It does depend on the hotel.

Most AI hotels I have stayed at include beer, water and soft drinks in the mini bar and these were part of the AI. Another one included three 1 litre bottles of spirits and optics and these were AI too.

Tell us where you are going and someone may be able to confirm for sure.

wow that sounds great cynical,where did you go.

Nicole

I am going Hotel Oceanis in Ixia

The Riu branded hotels in the Caribbean include a mini bar and optics with bottles of Rum, Vodka and whiskey. We went twice to the Riu Merengue in the Dominican Republic as it was so fantastic but all the Riu's in the Caribbean offer the same in room drinks.

The mini bar in the Pegasos Place in Turkey is extortionately chargeable.
5 Euros for a minature bottle of their version of vodka!
2 euros for a bar of chocolate!
In other words....don't touch the mini bar at the Pegasos Palace or the Pegasos Tropical!!!!

Does it tell you in the brochure that there is a fridge or a mini bar?

We've been to AI hotels in Greece and Cyprus, sometimes we've been given a fridge which is empty (but you can put whatever you want in it e.g. mineral water bottles from the bar) somethimes we've had a stocked free of charge minibar - but usually soft drinks.
I've heard of places (long haul) that you get a wet bar. The woman who explained it to me said that they bring full bottles of spirits and if you have a sip from one it's replaced again with a full one! To be honest though, I don't drink alcohol at all in the day in a hot country and find it difficult to try to keep up with others drinking all night from eveving meal onwards so I wouldn't drink alcohol in the room, otherwise that's where I'd have to stay!

it tells you in the brochure

Hi Sugi
I hope its all free, if so give me a call and I shall help you off load some of the cargo

Have fun
Robert

i would do but the operator has mucked it all up, see complaints i have a topic in there explaining what has gone on

I've found some hotels with - as has been said - just a mini-fridge, without contents, and in some others they put a 2 litre bottle of mineral water per person in it every day. Have to say, though I have never had booze or soft drinks supplied all-in in the minibar/fridge

In Mexico we had optics with spirits and a fridge with cold drinks/mixers, wine and beer. It was all included in the price of the holiday.

Look in your brochure - if it's not included it'll say something like "mini bar - payable locally"

Depends on the hotel chain - all Iberostar hotels the mini bar is included and restocked with branded drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic nearly everyday and you do not pay extra. Room service is also free of charge with them! Riu group charge for mini bar and room service

been dom rep twice al iberostar costa dorado beer,softdrinks,water restocked every day grand paridise water,soft drinks when you could catch the maid it really depends where you stay

Fusspot

We've never been charged for roomservice, minibar or optics in room at RIU hotels. Fridge/optics refilled every other day or, if you run out, within 20 minutes of 'phoning reception - NO charge.

Deej,

Totally agree, I have been to a Riu Playacar in Mexico and Riu Merengue in Dom Rep, never ever been charged for mini bar and optics (bottles replaced every other day) or charged for room service! In your mini bar they provide, water (fresh every day), bottles of beer, coke/sprite/orange and as I say four optics of rum/brandy/vodka/gin, but if you are in your room when they are re-stocking, you can kindly ask for what you want (I would give the staff US$2 just as a thank you), but never paid extra at the end of my holiday. The only extra I paid was to get some laundry done, which I would imagine you pay in most hotel as an extra!

Dawntra

And as an extra bonus, Riu provide ice machines around the hotel, you can use whenever, just take your ice bucket and fill up.