If this is your first time at an All Inclusive hotel, here is the essential point: the rate covers your room, all meals, drinks and much of the entertainment, so you will hardly need to pay for anything else inside the hotel during your stay. The real question is usually a different one: how it works day to day. What you can order and where, what time the restaurants close, whether the minibar is covered, what activities are available and what falls outside the rate. This guide goes through each of these points and explains, with specific examples from RIU Hotels & Resorts, how a typical day is organized at this type of hotel.
What is an All Inclusive hotel and how is it different from other board options?
At a conventional hotel, you can choose between several board options:
- Room only.
- Bed and breakfast.
- Half board: breakfast and dinner.
- Full board: all three main meals.
In all of them, drinks, snacks between meals and many activities are paid separately. All Inclusive removes that daily bookkeeping, because meals, snacks, drinks and activities are all part of a single rate paid at the time of booking.
The practical result is that you know most of your trip’s costs in advance. That is why this option is especially appealing for families with children, for first-time visitors to a beach destination and for travelers who prefer to spend most of their vacation at the resort.
Keep in mind, however, that the “All Inclusive” label does not mean the same thing at every hotel chain. Some charge extra for à la carte restaurants, limit drinks to certain time slots or reduce the menu to a basic selection. In RIU’s model, the rate includes meals, snacks and unlimited drinks throughout the day, as well as access to à la carte restaurants, sports activities and entertainment, at no extra cost. It is a useful benchmark for comparing what each hotel offers.
What is included and what is not?
| Item | Typical situation |
|---|---|
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet | Included |
| Snacks between meals | Included |
| Soft drinks, juices, water, coffee and tea | Included |
| Beer, house wine, local spirits and classic cocktails | Included |
| Entertainment, sports activities and shows | Included |
| À la carte restaurants | Varies by chain; at RIU, included with advance reservation |
| Minibar | Water and soft drinks restocked daily; alcohol depends on room category |
| Room service | Varies by hotel |
| Premium-brand drinks | Usually charged separately; at RIU, part of the Elite Club service |
| Spa and wellness treatments | Charged separately |
| Excursions outside the hotel | Charged separately |
The general rule is simple. What you consume and enjoy in the hotel’s common areas is usually covered. Anything involving a personalized service, a more exclusive brand or leaving the property usually is not.
What is the difference between All Inclusive and 24-hour All Inclusive?
This is the distinction that causes the most confusion the first time. A standard All Inclusive may limit meals and drinks to certain time slots. A 24-hour All Inclusive extends access to drinks and snacks to any time of day or night.
What “24 hours” does not mean is that every restaurant stays open around the clock. Service is usually organized on three levels:
- Main restaurants. The buffet and the themed à la carte restaurants have set hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- 24-hour bar. At least one bar stays open all night, usually the Sports Bar or the Lobby Bar, depending on the hotel.
- Room service. At many properties, it covers the hours when everything else has closed.
The Hotel Riu Paraiso Lanzarote, on Playa de los Pocillos, is an example of this option: drinks and snacks are available all day, with no limited time slots. In Cancun, the Hotel Riu Palace Peninsula has a bar open 24 hours, which comes in handy when you return late from an excursion and the main restaurants have already closed.
How do the restaurants at an All Inclusive hotel work?
Most All Inclusive hotels combine two types of restaurant:
- The main buffet covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with long opening hours and no reservation needed.
- Themed à la carte restaurants are open for dinner only, with set seatings and, in most cases, advance reservation.
This last point is what most surprises first-time guests. In high season, à la carte seatings fill up quickly, so it is best to book during the first days of your stay. At RIU, reservations can be made through the RIU App or at reception.
The Hotel Riu Gran Canaria, in Maspalomas, illustrates this combination well. Alongside its buffet restaurant with live cooking, it offers several themed à la carte restaurants, including Italian, Asian and grill, all of which can be booked for dinner as part of the All Inclusive. At the Hotel Riu Concordia, on Playa de Palma (Majorca), the buffet’s live cooking stations show that the dining offer goes beyond standard buffet trays.
Two more practical details. Some à la carte restaurants have a dress code for dinner, and others may have age restrictions. Both are listed in the hotel’s information or can be checked when booking.
What drinks are included and what about the minibar?
Drinks are, together with restaurants, the area where All Inclusive offers differ the most. The basics are usually the same at bars and restaurants during opening hours:
- Locally produced beer and spirits.
- House wine.
- Soft drinks, juices, bottled water, coffee and tea.
- Classic cocktails such as piña colada or mojito.
If you are traveling with children or do not drink alcohol, the menu includes mocktails, fresh juices and flavored waters.
The differences come down to two points:
- Premium brands. Well-known whisky labels, champagne or reserve wines are charged separately at many hotels.
