All-inclusive holidaymakers spending hundreds extra on meals and drinks

New research has revealed that all-inclusive holidays are set cost British tourists far more than expected this year as changing habits mean they will be splashing the cash on extras in their hotel as well as in local resorts, adding hundreds of pounds to their holiday cost.

According to a report by Post Office Travel Money, almost half (44 per cent) of holidaymakers now view all-inclusive resorts as a base from which to venture out for meals and drinks in local bars and restaurants.

SEE ALSO: More than half of all-inclusive packages will leave you out of pocket

SEE ALSO: The hidden cost of all-inclusive holidays

Research found that around two thirds of parents who go all-inclusive in Europe spend extra on meals and drinks away from their hotel. Those who do so spend an average of £254, which is nine per cent more than a year ago.

Nearly three quarters (72 per cent) paid for meals in local restaurants at an average cost of almost £60. Depending on their resort, this could add up to 21 per cent to the cost of an all-inclusive trip.

Families on long-haul holidays are even more likely to visit local resorts away from their hotel for meals, drinks and snacks than is the case in Europe. Almost four in five paid extra for meals at an average of over £53. While up to 73 per cent splashed out more than their European counterparts on a range of drinks and snacks, which means that their extra spend overall averages around £288 – 44 per cent more than 12 months ago.

Extra spending on meals and drinks within all-inclusive resorts is also on the increase. Last year, 24 per cent of families paid an average of around £54 for à la carte meals in European resorts. Now a third of families are doing so and spending £59 on average for the privilege. The proportion spending money on top of their all-inclusive package has increased for drinks and snacks as well.

Half of families pay for snacks (up from a third last year) at a cost of £28 and almost two in five (37 per cent) people surveyed said they spent an average of £45 on international brands of alcohol on their last holiday. Over a third (37 per cent) spent £38 on bottles of wine, 44 per cent spent £23 on bottled water and over three in ten paid around £35 for cocktails. More than a third (36 per cent) spent £40 on drinks made with local alcohol brands – generally believed to be free on all-inclusive packages.

When the amount spent away from (£288) and within (£376) all-inclusive resorts is combined, it means that at least 50 per cent of long-haul holidaymakers could be spending an additional £664 on top of their package. This will add 24 per cent to the cost of a typical one-week stay in Thailand and 19 per cent on a week in Mexico's Riviera Maya.

%VIRTUAL-TripAdvisorWidget%