All inclusive holidays from the UK: what is included and what to check

All inclusive means your meals, snacks and drinks are covered by the hotel's board in the holiday price, but there is no single standard: each hotel and operator sets its own limits. TUI says local drinks are always included, while premium brands, 24-hour snacks and activities depend on the hotel.

So the useful question is not whether a hotel is all inclusive, but which version it offers. This guide reads what two big UK operators say on their own pages, then the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on drinks and the entry rules of eight countries where those operators sell all inclusive. It names no price: an operator's price changes by the day, and this site is a guide, not a seller. Every fact below was read on 4 November 2026. For the wider map of where to go and when, see our holiday destinations guide.

Both operators describe the same core: three meals a day, snacks and drinks. They differ on the extras, and both say the detail varies by hotel. Neither page we read gives a standard bar opening time.

TUI's page tells you to check each hotel's page for full details of what is included, and that is the one habit worth keeping. Two hotels in the same resort can both be called all inclusive and still differ on brands, hours and restaurants.

Five things to look for in a hotel's own description before you compare two all inclusive stays.

• Premium drinks
  TUI says some hotels include premium branded alcohol and others charge a small supplement for it.
• Restaurant choice
  TUI says some hotels add à la carte dining. A buffet-only board and a board with specialty restaurants are different products.
• Activities
  TUI says some hotels extend all inclusive to activities. Ask which ones, and whether equipment or lessons are covered.
• Hours
  Jet2holidays says some of its hotels offer all inclusive 24 hours a day, with late-night drinks and midnight snacks. Check the bar and restaurant hours at yours.
• Local drinks laws
  In parts of the Balearic Islands, the FCDO says local laws ban open bars, such as 'all you can drink in one hour' offers. See the next section.

An all inclusive board puts a lot of drinks within reach, which is why the FCDO's drink advice matters more here than on a city break. It is destination by destination.

• Spain
  The FCDO says drinks served in bars in Spain are often stronger than those in the UK. In Magaluf and Playa de Palma in Majorca and in San Antonio in Ibiza, it says local laws ban happy hours and open bars. See GOV.UK, Spain safety and security.
• Greece
  The FCDO says it is illegal to sell or provide alcohol to anyone under 18, and that bars and nightclubs cannot admit or serve anyone under 18, even if accompanied by an adult. See GOV.UK, Greece safety and security.
• Turkey and Mexico
  The FCDO warns of illness and deaths from drinks containing methanol, including counterfeit branded bottles in Turkey and tainted alcohol in Mexico. It says even small amounts can kill and methanol cannot be identified by taste or smell. See Turkey and Mexico.
• Tunisia
  The FCDO says that during Ramadan the sale of alcohol is banned and its consumption restricted to fewer restaurants and bars, and that these rules do not apply at holiday resorts. See GOV.UK, Tunisia safety and security.
• Egypt
  The FCDO says drinking alcohol anywhere other than restaurants and bars with a licence, private homes or certain tourist resorts is illegal and can lead to arrest.

On methanol, the government's Travel Aware campaign says to avoid free cocktails or shots, unlabelled bottles and unusually cheap or discounted drinks, and to choose branded drinks in sealed bottles and cans. It says to seek medical help at once if you or someone with you shows symptoms: do not wait or try to sleep it off.

TUI names Turkey, Spain, Mexico and Jamaica as places for all inclusive. Jet2holidays lists Tunisia, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Turkey among its all inclusive hotel picks. The table gives the entry rules the FCDO publishes for British citizen passports for the eight countries between them.

Spain and Greece use the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). GOV.UK says you may be asked to register fingerprints and a photo at a booth on your first visit, that registration costs nothing and that the record is valid for 3 years. For Greece, it adds that the Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect biometric data from UK travellers. Cyprus is not affected by EES.

For the full rules, see our entry requirements for British passport holders, and the pages on Turkey and Egypt. Our hot places in December and hot places in January guides run the same checks for winter months.

1. Read the hotel's own board description for brands, restaurants, activities and hours, not just the label 'all inclusive'.
2. Check your passport's issue and expiry dates against the country's rule in the table. Our UK passport guide explains renewal.
3. Check whether your destination needs a visa, and whether a fee must be paid in cash on arrival, as in Egypt.
4. Keep your accommodation details to hand: the FCDO says Tunisian border officials can ask for them, and a small number of visitors have been delayed for lacking them.
5. Read the FCDO's drink advice for your destination, and avoid free shots, unlabelled bottles and unusually cheap drinks.

If you are weighing all inclusive against a cheaper week, our guide to cheap holidays from the UK looks at the costs around the fare.

• What does all inclusive usually include?

  Meals, snacks and drinks in the holiday price. TUI says its all inclusive covers meals, drinks and snacks, and Jet2holidays lists three daily meals, drinks and snacks. The detail varies by hotel, so read the hotel’s own description.

• Are premium drinks included in all inclusive?

  Not always. TUI says some hotels include premium branded alcohol and others charge a small supplement. Jet2holidays says international branded drinks are a perk of some All Inclusive Plus hotels.

• Is all inclusive available 24 hours a day?

  Only at some hotels. TUI says some hotels extend all inclusive to 24-hour snacks, and Jet2holidays says some of its hotels offer all inclusive 24 hours a day, with late-night drinks and midnight snacks.

• Can you have unlimited drinks in Majorca and Ibiza?

  Not everywhere. The FCDO says local laws in Magaluf, Playa de Palma and San Antonio ban happy hours and open bars, including ‘all you can drink in one hour’ offers.

• Is there a risk from the drinks in Turkey or Mexico?

  The FCDO warns of methanol poisoning from illegally produced or counterfeit drinks in Turkey and from tainted alcohol in Mexico. Even small amounts can kill, and it cannot be detected by taste or smell. Seek medical help at once if symptoms appear.

• Do I need a visa for an all inclusive holiday in Turkey?

  Not for tourism with a British citizen passport. GOV.UK says you can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and your passport must expire at least 150 days after you arrive.

• Do I need a visa for Egypt?

  Normally yes. GOV.UK says there is no visa if you fly to Sharm El-Sheikh and stay under 15 days at certain Sinai resorts. Otherwise a visa on arrival is $30 (about £22), cash only, or you can apply for an e-visa online.

• Does the Entry/Exit System affect resort holidays in Spain and Greece?

  It can. GOV.UK says you may need to register fingerprints and a photo on your first visit, at no cost, and that the record lasts 3 years. For Greece, it says the authorities have indicated they will not collect biometric data from UK travellers.