- The minibar. In most standard rooms it is restocked daily with water and soft drinks at no cost, but it does not include alcoholic drinks unless your room category or service level specifies it.
This post on our blog explains in more detail how drinks are served at an All Inclusive hotel.
If you want to go further, some hotels offer a higher level of service within the All Inclusive itself. At RIU it is called Elite Club by RIU and is available at selected hotels in the RIU Palace range. It includes:
- Minibar with a bottle of wine.
- Access to premium drinks in exclusive areas such as the Elite Club Lounge.
- In Caribbean hotels only, a premium-brand spirits dispenser in the room.
What activities are there so you never have to leave the hotel?
A full All Inclusive hotel schedules activities from morning to night, so you can spend entire days at the resort without planning anything. The daily program is usually posted at reception, on information boards or in the hotel app.
At RIU hotels, this offer is organized into in-house programs that serve as a reference for what to look for at any All Inclusive:
- RIU Fit: sports activities led by professionals, from yoga and meditation to aqua gym and dance classes.
- RIU Fun: games, competitions and sports that liven up mornings and afternoons.
- RIU Stage: large-scale evening shows.
- RIU Party: themed parties with a DJ in two formats, Pool Party (adults 18 and over only) and Family (suitable for all ages).
- RIU Land: the kids’ club led by Calú the sea turtle, with games and themed days.
- Riu4u: activities designed for teenagers, available at some hotels.
The Hotel Riu Caribe, in Cancun, brings much of this offer together in a single family resort: RIU Party, water slides and RIU Land, all within a 24-hour All Inclusive.
What to do on your first day at an All Inclusive hotel
The first few hours shape much of the experience. These steps will help if it is your first time:
- Download the hotel app before you travel. The RIU App lets you manage your stay before, during and after your trip, including restaurant reservations.
- Check restaurant and bar hours. They may vary by season, and knowing them keeps you from missing dinner after an excursion.
- Book the à la carte restaurants as early as possible. It is the most time-sensitive task of your entire stay.
- Find the 24-hour bar. If your hotel offers this option, it is best to know where it is before you need it at midnight.
- Ask what falls outside the rate. Spa, excursions, premium brands or room service: clearing this up at check-in avoids unexpected charges at the end.
- Review the activity program. It will help you plan your day and combine relaxation, sports and shows.
Common first-time mistakes
- Confusing “all inclusive” with “everything open all the time.” This is the most common mistake, and it leads to discovering at 11 p.m. that the buffet has already closed.
- Not booking à la carte restaurants in time. In practice, this limits your dinners to the buffet for the whole stay.
- Choosing a hotel on price alone. Two properties with the same label can offer very different experiences, so compare what the rate actually includes.
- Assuming the minibar includes alcohol. It depends on the room category.
- Assuming access to other hotels in the same complex. Conditions vary by property and season.
How to choose your first All Inclusive based on who you are traveling with
The hotel’s profile matters as much as the board option:
- Families: prioritize kids’ clubs, children’s pools and family rooms. The Hotel Riu Bambu, in Punta Cana, combines the RIU Land kids’ club with the Riu4u program for teenagers.
- Couples: an Adults Only hotel offers a quieter setting. The Hotel Riu Palace Macao, also in Punta Cana, adds the Elite Club by RIU service.
- No time restrictions: a hotel with 24-hour All Inclusive, such as the Hotel Riu Cancun, gives you the most flexibility.
What to know before your first time at an All Inclusive hotel
Enjoying your first time at an All Inclusive hotel depends less on the hotel you choose than on knowing how it works: what the rate covers, how the restaurants are organized, where the limits on drinks lie and what to sort out on day one. With that information, All Inclusive delivers what it promises: a vacation where the only decision left is how to make the most of each day. At RIU Hotels & Resorts you can compare each hotel’s details to find the one that best suits your first trip, and keep reading the blog for more practical guides.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The rate covers accommodation, all meals, snacks between meals, local drinks and classic cocktails, as well as the hotel’s entertainment and activities. Services such as the spa or excursions are usually charged separately.
Only for services outside the All Inclusive, such as spa treatments, excursions or premium drinks. It is best to confirm this at check-in.
It depends on the chain. At RIU they are included at no extra cost, although in most cases they require advance reservation.
Drinks and snacks are available at any time, but the main restaurants keep set hours. Outside those hours, the options are the 24-hour bar or, if the hotel offers it, room service.
In most cases it is restocked daily with water and soft drinks at no cost. Alcoholic drinks in the minibar depend on the room category or service level booked.
Definitely, because it lets you know most of your costs in advance and brings meals, pools and children’s activities together in one place, which simplifies day-to-day planning..
