You are booking a stay with an “all inclusive” package, and at the time of confirmation, two options appear: all inclusive and all inclusive soft. The price differs, and the description remains vague. Understanding what each package entails before paying avoids unpleasant surprises on-site, especially when drinks or certain services are not included in the displayed rate.
All inclusive soft: a commercial term without official standards
The most unknown point about all inclusive soft can be summed up in one sentence: there is no harmonized legal definition in Europe. Unlike star categories, which are governed by national criteria, “soft all inclusive” remains a label that each hotelier or tour operator uses freely.
The European directive 2015/2302 on package travel requires organizers to detail the main characteristics of the service before signing the contract. However, it does not define either “all inclusive” or “soft all inclusive.” In other words, two hotels displaying the same label can offer very different services.
If you are looking for the definition of all inclusive soft before booking, keep in mind that only the contractual description of the stay is binding, never the name of the package alone.
Included and excluded services in the soft all inclusive package
In most cases, the soft package covers accommodation and all meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, often in buffet form. Non-alcoholic drinks (water, sodas, juice, coffee, tea) are generally served freely during meals and sometimes outside of them.
Where the soft package differs from the classic all inclusive is in alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is limited, or even excluded from the soft package. Depending on the establishment, this may mean:
- A limited number of alcoholic drinks per day or per meal, beyond which an extra charge applies.
- The total exclusion of alcoholic beverages from the package, with each glass charged separately.
- Access to local alcohol only (local beer, table wine), with imported alcohol and cocktails remaining chargeable.
Hotel activities and entertainment are sometimes included, sometimes not. Excursions, the spa, and room service are almost always chargeable, regardless of the package level.
Check the description before booking
Why does this point deserve your attention? Because two hotels in Tunisia or Turkey labeled “soft all inclusive” can offer radically different services. One may include beer at dinner, while the other charges for each alcoholic drink from the first glass.
Before confirming your stay, look for the precise list of covered services in the offer description. If this list is absent or vague, contact the tour operator to obtain a written detail. This is the only reliable guarantee.
All inclusive soft or classic all inclusive: concrete selection criteria
The choice between the two packages does not depend solely on the budget. It is based on your vacation habits.
The soft package is suitable for travelers who consume little or no alcohol. Families with children, athletes, people who prefer to explore local restaurants in the evening: for these profiles, paying extra for an unused open bar makes no sense.
The classic all inclusive, on the other hand, includes most local alcoholic beverages without limit. It is aimed at stays centered around the hotel, where one spends the day between the pool, bar, and buffet.
- If you plan to leave the hotel regularly for excursions or meals in town, the soft package is more than sufficient.
- If your vacation is limited to the resort and you enjoy a cocktail by the pool, the classic all inclusive will be more cost-effective.
- If you are traveling on a tight budget, compare the extra cost of the classic package to the price of alcoholic drinks à la carte at the hotel. Sometimes, the price difference exceeds what you would have spent on individual drinks.
Full board, all inclusive soft, all inclusive: do not confuse the packages
The most common confusion concerns full board and all inclusive soft. Both include the main meals, but full board generally does not include any drinks other than water during meals. The all inclusive soft, however, covers at least non-alcoholic drinks, and sometimes more.
Here’s how to position each package, from the lightest to the most comprehensive:
Half board covers breakfast and dinner. Full board adds lunch. The all inclusive soft adds non-alcoholic drinks (and sometimes limited access to alcohol). The classic all inclusive encompasses almost all drinks and some activities.
Each package corresponds to a different usage, not to a level of quality. A full board hotel can be of much higher quality than a resort with all inclusive if the cuisine and service are superior.
Destinations where soft all inclusive is common
The soft all inclusive package is mainly found in coastal areas with a high concentration of hotels. Tunisia, Turkey, and Egypt frequently offer this option, especially in family-oriented club hotels. The Maldives and some Caribbean islands also use it, but rather to position a mid-range option between full board and luxury all inclusive.
In France, the all inclusive package exists in holiday clubs, but the term “soft all inclusive” remains rare. French-speaking tour operators mainly use it for stays abroad.
Before choosing your destination, check if the soft all inclusive offered includes the same services from one hotel to another on-site. Within the same country, the differences can be surprising. The contractual description remains your only reliable reference, regardless of the name displayed in the brochure.