Tea, coffee and snacks: what is usually extra

Tea, coffee and snacks are often the small lines that decide whether an island bill matches your plan. Some resorts include tea and coffee at meals, some include them all day, and some charge for each cup. Ask for the policy in writing, and build a small daily allowance from your own habits.

Our guide on full board on islands covers the main meals. To see what each resort puts in its price, use the resort inclusion comparator.

What is commonly included and what is charged?

There is no single rule. This table lists the usual questions, not the answers.

Item	May be included	May be charged	What to ask
Plain water at meals	Often	Rarely	Is it free, and where do I refill?
Tea and coffee at meals	Sometimes	Sometimes	Only at meals, or all day?
Tea and coffee between meals	Sometimes	Often	Is there a coffee point in the lobby?
Soft drinks and juice	Rarely	Often	Are these part of any plan?
Bottled water	Rarely	Often	What is the price per bottle?
Snacks and tea-time	Sometimes	Sometimes	What is served, and when?
Alcohol	No	Yes, where sold	See our page on alcohol

One operator in our research reports free coffee, tea and snacks within its full-board package ^[1]. That is one resort at the time of checking, so treat it as an example of what to ask for, not what to expect everywhere.

How do you estimate your daily extras?

A simple estimate keeps you honest. Do it before you book:

1. List what each person drinks or snacks on a normal day.
2. Ask the resort for its price for each item, including bottled water.
3. Multiply by the days you will be on the island.
4. Add children’s drinks and snacks separately, since they often eat more often.
5. Add the total to the package price when you compare.

Say a family of four each buy two extra drinks a day. That is eight drinks a day, so over a few days the total is not small. Compare the figure with the saving that a lower package price promises.

What about water, alcohol and snacks you bring?

Water has its own question, because the source and the price differ by island. Read water and drinking water on small islands before you set an allowance.

If you plan to bring your own drinks or snacks, check the resort’s rules first. Our page on bringing your own food to an island resort explains how to ask without causing friction. For adults who want a drink, see alcohol on Malaysian islands.

Questions to put in writing

• Are tea and coffee free, and if so at which times?
• Is there a self-service coffee or tea point?
• Is drinking water free, and what does bottled water cost?
• Are snacks served between meals, and are they included?
• Are children’s drinks and snacks included in the child rate?
• Is there a price list for the shop or bar?
• Does a service charge or tax apply to extras?

A better fit if…

A package with free tea, coffee and snacks may be a better fit if your group drinks a lot through the day. It also suits those travelling with children who snack often.

A lower package without those extras may be a better fit if you drink little, are happy with water, and want the lowest starting price.

Either way, do the sum with your own habits before you decide.