Compare what is actually included for the same travellers and nights. Half-board usually covers breakfast and one main meal, full-board all three meals, and all-inclusive meals plus some drinks and snacks — but each hotel defines its own list. The better deal depends on how much you would otherwise spend on food.
The worked example splits a trip into its components so you can see the food share. That share is the budget a meal plan replaces; compare it with the meal plan's surcharge.
Common exclusions are premium drinks, à-la-carte restaurants, room service, excursions and motorised water sports. Read the plan's list before assuming anything is covered.
How to do it
1Get the plan's written inclusions for your exact hotel.
2Estimate what you would spend on the same meals outside.
3Compare the surcharge for the same travellers and nights.
4Decide how many meals you will really take at the hotel if you plan day trips.
Worked example
One trip split into its components, showing the food share.
Scenario: Maldives · departing Riyadh · March · 7 days · 2 travellers · Mid-range · SAR · flights included
Cost component
Modelled estimate
International flightsround trip · per person × 2
4,350–6,850 SAR
Accommodation6 nights · 1 room
6,300–9,600 SAR
Food & daily spendingper person × 2
5,900–8,350 SAR
Activities & experiencesper person × 2
2,800–5,250 SAR
Local transportpartly shared
1,600–2,500 SAR
Other / bufferper person × 2
1,400–2,700 SAR
Whole-trip total
22,350–35,250 SAR
Seasonal price level: High
What this example assumes
On-the-ground costs come from the site's cost bands, whose data reference is 2026-08-23. Loading this page does not refresh that data.
Rooms are one room per two travellers. There is no children's pricing and no age-based discount anywhere in the model.
Airfare is modelled from the departure metro and the travel month. It is not a quote, and if you already hold a real fare you should enter it in the calculator so it replaces the modelled one.
Cost data reference: 2026-08-23. Opening this page does not refresh it.
Where this goes wrong
Assuming all-inclusive covers every drink and activity.
Paying for full-board and then eating out on day trips.
Comparing plans for different room types or nights.
What this guide does not do
Every figure on this page is a modelled estimate built from typical costs for the stated scenario. It is not a live fare, not a live room rate, not an offer and not a booking.
MTC does not price hotel meal plans; the food line is a modelled daily food budget for comparison.
