Did you know that the “all-inclusive” system was invented by the French and was done in island hotels, where shops and restaurants were located at a considerable distance?
This system was adopted by other countries for hotels, which were also located at a distance from cities and towns.
All Inclusive (or simply AI) is a service system in hotels according to which you can count on a full three, four, or five meals a day in a buffet or a la carte format, free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and some other services.
All this is already included in the room price.
As I know from my experience, the composition of all-inclusive services differs depending on the country and the star rating of the hotel.
But what to do with all-inclusive if a tourist does not drink alcohol ?
Let’s figure this out together today.
If you do not
drink alcohol
at all, then sooner or later the question arises whether it is profitable to buy an all-inclusive tour.
After all, in fact, part of the payment will not have to be used.
The all-inclusive concept initially assumes that vacationers go to such hotels for an unlimited amount of alcohol and food so as not to worry at all about the fullness of the stomach during the holidays.
So what do you do if you don’t drink alcohol?
Is All-Inclusive Worth it If You Don’t Drink Alcohol?
Yes, if you travel to Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia. In these countries, all-inclusive tours are popular, and it is more profitable to take an all-inclusive tour even if you do not drink alcohol.
And no, if you travel to countries like Greece, Spain , the United Arab Emirates, etc. , it is much more profitable to buy a full board (FB) package if you are not interested in alcohol at all. It will be many times cheaper than all-inclusive.
Beyond the Bar: Is All-Inclusive Worth It If You’re Not a Drinker?
Now read my explanations of why…
As for those who do not drink alcohol,the most suitable type of food for such people is full board, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner but without alcohol.
Usually, this type of food is much cheaper than all-inclusive.
You will also get to the buffet, where you can choose any dish, but without alcohol.
There may also be restrictions on drinks.
For example, coffee, tea, and juices will be available in the morning, and in the afternoon and in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening, any drinks will be served only for a fee.
If you want to fly to countries like Turkey,
Egypt
, and Tunisia, which are famous for their all-inclusive hotels, then you need to keep in mind that the choice of hotels with the Full Board food concept will be significantly less than those operating on the popular All Inclusive system.
What Are the Disadvantages of An All-Inclusive Resort?
There are some disadvantages to an all-inclusive resort.
Gaining extra weight
Although the all-inclusive service is voluntary, some vacationers still cannot limit their consumption of food.
The smorgasbord mentality can also lead you to eat more than you would like, resulting in extra pounds.
Also, in most cases, and this does not depend on the star rating of the hotel, on the third or fourth day, the food will seem monotonous to you.
Bad food quality
The quality of meals can vary greatly from supplier to supplier, which means there is a risk that the menu will not always be to your liking.
Sometimes you can even find leftovers from yesterday’s dishes on the next day’s menu, but this is a common practice.
Hotel kitchens operate on a zero-waste basis, so today’s lasagna is most likely made from yesterday’s pasta.
Consequently,you cannot count on a special sophistication of dishes here.
Beyond the Bar: Is All-Inclusive Worth It If You’re Not a Drinker?
How do I Stay Sober at An All-Inclusive Resort?
Just read this:
In hot weather with unlimited access to unlimited alcohol, your blood vessels dilate, your heart rate quickens, and blood flow to the upper layers of the skin increases to its maximum. Active sweating begins, designed to cool the body.
Alcohol greatly increases blood pressure. An additional load is created on the vessels and the heart, which are already forced to work actively to ensure the cooling process of the body, which can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Top Benefits of an All-Inclusive Vacation Package
Here is my own list of the top benefits of an all-inclusive vacation package:
Indulge yourself with unlimited food and beverages and 24-hour room service.
Do not go for drinks at the infinity pool or on the beach.
The hotel staff will bring them to you.
Enjoy every day and have fun with all the included services: yoga on the beach, entertainment programs, and much more.
Don’t worry about the little things with a 24/7 concierge service to help you with your requests.
Work out whenever you want with 24-hour access to the fitness center and daily classes.
No need to constantly take out your wallet; all tips and services are included in the room rate.
All-inclusive trips are becoming more popular as they are considered inexpensive.
Thus, there are no additional costs for visiting restaurants.
This is one of the pluses.
A fixed price means a clear budget for room and board, and, at least in theory, no major additional costs are required.
Guests of hotels where there is a buffet are allowed to take any food in moderation.
The buffet attracts any tourist with the presence of alcoholic drinks and just about any drink in unlimited quantities.
Do All-Inclusive Resorts Save you Money?
Generally yes, because you do not leave the territory of the hotels and, accordingly, do not spend money on food or entertainment outside the hotel complexes.
Generally, tourists save at least 28% of their possible expenses on spending outside hotels (average figures).
What is the Difference Between All-Inclusive and Ultra-All-Inclusive?
The main difference between Ultra and “Ultra” is that on this system, vacationers can be offered free of charge in the bar alcohol not only of local production but also of common European brands.
But, most often, bartenders tend to save on imported alcohol and pour local ones; therefore, carefully monitor what exactly they pour for you and ask for what you paid for.
You may also be offered free dinners at on-site restaurants, extended menus, or bar service hours.
Sometimes the Ultra system includes free services on site: visiting the water park, sauna, gym, animation for children, and spa treatments.
Additional bonuses for guests depend on the desire of the hotel itself to come up with some kind of enticing service for tourists.
The range of services included in the ultra-all-inclusive system differs in different hotels and countries.
What exactly is included in the Ultra tour at the selected hotel?
It is better to check with your travel agent or on the hotel website, if there is one.
The Ultra All-Inclusive concept assumes 24-hour meals with a variety of snacks throughout the day.
If you wish, you can eat at any time, even at night.
It makes sense to pay extra for Ultra All Inclusive if you like good alcohol, plan to spend a lot of time on the territory of the hotel, and use additional services like a gym.
If you do not drink alcohol and the other free services of the Ultra system do not interest you, then there is no point in overpaying.
