to book that, it's nice to get waited on after facing the serve yourself buffet so much.

Sometimes different snacks are served at different times or at different parts of the hotel.

We went there a couple of times when ds (now 11) was a baby. The beach is amazing!

My biggest tips (partly based on Oliva Beach and partly based on general all inclusives) are:-

1. Take lots of water bottles with you. Canaries and Balearics now have water machines everywhere rather than giving out bottled water. So useful to have something to fill up. Take care when filling them up not to touch the top of your bottle to the tap.
2. When you check in ask about the A La Carte restaurants and if they are included. If they are then book a day straight away. They always fill up really quickly and we have occasionally delayed and not been able to get in. Treat the A La Carte as a “night out” as otherwise AI meals can get a bit “samey” and blur together.
3. 10 years ago there was a buffet restaurant at the apartments and another at the hotel. Go to both early on as (although they are pretty similar) there will be subtle differences. We were staying in the apartments but ended up going to the hotel buffet every night as there was a waiter there who could make the napkins shaped like a chicken and dd (then aged 3) thought that this was the most amazing and exciting thing that she had ever seen!

We often go all inclusive and rarely have anything that attracts an extra charge. You've had some good advice here OP, have a great time!

Ooooo I have been to that hotel a few times, would go back as well :) Have a fab time.

When I last went the cava came from bottles and was really nice, my hubby got used to asking dos cava por favor hehehe.

It was already clear in the original post that she had already booked her holiday, though, so giving her a suggestion of a holiday to book wasn't going to be helpful wherever it was.

Yes but they she wouldn’t be able to slip in that she’s been to the amazing IKOS resorts 😂

There’s often a buffet or set menu with various choices if you’re all inc. but anything off the a la carte will be extra.
It’s usual for ‘house’ wines and sundry other drinks to be included, but they will usually make it clear what is not.

I've been to that hotel twice. First time was about 2010 and again in 2018. It could have changed since then.
It's located on one of the best beaches I've ever seen ( though if you turn right you may reach the nudist section). Some way out of town but taxis are cheap.
The two rui hotels were built before legislation forbidding development in the area which is a national park and are destined eventually for demolition.
The first time we went it was fabulous, second time not so much. It was partly because DS (then 20) was vegetarian and there were literally no options other than plain pasta. It may have improved since.
I remember a quaint "card room" where we sat at special card tables playing Uno and drinking wine / cocktails.

Our recent AI in Tenerife had an entire vegan section, as well as copious salads and several vegetarian hot mains.

It's all on the link you provided. Select local drinks, they will be able to tell you what they are when you arrive. Enjoy.

RUI hotels are lovely.
You'll won't accidentally order something payable don't worry.
Definitely take a travel mug to fill up by the pool. Keeps drinks cold and covered
AI is brill. Have a fabulous holiday

It means different things in different places and how much it costs. At a basic I would expect to be able to get all meals from a buffet and drink a normal amount of local spirits etc without extra charges. I would probably expect al a'carte but maybe limited evenings.

At top end of the price spectrum anything and everything included.

Normally anything that is an extra charge is clearly highlighted, so no need to worry about spending too much.

Another tip, in a buffet restaurant- leave something on the table, eg a cap, if you are all going to get food at the same time, to show the table is still occupied.
It's also acceptable to take drinks to your room / balcony (this was something I wasn't sure if at first).
If in doubt, ask what's included, I'm sure the staff will have heard this plenty of times.

I've never been on an AI - what sort of food is the buffet and is it the same for all meals (lunch and dinner, daily)?