What does all-inclusive usually include?
Most all-inclusive holidays cover your room, three meals a day, snacks, and local alcoholic and soft drinks. Many resorts also include non-motorised watersports, entertainment and kids’ clubs.
What’s not included varies, so read the details. Common extras are premium or branded drinks, à la carte restaurants (or a limit on how often you can book them), room service, spa treatments, motorised watersports and excursions. Some resorts sell “premium” or “ultra” all-inclusive packages that add more of these.
Is all-inclusive good value?
All-inclusive works best if you plan to spend most of your time at the resort. It also suits families and groups, because you know the total cost upfront. It’s often less good value if you want to explore, eat out locally or take lots of day trips. Then half board or bed and breakfast may cost less overall.
A quick test: estimate what you’d spend on food and drink each day without it, multiply by the number of people and nights, and compare that with the price difference.
Popular all-inclusive destinations
- Canary Islands: year-round warmth within a short flight of the UK and Europe.
- Turkey and Greece: classic summer sun with a wide choice of resorts.
- Egypt’s Red Sea coast: winter sun, coral reefs and snorkelling.
- Mexico and the Caribbean: Cancún, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica are all-inclusive favourites, especially from the US.
Tips for booking all-inclusive deals
- Compare the same board basis. Don’t compare an all-inclusive price with a room-only price.
- Check restaurant rules, drink brands and opening hours if they matter to you.
- Look at the resort’s location: beachfront, or a shuttle away?
- For school-holiday dates, booking early usually gives the most choice.
- Check whether transfers from the airport are included.
Last updated: 13 October 2026
