All-inclusive holidays: The hidden costs

The headline price may be great – a bargain set fee which includes accommodation, drinks and food for the duration of the holiday – but all inclusive breaks often have a few sneaky tricks to ensure that you end up paying more. Here are a few to beware of…

Getting there

Many all-inclusive resorts are in isolated spots – often a long distance from the airport. When booking, it’s worth checking whether the airport transfer is included, otherwise you could be facing a hefty fee on top for the transfer or a taxi ride.

Taxi charges

If, heavens forbid, you decide that you may like to venture out of the resort, it could prove rather costly. At resorts in isolated locations, often the only way of reaching civilisation or other spots you may want to visit is hiring a cab. These can be extortionate, especially in gated resorts which have their own fleet of ‘special’ taxis. These are essentially a select bunch of drivers with higher rates, who may or may not be giving the resort a kick back.

Very expensive towels

You will almost certainly get beach towels included as part of your package, but often these work on a card system. Essentially, you’re given a card that you can swap for towels at the beginning of your stay, and then you give it back at the end. But lose the card, and you’ll suddenly find that you’re charged around £40 a towel that you took out on it.

Non-house drinks

The free drinks part of the all-inclusive deal is often the most attractive part, but be careful. Some resorts are very stingy about which drinks are free – and often only ‘house’ drinks are included. This means an undrinkable wine, watery no-name beer and spirits with labels you’ve never heard of. It takes two days to realise that you’re better off paying for the non-house drinks.

Water

A resort may give away lots of free alcohol, but they can be remarkably tight when it comes to water. Some pull off the evil ploy of claiming the tap water is undrinkable, and charging £3 or more for every small bottle of water. That mounts up in a hot location.

Activities

Usually the trick is to include some activities (such as pool volleyball or aerobics) for free in order to build up a sociable atmosphere. Then when everyone is friendly, peer pressure ensures that the curiously expensive non-included activities fill up. After all, it’d be such a shame not to go on that sunset cruise around the bay with the guys from Bristol, wouldn’t it?

Excursions

Inevitably, stir craziness will set in at some point, and you’ll want to head out and explore somewhere else. Luckily, the tour desk sells excursions. They’re a bit pricy, but because the resort is so far away, it’s still cheaper to book it through the tour desk than to get a cab to the departure point and pay the normal price. And thus the resort gets away with both overcharging AND taking a massive cut.

Internet

Everything else will be included, but anyone wanting to contact the outside world is in for a nasty shock. Internet access can often consist of one shoddy terminal that eats money, or wireless with absolutely outrageous charges.

Bad food

The food is free, but it’s utterly disgusting. After three days, you’re crying out for something vaguely edible. And it’s a good job that there’s another, non-inclusive restaurant on site offering a finer dining experience for special occasions. Of course, that’s the only place for miles around to eat relatively decent grub, and it costs a fortune.

Tipping pressure

Some resorts will make it abundantly clear that tips are expected for everyone from the chambermaid to the man at the watersports centre. Staff will mention how little they’re paid, signs in the room will advise on the suggested tipping policy and you’ll generally be made to feel awkward unless you give away half of your life savings.

This article was originally written for AOL UK.

Copyright David Whitley