British holidaymakers opting for an all-inclusive vacation may be paying extra for amenities that were supposed to be covered under the package price.
The Post Office All Inclusive Holiday Report has questioned around 14 million holidaymakers worldwide to suggest that while all-inclusive packages are supposed to cater for all meals, often hotels only include some meals, and travellers find themselves having to pay for the rest.
The report highlights that around three-quarters of British holidaymakers have paid for extras on all-inclusive holidays, which they originally expected to have included in the package rates. The extra amenities often charged for by hotels and resorts, over and above the all-inclusive rates, include alcoholic and non-alcoholic liquor brands, wine by the bottle, bottled water, as well as Internet access and a la carte meals.
Around 88 percent of travellers opting for all-inclusive packages expected all meals to be included, while a survey of 40 hotels in 20 destinations globally has registered that only a third of the hotels actually covered all meals. While some cover buffet meals, many often charge extra for a la carte dining.
Around three million UK travellers have paid a total of £76.8 million extra for meal alternatives.
Andrew Brown, the head of travel money for Post Office Travel Insurance, a UK-based travel insurance company, said, ‘All Inclusive holidays are definitely on the increase, especially in Europe, which, according to our research, now accounts for two-thirds of All Inclusive trips by UK holidaymakers.
However, as the numbers rise, so do expectations and in almost every cost category that we looked at the All Inclusive offer made by hotels fell short of what holidaymakers expected.’
