All Inclusive Family Hotel Germany: How to Choose

All Inclusive with kids: Sounds simple, but it isn't always

You are planning a family holiday and want to take care of nothing. All Inclusive sounds like the perfect solution. Pay once, everything included. No mental arithmetic, no wallet at the pool.

But once you start comparing, you quickly notice: All Inclusive is not the same as All Inclusive. What one hotel covers entirely means only half-board with a few extras at the next. This guide helps you find the right All Inclusive family hotel in Germany. Without disappointment, without hidden costs.

What to look for when choosing

Meals: Really all of them?

First things first. Look closely at what "All Inclusive" means for meals. Some hotels only mean breakfast and dinner. Others offer three meals but no afternoon ice cream. Especially with children that is a problem, because they are always hungry. Best case: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and an evening buffet. Everything included, all day long.

Drinks: All day or only at meals?

This is where the most common cost traps hide. Many hotels only offer drinks at mealtimes. Between meals you pay extra. A hot chocolate in the afternoon, a juice after swimming, a beer in the evening on the terrace. It quickly adds up.

Ask in advance: Are soft drinks, coffee, tea and cocoa included all day? Does that also apply to beer and wine? And are there any time restrictions?

Childcare: Is a kids' club included?

A good kids' club makes the difference between a family holiday and a real holiday. When the children are looked after, you have time for yourselves. Pool, sauna, a stroll. Without a guilty conscience.

But watch out: not every hotel with "family-friendly" in its name has a real kids' club. Some only offer a playroom without supervision. Others have childcare only on certain days or at an extra charge. Ask specifically: From what age? How many hours per day? Is it included in the price?

Pool and wellness: For the whole family?

An indoor pool is worth its weight in gold. Because the weather in Germany doesn't always play along. If the pool is included in the price, you always have something to do. Also check whether there is a sauna and whether it is included in the All Inclusive package or costs extra.

The typical cost traps with All Inclusive

Before you book, check these points. They make the difference between a relaxed holiday and an unpleasant bill at check-out.

Drinks with restrictions

The most common problem. "Drinks included" sounds good. But then the small print says: only house brands, only at mealtimes, only at the buffet. Freshly squeezed orange juice? Extra. Brand drinks? Extra. Anything after 10 pm? Extra.

Activities and facilities

Some hotels advertise All Inclusive, but the pool charges admission. Or the sauna. Or the childcare. That is not All Inclusive, that is half-board with marketing.

Tourist tax and parking fees

Smaller items that are still annoying. Tourist tax applies in many places and is almost never included. Parking fees vary widely. Some hotels offer free parking, others charge 10 to 15 euros per night.

Children's prices: Look closely

Children's discounts vary a lot. Some hotels offer "kids free" only up to age 2 and charge full price after that. Others scale fairly by age. The more transparent the pricing structure, the better.

Why the Bavarian Forest is a strong choice

When you think of an All Inclusive family holiday in Germany, you probably first think of the Baltic Sea or the Black Forest. But the Bavarian Forest has some real advantages.

Nature that excites children

The Bavarian Forest is Germany's oldest national park and offers children what no theme park can: real wilderness. Treetop walks, wildlife enclosures, rivers for skipping stones and forests to explore. Nature provides the programme, not the entertainer.

Short distances, lots to experience

Bathing lakes, ski areas, castles and animal parks are all close together in the Bavarian Forest. You spend little time in the car and lots of time on what you came for. In the area around Waldmuenchen, for example, Lake Perlsee is just one kilometre away, the Althuette ski area three kilometres. And the national park makes a feasible day trip.

More excursion tips and hiking routes can be found in our Bavarian Forest Guide.

Good value for money

Compared to the North Sea, Baltic Sea or the Alps, the Bavarian Forest is significantly more relaxed in terms of price. For the same budget, you get more here. With All Inclusive in particular, this really shows.

What is actually included at Sonnenhotel Bayerischer Hof

While we are on the topic: We want to be transparent about what is included in our All Inclusive price and what is not.

Included in the price

• All meals: breakfast buffet, lunch, afternoon cake and ice cream, evening buffet
• All drinks all day long: coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks, beer, wine. No time slots, no restrictions
• Indoor pool and whirlpool
• Sauna and steam bath (from 3 pm)
• Sonnenwolfi kids' club with childcare for children aged 3 to 12

Not included in the price

Honesty is part of it. These extras cost extra:

• Massages and wellness treatments (book at reception)
• Garage: 4 euros per night (outdoor parking is free)
• Dog: 10 euros per night
• Cot: 5 euros per night

That's it. No hidden items.

Children's prices in detail

With us the structure is clear and fair:

• 0 to 2 years: free
• 3 to 6 years: 15 euros per night
• 7 to 12 years: 35 euros per night
• 13 to 16 years: 45 euros per night

All meals, drinks, pool and kids' club are included for children just as they are for adults.

Your checklist: Find the right All Inclusive family hotel

Before you book, go through these points:

• Are really all meals included (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks)?
• Are drinks included all day or only at meals?
• Is there a supervised kids' club and is it included in the price?
• Is the pool or swimming area included?
• Are there parking fees?
• How are children's prices scaled? At what age does it get expensive?
• Which extras really cost extra and how much are they?

If you get a clear answer on all points, you are on the right track. If the hotel dodges some questions or refers to the small print, then caution is advised.

Read more

• What is included with us
• A day at the hotel
• Rooms & Apartments

Family holiday without a calculator

All Inclusive with kids works best when you really don't have to take care of anything any more. No tab at the bar, no debate about whether the third hot chocolate is still included. And when the children have fun in the kids' club while you sit by the pool, that's not a luxury. That's a good family holiday.

Want to see what is actually included with us? Have a look at the offers and book directly.