All-inclusive wins when you stay at the resort and eat and drink there all day. Half-board wins when you want to go out for lunch or explore. Do the break-even sum below, because the best plan depends on how you really eat.
This guide is part of our budget topics. It uses one simple sum so you can compare plans without guessing.
What do the plans include?
Terms differ by resort, so ask for the exact inclusions. The usual pattern is simple.
| Plan | Usual inclusions | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast only | Breakfast | Towns with wide food choices |
| Half-board | Breakfast and one other meal | Mixed days, some eating out |
| Full-board | Three meals | Resorts with few food options |
| All-inclusive | Meals, snacks and drinks | Couples who stay in the resort |
How do we do the break-even sum?
You are asking one question: does the extra price of the plan beat what you would spend anyway? Do it in four steps.
- Find the extra price per night for two between the cheaper plan and the richer plan.
- Estimate what you would spend on the extra meals and drinks at the resort’s own menu prices.
- Count how many of those meals you will actually eat, not how many are on offer.
- If the real spend is higher than the extra price, the richer plan wins.
Use the resort’s own menu prices, since outside prices are not the comparison on a remote site.
What changes the answer?
Four things move the result.
- Whether you will leave the resort for meals.
- How much you eat and drink, honestly, on a relaxed day.
- Whether you drink alcohol or only soft drinks and coffee.
- Whether the resort has few outside food options, such as on an island.
If you leave the resort most days, half-board usually beats all-inclusive. Read breakfast only or half-board for the lighter end.
Do drinks packages change the maths?
Yes, a lot. A package that includes alcohol is worth more to couples who drink it than to couples who do not.
If neither of you drinks alcohol, an all-inclusive plan may include a bar you will not use. See drinks packages and whether couples get value for the break-even by drinks per day.
What should we check for halal and dietary needs?
A meal plan is only good value if you can eat what it includes. Check before you pay.
Ask the resort which outlets are halal-certified and which are only pork-free, in writing. Ask who holds the certificate and whether it covers the buffet. Our guide on halal meal plan checks before you pay lists the questions and proofs to request.
What about remote islands?
On a remote island, you may have few places to eat outside the resort. That raises the value of a meal plan, since eating out is not really an option.
Our guide on meal plans on remote islands explains why the maths changes there.
What should we do next?
- Note the price of each plan per night for two.
- Estimate your real meals and drinks per day.
- Ask for the halal and dietary details in writing.
- Send us the resort and plans, and we will run the numbers and confirm the choice with the resort.