Everyone loves to eat and everyone loves to have fun. Hotels and resorts understand these two simple facts, and in an effort to win your business, they provide options to help make your stay more complete. A comprehensive offering of food and fun also benefits the hotel because it allows travelers to eat when and where they want within the resort, no wallet needed, or extra charges added. Here is how these plans work.
European Plan
A European Plan, also known as an “EP” involves no meals being included in the nightly rate. In other words, you’re on your own when it comes to this meal plan. This is very common—and not just in Europe, of course. Providing food can get very costly for a hotel, and in order to preserve delicate profit margins, many opt to have their guests pay for their food as they like.
Full American Plan
This plan is also known as an FAP. With this type of meal plan, you get the three basics: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This means that after you pay for your room, you are also entitled to these three meals without having to pay extra money. If you have this kind of plan, you may want to ask whether it includes tip because often it does not.
All-Inclusive
All-inclusive generally means you get a wide range of both the food for regular meals and food for snacks in between. It typically also means you get drinks and alcoholic beverages included with the rate you pay for the room as well. However, there are some important caveats. When it comes to the food, there may be certain dishes that are not included in the all-inclusive plan. These will cost extra. In addition, certain drinks and/or brands of alcohol may not be included and guests may be charged an additional fee.
Watersports and Activities
Often, in the section that outlines the meal plan, there will also be information regarding water sports and activities that are included with your room rate. What’s included is going to vary from resort to resort. For this reason, be sure you read the plan description very carefully. Otherwise, you—or your children—could end up paying for something you thought was free. Typically, however, non-motorized water sports such as kayaking are amongst the included amenities. It’s rare for motorized sports to be included, and it’s almost as rare for the more skilled water sports such as surfing and windsurfing to be included.
Child Programs or Kids Club
If the kids aren’t happy, the parents aren’t happy. So it’s in everyone’s best interest to provide activities for the little ones, too. Some of the things included in a typical child program could be butler service, basic spa services, use of spa facilities, and bicycle rental. This keeps the kids occupied and safe, and it allows the parents to get some well-deserved rest.
When meal and activity plans are well-executed and, most importantly, well-understood, everyone can relax just a little more while on vacation.
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