ALL INCLUSIVE BAN IN IBIZA - SAN ANTONIO - LIMITED TO THREE DRINKS ONLY AT LUNCH AND DINNER??

born_again

LisaHayes_71 said:

Hi can anyone help me here, I am flying to IBIZA with seven friends in June, this holiday was booked in 2019 for my Fiance's 50th birthday as a surprise for him, but has been deferred twice because of COVID.
We are booked into an All Inclusive Hotel with TUI,  the Balearic Government have placed a ban apparently (three drinks with lunch and three drinks with dinner only) on All Inclusive as too many youngsters were getting drunk etc,  I have spoken to TUI  twice and they assure me that unless I hear from them,their properties are still All Inclusive, I do not see how as this is can be as there is now a limit/ban  by the Spanish Government apparently, so is this true? And if it is then TUI should owe each passenger some refund/compensation money as surely this would be classed as mi-sold, it is not what we paid for originally?
If anyone has been to IBIZA recently please get in touch to confirm/clarify and any thoughts, suggestions and knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

[Removed by Forum Team].

When you paid for the holiday. Did it say that you could eat & drink as much as you like? (bottomless buffet)

All inclusive just means you do not have to pay for food/drinks. Subject to reasonable limits. If the holiday co then have restrictions placed on limits by the local government. Then it is not mis-sold. 
You are still getting free food/drinks up to that limit. If you want more then you will have to pay for them.

End of the day would you get a refund if the hotel run out of the food or drinks you like? That would be a no..

Just go & enjoy the holiday you have waited 3 years for 👍

Pollycat

I think the OP has had some pretty nasty replies.

She has booked a holiday on an all-inclusive basis that - at the time of booking - would almost certainly have been unlimited alcoholic drinks (probably domestic brands, perhaps international) between stated hours - maybe 10:00 to 01:00.
If her hotel is in the impacted area, I see nothing wrong with her asking advice on this forum.

I can see no reason to assume that she and her friends intend to get blind drunk or pickle their livers.

Sea_Shell

[Removed by Forum Team].

Also not being able to have an "included" drink by the pool would spoil an All Inc holiday for me too.   I'd happily drink sparkling water with dinner if I could swap it for something by the pool earlier in the day.

Sandtree

Sea_Shell said:

[Removed by Forum Team].

Also not being able to have an "included" drink by the pool would spoil an All Inc holiday for me too.   I'd happily drink sparkling water with dinner if I could swap it for something by the pool earlier in the day.

What is unknown at this point is how hotels are implementing the rules... we all know with lockdown that "substantial meal" got debated within an inch of its life and plenty of places (around here at least) did limit you to a table of 6 but you could book 2+ tables of 6 that were inches apart. 

Maybe your portion of chips (that you dont eat) qualify as "lunch" and so enable you to order your three pool side drinks

bagand96

Pollycat said:

I think the OP has had some pretty nasty replies.

She has booked a holiday on an all-inclusive basis that - at the time of booking - would almost certainly have been unlimited alcoholic drinks (probably domestic brands, perhaps international) between stated hours - maybe 10:00 to 01:00.
If her hotel is in the impacted area, I see nothing wrong with her asking advice on this forum.

I can see no reason to assume that she and her friends intend to get blind drunk or pickle their livers.

The "at the time of booking" point is interesting.  This ruling was passed in 2020 although is only really gaining publicity now because of Covid-19.  The OP states they did originally book in 2019, so before the law, however it's been moved twice.  Would TUI count the moving of dates as a "new" booking?

Many of the considerations have been raised here....

- What does All-Inclusive actually mean? I don't think there's any definition anywhere as it varies from hotel to hotel even with the same tour operator. On one hand the customer is still receiving an "All Inclusive" holiday as meals are included and drinks are included.  There's just now a limit on the number of alcoholic drinks.  Does "all-Inclusive" mean "unlimited?"  Could be one for the lawyers to argue about in court.

- Did/do TUI advertise the holiday with unlimited alcoholic beverages?

- Can TUI (or any tour operator) be held accountable for the actions of local Government in a foreign country that are completely beyond their control.

- Have TUI broken any legislation or rules?  I think the relevant law is the Package And Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, and the relevant clause would be if this law causes a significant change to the holiday contract.  This is open to interpretation.


Setting all the contract/legal arguments aside, in terms of practical advice to the OP I think they need to get in touch with TUI and see what their view is.  You won't be the first person to do so as this issue has been well publicised recently and TUI will likely have reviewed their position on the situation.  Do you still want the holiday?  Do you want the holiday but feel you want a partial refund? Would you be willing to change resort to somewhere that allows unlimited alcohol?  That might be a compromise you could suggest and see if TUI would be willing to waive any relevant change fees etc

Pollycat

[Removed by Forum Team].

And to even more posters, the OP has presented as a perfectly reasonable person querying about something that she booked but may now not get.
Some of the 'many of us' you mention have had their posts removed.
I have met lots of 'Brit abroad' in lots of different countries and I have no reason to think her and her friends would fall into that category.

I do not see any need to mention alcoholics, damage to health and 'pickling of livers'.

LittleMissDetermined

I'm shocked at the amount of judgemental posts on this thread. There are more reasons to booking an all inclusive holiday than just drinking to excess.  Many people book them to reduce the amount of unexpected expenses once you're away and know that if spending money gets low at least food and drink is provided. 

The OP is asking for help and advice, not an opinion on her drinking habits.

Penguin_

I always book AI when taking my kids abroad, as a single Dad I would hate it if we got to the 5th day & I was running low on cash & they couldn't have a couple of ice creams.

Doshwaster

izawa said:

Afaik the limit is on alcoholic drinks only. Less alcohol = more healthy.

I don't think drinking sugary fizzy drinks all day is much healthier. Maybe a limit on those, especially for kids.

Upsidedownandaround

I doubt this rule will last more than another year or two.