Meals and Board Basis

Meal Service

Providing meals from a self-service buffet is popular in hotels. We include the most up-to-date information we have about meal service in our accommodation descriptions, but occasionally arrangements will change. Breakfast will be of the ‘continental’ type unless stated otherwise. In certain properties, extended or ‘English’ type breakfasts are available and may be at an extra charge. Many properties are not necessarily used to catering for special diets and therefore if you have particular or specific requirements, you may find that the choice is limited. As a matter of courtesy to fellow guests, property owners may require diners to wear long trousers whilst dining in their restaurants. Swim wear may not be permitted. If this is a concern then please telephone to check for your individual property’s details. Wherever more than one restaurant is advertised, meals for bed & breakfast, half board, full board and All-Inclusive guests will be taken at the main restaurant (usually buffet-style), unless otherwise stated. Where meals can be taken at alternative restaurants, a reservation is usually required.

Choice of Restaurant

Where meals can be taken at alternative restaurants or there is a choice of a la carte restaurants, a reservation is usually required and restrictions on the number of visits per stay may be in operation. Hotels may apply child age restrictions for a la carte restaurants. Please note hotels occasionally change the style of food and may, during periods of low occupancy, close restaurants at different times of the year. The information included in our brochure is correct at the time of going to print but is subject to change when you travel.

How many nights are spent in your accommodation? - Your accommodation is usually reserved for you from 1200 noon and 4pm on the day of your departure from the UK. However, at some larger hotels, delays may occur with check-in whilst your room is prepared for you. For night flights departing between 0001 and 0400 hours, the day of departure is deemed to be the previous day. In some cases, depending on your flight times, you may arrive in the early hours or during the course of the morning. Your accommodation should be immediately available to you, and in this case this is classed as the first night of your holiday. Rooms are normally vacated at the internationally recognized time of 12 noon on the last day of the holiday. However, there are some areas where a 10am vacating time is operated. On occasions there may be several hours to wait before the departure of your flight home. In such cases a room may be made available for changing and storing luggage. Sometimes hotels will let you keep your room but they are entitled to make a charge. This is not normally possible with apartments. If you are on Half Board, Full Board or All Inclusive it is possible that you may lose a meal owing to your own particular flight times.

All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus & Full Board Plus

To help you choose your All Inclusive or Full Board Plus holiday we have highlighted what activities and facilities are usually included with each accommodation. This is based on information we have received from the hotel management, often dictated by the properties current seasons All Inclusive and Full Board Plus package. Please allow for some facilities or activities to be altered or substituted when you travel though, as hotels do regularly review and update what they offer as All Inclusive, All Inclusive Plus and Full Board Plus.

What is an All Inclusive Plus Holiday

Throughout our brochure we have distinguished our standard All Inclusive hotels from a selected range of All Inclusive Plus hotels. These All Inclusive Plus hotels offer some of the most comprehensive All Inclusive features in our programme. The additional benefits that each of these hotels is offering do vary, but all of our All Inclusive Plus hotels include as standard; up to 24 hour drinks, several a la carte/speciality or gourmet dining options, a range of sports, leisure health and relaxation facilities, as well as some extra inclusions to your package. Examples of these extras could include complimentary spa treatments, a stocked mini bar throughout your stay, 24 hour snacks, room service or other ‘Plus' points to make your all inclusive holiday even more special! Packages vary so please refer to each individual hotel for details of what’s on offer. There may be periods of up to an hour or more daily when drinks (particularly alcoholic drinks) may be unavailable in between opening and closing time of on-site drinks outlets. Depending on the operation of your individual hotel, room service may be available during this time – please check the brochure description for details. Hotels operating 24 hour drinks may have some restrictions during this time on serving alcohol and reserve the right to serve soft drinks for selected periods during this operation.

What is a Full Board Plus Holiday?

Full Board Plus hotels offer a great deal more included in the holiday price, without being fully all-inclusive. All Thomas Cook Full Board Plus hotels include continental breakfast, lunch and dinner as standard. The additional extras do vary and may include the following - drinks all day or drinks with meals, snacks, afternoon tea & biscuits, entertainment, sports & leisure. Please see the 'Full Board plus…' features/option box on the relevant property pages for details of exactly what is included as part of the Full Board plus package at each individual hotel.

What to expect on an All Inclusive Holiday

Inclusive holidays offer every opportunity for relaxing, taking part in sports and games and generally enjoying yourself. However, as with everything in life there are some simple rules which will help you in achieving this aim.

• Identification - When you arrive at your hotel you are likely to be provided with some form of identification (it may be a card, necklace, bracelet etc), which will have to be shown when ordering drinks, meals and other included facilities. Ensure you take care of this as a penalty charge is likely to be imposed if lost.
• Behaviour - both ourselves and each of the All Inclusive hotels reserve the right to withdraw the identification facility of any guest(s) whose behaviour, or whose child/children’s behaviour is such that it is, in the opinion of the management, detrimental to the enjoyment of the other guests.
• Alcohol - Having drinks freely available throughout the day can be a temptation to over-indulge. Please therefore consider your fellow guests (and your own health!) while bearing in mind that hotel management’s have every right to refuse service to guests they believe to be intoxicated or under age (in accordance with local law).
• Bottled mineral water - in some All Inclusive hotels bottled mineral water does not form part of the ‘unlimited soft drinks service’.
• Restaurants – please refer to the earlier section on ‘Meal Service’ for information about meal arrangements.
• Locally sourced drinks/snacks - The included facilities and services are clearly stated in the ‘All Inclusive / Full Board Plus, Features/Option’ section. Drinks included are generally only locally produced brands. Cocktails, International drinks (imported from other countries but not necessarily recognised in the UK), international brands (recognised in the UK market), premium brands and fruit juices are not available unless stated. Whilst we endeavour to provide locally-produced bottled mineral water as part of the ‘unlimited soft drinks service’ at our All Inclusive properties, this service cannot be guaranteed. The type and variety of snacks served (between meal times) will vary between hotels and resorts, and may be of a more traditional / local variety.
• What’s Not Included - any additional facilities or services available may incur a charge. Consequently, not all bars/restaurants are available free of charge.
• Coming home - most hotels remove access to All Inclusive facilities, including food and drink at the time of checkout, which is generally 12 noon on the day of departure.

Entertainment and Sports Facilities at Your Accommodation

These differ from hotel to hotel, so please read the descriptions carefully.

A charge may be made locally for entertainment and the use of some hotel facilities where these are not included in an all inclusive/full board plus package. Not all hotels provide entertainment, and the quality at those that do will vary.

Outdoor sports and facilities are subject to weather conditions permitting (e.g. watersports, outdoor bars etc). All sports and leisure activities are naturally subject to availability. The hotel may have a system restricting the number of times and hours of use of certain facilities to ensure all customers can enjoy them. Whenever we are aware of this it is clearly stated. You may be required to pay a deposit for some sports or leisure facilities, which will be refunded upon the return of the undamaged equipment. Some hotels may have additional conditions before refunding the deposit (e.g. not to exceed the time limit of usage). If applicable, guests will be informed on arrival. For safety reasons guests could be denied the use of sporting equipment if the hotel’s sporting instructor feels they are not competent. In most cases relevant instruction is available but may incur a cost.

Age and height restrictions may be applied by the hotel for certain activities and facilities. These are applied locally for the wellbeing of all customers and full details will be supplied when you arrive at your accommodation. For safety, reasons some sports are not available to younger children or children without adult supervision

You should ensure watersports and other similar sporting activities you wish to take part in are covered by your own holiday insurance. Some activities/watersports may be considered to be hazardous pursuits by some insurance companies.