All-inclusive vs ultra all-inclusive

Browse Antalya hotels for five minutes and you'll meet a whole ladder of labels: all-inclusive, ultra all-inclusive, high class all-inclusive, luxury ultra all-inclusive. Each sounds like a step up from the last. So what's actually on each rung?

Here's the key thing: there's no shared, fixed definition. Each hotel decides what its concept includes and what to call it. One resort's "ultra" can look quite different from another's, so the label matters far less than the small print.

A lot of holiday disappointment comes down to one simple thing: nobody checked what the concept actually covered. This guide is here to make that reading easier.

What the labels usually signal

All-inclusive generally means meals and a set range of drinks are included in the room rate. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are usually buffet-style, with snack points and bars during the day. Which drinks, which bars and which hours are included varies from hotel to hotel.

Ultra all-inclusive is typically a hotel's way of saying "a broader version". That might mean more bars and restaurants, longer service hours or certain extra services. Exactly what's added is up to each hotel.

Hotel-specific labels are common too. On our site, Papillon Ayscha uses "High Class All-Inclusive" and Paloma Grida uses "Luxury Ultra All-Inclusive". These are the hotels' own terms, so the content still has to be read from their concept documents.

Often extra, whatever the label

Looking across the concept details of hotels on our site, some services are regularly charged separately regardless of the concept name.

Spa treatments. The hammam, sauna and steam room are free at many hotels, but massages and treatments usually cost extra. Megasaray Westbeach, for example, is ultra all-inclusive: hammam, sauna and steam room are free, while massages and skincare are charged. Voyage Belek also lists spa treatments as not included.

À la carte restaurants. At some hotels they're included but need booking; at others they're paid. Titanic Deluxe Lara lists its à la carte restaurants as extra. At Barut Hemera, an ultra all-inclusive resort, most restaurants are included but the sushi restaurant costs extra. Paloma Grida charges separately for its barbecue restaurant.

Sports and beach extras. Floodlit tennis courts (as at Regnum Carya) and VIP beach pavilions (as at Swandor Topkapı Palace) are examples of extras that are charged separately.

Airport transfers. Usually not part of the concept, though some hotels arrange them for a fee.

Not everywhere is all-inclusive

Not every hotel uses the system. Day One Beach Resort in Alanya works on a breakfast-based concept, with lunch and dinner charged. Small boutique hotels such as Hotel Aysima in Kaş serve breakfast and leave dinner to the town's restaurants. If you enjoy eating out at local restaurants, that can actually suit you better.

How to read a concept sheet

Many resorts publish a concept page or document. Look for answers to these:

1. Drinks: Which are included? Are bottled drinks and the minibar part of it?
2. Hours: When are the bars and snack points open? Is there food late at night?
3. À la carte: How many restaurants, which are included, how often can you go, and how do you book?
4. Spa: Which facilities are free and which treatments cost extra?
5. Children: Are the kids' club, children's buffet and baby services included?
6. Season: Which services run only in summer?

That last point catches people out. Many hotels note that some à la carte restaurants or outdoor areas open only in high season, so check if you're travelling in spring or late autumn.

Comparing prices fairly

Comparing two hotels on the concept name alone can mislead you. Make sure you're comparing the same room type, the same view and the same board basis. If something is included at one hotel and extra at another, your total holiday spend may look quite different from the headline price.

FAQ

Does ultra all-inclusive always include more? Usually that's what the hotel wants to signal, but since there's no common definition, check the details for each hotel.

Are massages free at all-inclusive hotels? Generally not. At many hotels on our site, the hammam and sauna are free while massages and treatments are extra.

Are à la carte restaurants included? It depends. Some include them with a reservation; others charge.

Where can I find the concept details? The hotel's official concept page or fact sheet is the most direct source. Our hotel pages also note known extra-charge services.