What travel agents should warn customers about.
According to tour operators, the demand for all-inclusive tours to Thailand has been growing recently. Travelers need to know that this type of food in the country is significantly different, for example, from Turkish, Egyptian, Cuban All inclusive. There were even legal claims from disappointed Russians. Experts told Profi about what awaits tourists who choose “All inclusive” in Thailand.Travel.
Thailand has a well-developed infrastructure, so many tourists (about 95%) choose hotels for breakfast, and All inclusive accounts for less than 1%, Anex said. All-inclusive meals are more popular in remote regions where the infrastructure outside the hotels is not very developed. For example, on the popular Khao Lak (100 km from Phuket) the demand picture is changing slightly towards choosing a more expanded type of food, including All inclusive.
Fun&Sun confirmed: All-inclusive hotels appear in In Thailand, first of all, where the infrastructure outside the hotels is not yet sufficiently developed. And they clarified that the distribution of All inclusive began with Kao Lak. Some hotels that are not so far from villages with developed infrastructure offer Light All Inclusive, but in fact it is rather Halfboard Plus. “Exactly.”All inclusive“ — only on Kao Lak for now,” the company stressed. — That is, where there is nowhere to go out.”
Philip Obruchev-Mironov, Commercial Director of Intourist, recalled that the demand for extended meals in Thailand began to gain momentum when the destination began to accept foreign tourists again after the pandemic. This was partly due to the limited opening of cafes and restaurants, and the uncertainty of travelers about their level of security related to Covid. Then most hoteliers started offering half-board and boarding houses, increasing the cost of living.
“However, after 2022, Russian tourists, having lost the opportunity to pay with cards, began to actively request food options with drinks included, as in the All—inclusive system familiar from Turkey, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Maldives,” the expert said.
According to him, now up to 40% of all initial requests for Thai destinations are for extended meals, and 20% of them are for “All inclusive”. Families with children often choose All inclusive.
Moreover, as noted by Philip Obruchev-Mironov, quite a lot of tourists, already on vacation, ask to replace the extended food system for breakfast or even try to abandon this service with a refund of part of the funds. However, hotels rarely meet halfway, as products are ordered in advance.
“Initially, tourists expect that when “All inclusive“ you will no longer have to spend money, the maximum is for romance and delights, and high—quality dishes, drinks and entertainment will be provided. But in Thailand is not the same as in Turkey, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, — the expert explained. — There are often no large territories with numerous power stations and there is no choice here. If many 4*+ and 5* hotels offer a decent buffet for breakfast, then lunch and dinner included in the basic half—board and above meals are either Thai-style sets or an a la carte option.”
And the buffet food is delicious, but monotonous. The children’s menu is often dominated by fast food and carbonated drinks with a high sugar content.
Drinks are even more difficult. It happens that they are not included at all or are offered only locally produced and only in the bar.
As Profi said.Travel lawyer of the Alliance of Travel Agencies Maria Chapikovskaya, there was a precedent when the tour operator had to pay for the drinks that tourists expected. They booked a tour with the All inclusive type of food, but it turned out on the spot that this was an All—inclusive Thai option – drinks were not included in the price. “The tourists kept the checks, after they filed claims with the tour operator, the company compensated part of the costs,” the lawyer said.
Large—scale animation and round-the-clock power schemes are also still a rarity in Thailand. Philip Obruchev-Mironov named Club Med Phuket as an exception. There are, of course, other hotels offering a service close to Turkish, but it is worth finding out these nuances before booking and warning tourists. In reviews of hotels, including Khao Lak, travelers who have chosen the All-inclusive system, share their impressions: the food is excellent, but they warn you — according to the menu.
A selection of All-inclusive hotels in Thailand:
Krabi
Beyond Resort Krabi 4*
Panan Krabi Resort 4*
Peace Laguna Resort And Spa 4*
Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort 5*
Koh Samui
Chaweng Regent Beach Resort 4*
Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel 4*
Intercontinental Koh Samui Resort 5*
Paradise Beach Resort Samui 4*
Royal Muang Samui Villas 5*
Kao Lak
Apsara Beachfront Resort & Villa 4*
Avani+ Khao Lak Phuket Suites & Villas 5*
Beyond Resorts Khaolak 4*
Grand Mercure Khao Lak Bangsak 5*
Graceland Khao Lak Beach Resort 5*
Kalima Resort & Villas Khao Lak 5*
Kantary Beach Khao Lak 5*
Khaolak Emerald Beach Resort & Spa 4*
Le Meridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa 5*
Mai Khao Lak Beach Resort & Spa 5*
Pullman Khao Lak Resort 5*
Ramada Resort By Wyndham Khao Lak 5*
The Sands Khao Lak By Katathani 5*
X10 Khaolak Resort 5*
Pattaya
Hotel Baraquda Pattaya By Heeton 5*
Veranda Resort Pattaya Na Jomtien — Mgallery 5*
Phuket
Club Med Phuket 4*
Princess Kamala Beach Front Hotel 4*
The Marin Phuket 5*
The Yama Hotel Phuket
Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Surin Beach 4*
Proud Phuket 4*
Yama Hotel Phuket 4*
Fusion Suites Phuket Patong (ex. Mai House Patong Hill) 4*
Hilton Garden Inn Phuket Bang Tao 4*
Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa 5*
Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Surin Beach 5*
Avista Grande Phuket Karon Resort & Spa 5*
Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort 5*
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