What does all-inclusive mean (ALL) mean?

When choosing a tour, many travelers are interested in what is meant by the designation "all inclusive" in hotels? What is really included?

For the first time, the all inclusive system was introduced by the French international travel operator Club Med, which owns a network of hotels all over the world. Such a concept means a tourist service system, in which the tour includes 3 meals a day and drinks on site. At the same time, ice cream and freshly squeezed juices, imported alcohol are usually given for a fee.

This system was so popular with tourists that many hotels in competing purposes began to introduce even wider options. Indeed, it is very convenient, paying money for the tour in your country, on vacation do not care about how much it all costs.

The concept of "all inclusive", the letter designation of which is ALL, is mainly distributed in Turkey and Egypt and includes accommodation in a paid category, food in main restaurants and bars, local drinks, towels and sun beds with umbrellas by the pools and on the beaches Hotel, entertainment and some additional services. All inclusive systems in different countries and hotels of different categories are different.

The main features of the all-inclusive system

Strict rules about what should be included in the "all inclusive" system does not exist. It depends in many ways on the class of the hotel, traditions, competition. So, in the same country, in neighboring hotels, with one all-inclusive system, in one of them, ice cream will be offered only once a day at the beach bar for children, in the other for lunch and dinner to all residents. Use of the gym and sauna in some hotels is included in the system, but in others - not.

All inclusive (ALL) includes:

• accommodation in the room of the paid category;

• meals in the main restaurants of the hotel (usually - buffet);

• beverages produced by the host country in restaurants and bars at the designated time;

• Possibility of using the beach and swimming pools of the hotel;

• Animation services;

• use of children's rooms and playgrounds;

• gym services, sports games on the beach.

Sometimes the concept of all inclusive includes the use of a Turkish bath and sauna. Drinks and snacks in mini-bars are most often paid. In addition, after a certain time (usually 24 hours) drinks are served only for an additional payment. Use of some restaurants on the territory (most often - fish) is allowed for a fee or by prior reservation once a week. Drinks at the discotheques of the hotel will also not be free.

Differences between all-inclusive and ultra-inclusive systems

An expanded and therefore even more popular version of the all unclusive system is the concept of ultra all inclusive. The designation of "ultra all inclusive" means that in addition to the services of the all-inclusive system, the hotel provides some more privileges.

This includes imported alcoholic beverages, espresso, fresh, ice cream, service in bars and restaurants of the hotel almost round the clock, free use of the mini-bar. Often there is a certain time of free skating on the catamaran, tennis, squash, surfing lessons, diving, a free massage session, styling in the hotel hair salon and many other bonuses that depend on the rules of this hotel.

When choosing a tour, you can meet the concept of "premium all inclusive", the designation of which is premium all, as well as elegance, super, imperial and many other varieties of the familiar ALL, which differ in the number of free services offered.

Some hotels distribute this list for sessions in SPA centers and smoking hookah.

Following Turkey and Egypt, the popular ALL system began to be adopted by other countries, such as Thailand, Tunisia, Spain.

When to choose the concept of "ultra all-inclusive"?

If you are going to a hotel with children who are hard to please in food and drinks, and are going to spend most of the time in the complex or on the beach, it is most convenient to choose "ultra all inclusive".

The designation UALL on the hotel bracelet will mean that at any time you can feed and water the child in a restaurant, a bar on the beach, a pizzeria or in the lobby.

If you like to relax in a fun company with unlimited amounts of alcohol, you will be cheaper to pay for one of the ALL systems at home than buying expensive drinks at or outside the hotel. An important reason to choose this type of food is the remoteness of the hotel from shopping centers and cafes.

When you should not choose the concept of "all inclusive"?

If you plan to spend most of your time on excursions, outside the complex, or when your hotel is located directly in the shopping and entertainment part of the city, you should choose a simpler system that will save you money to visit interesting places.

In any case, before the trip, you need to ask the tour operator or on the hotel's website what is included in the all-inclusive food system, the designation of which will be in your voucher. After arriving at the holiday destination, the guide will be explained to you by the host company or by the hotel staff to work with guests.