More than just rules: a guide to a memorable holiday

When planning a holiday, the excitement of switching off, feeling the Menorca sun and enjoying every minute is what really drives us. Every detail, from the breeze on your terrace to your first dip in the sea, counts towards making this trip memorable. At Minura Hotels, our teams work to make that experience perfect, and in that process, some of the rules you encounter have a purpose that goes far beyond a simple rule.

This article is not a manual of prohibitions. It is an invitation to look behind the scenes, to understand the logistics and effort that go into ensuring not only your comfort, but also that of all other guests. It is a journey towards empathy, where we discover that a small action on your part can have a positive impact that benefits the entire hotel community.

Because when we understand the why, everything is experienced in a more conscious and respectful way.

Check-in and check-out times: the invisible art of preparing your space

The frustration you feel when you arrive with your luggage after a long journey, ready to settle in, and discover that your room will not be available until 2 p.m. is completely understandable. Similarly, the desire to make the most of your last day before a late flight is natural. It’s easy to think that, since you’ve paid for your stay, you should be able to use the room as you please. However, behind the rigidity of these schedules lies a meticulously orchestrated ‘ballet’ performed by a team of professionals working against the clock.

The 12:00 check-out time is not an arbitrary decision, but the starting point for a thorough and rigorous cleaning process. The average time to prepare a room between one guest’s departure and the next guest’s arrival is about 40 minutes. In this short period, the cleaning team, following systematic protocols and checklists, must ensure that the room is spotless, from disinfecting high-touch surfaces to replenishing towels and amenities. The work of a chambermaid is high-pressure, as she must manage between 18 and 20 rooms a day, and of those, 1 to 4 rooms are new arrivals that require a complete cleaning to be ready for the new guests’ check-in.

A delay, no matter how small, is not a mere inconvenience. It has a domino effect that impacts the entire system. If you leave 30 minutes late, your room cannot be cleaned until the housekeeper finishes her previous task. This delays the cleaning of the next room, which in turn impacts the check-in time for a new guest who, like you, is eager to get in. The 12:00 rule is the key that allows this chain to function seamlessly, ensuring that those arriving do not have to wait and those leaving can be confident that the next guests will enjoy the same impeccable service. It is a rule that benefits all of us who are part of this temporary community.

Practical tip: if you know you will be arriving very early or your flight departs at night, let the hotel know in advance. Early check-in or late check-out can often be arranged (subject to availability and at an additional cost). Reception can also offer solutions such as secure luggage storage and recommendations for enjoying the hotel’s common areas until your departure time. And remember: the sooner the hotel knows, the easier it is to find a solution.

The buffet: more than just food, a shared experience

The buffet is one of the great pleasures of a holiday. Seeing so much variety, choosing what you fancy and trying different dishes every day is part of the experience. However, sometimes situations arise such as preparing sandwiches ‘to take away’ to the beach or on an excursion. It may sound practical, but it creates several invisible problems:

• Food is prepared according to occupancy and consumption in the restaurant. If many guests take food away, others may find half-finished trays or less variety than you found when you arrived.
• Temperature and preservation are controlled within the buffet. Once outside, heat, humidity or the passage of time can turn that food into a risk of food poisoning. The consequences of food poisoning can not only ruin your holiday, but can also become a source of infection when you return to the hotel, putting all the other guests at risk.

Instead, we invite you to enjoy the safe snack and drink options we offer at other outlets within the resort or enjoy the cuisine at local establishments.

Restaurant opening hours: finding the middle ground between cultures

One of the biggest challenges for hotels in destinations such as Menorca is managing something as everyday and cultural as mealtimes. For a British guest, dining at 6 pm is normal, whereas in Spain dinner rarely starts before 9 pm, especially in summer. It is natural to ask: why not keep the restaurant open continuously and adapt it to everyone?

The reality is that behind every buffet service, there is a team of professionals who need time to prepare, replenish and guarantee the quality of the food. Opening for too many hours would mean overloading the staff, compromising their rest and, consequently, the quality of the service you receive. The hospitality industry, like any art, needs breaks to fine-tune its notes.

It is also worth reflecting on the fact that we tend to change our routines without realising it when we are on holiday. If you get up at 6:00 every day in winter to go to work, why do you accept getting up later in summer, but find it difficult to delay dinner a little? The magic of travel also lies in adapting, trying new schedules and discovering that dining under the starry sky of Menorca at 9:00 p.m. can become one of those memories that don’t appear on the booking website, but stay with you forever.

Towels: the detail that makes all the difference

The white towels you find in your room are designed for comfort in the bathroom, not to withstand sand, chlorine or salt. When used at the beach or pool, they wear out very quickly, lose their softness and, most importantly, are no longer perfect for the next guest.

That’s why at Minura Hotels we provide you with towels specifically for the pool and beach: they are more resistant and designed for this use. This way, the quality of the textiles in your room remains impeccable and you enjoy a service tailored to every moment of your holiday.

Bear in mind that it’s not a question of “costs”. Incorrect use of towels has an environmental impact. Industrial washing consumes large amounts of water and energy, and the use of specific detergents increases our water and carbon footprint. Every towel that is damaged and replaced prematurely contributes to a cycle of resource consumption.

By using each towel in its appropriate environment, you help us maintain its quality and fulfil our commitment to sustainability.

Sun loungers: a space to share, not to reserve in your absence

The ‘sun lounger war’ is a real problem that arises from the fear of being left without a place. It is easy to fall into the habit of leaving a towel on a sun lounger for hours without using it, but this action, although well-intentioned, causes enormous frustration among other guests looking for a place to relax. The rule against reserving sun loungers is not meant to inconvenience anyone; it is meant to ensure harmony and respect for the common space.

This gesture creates unnecessary frustration and tension. Imagine a driver who leaves their electric vehicle at a charging point and does not remove it after charging, leaving you unable to use it.

The pool staff are there to help you find a spot, but it is your cooperation that really makes the difference and ensures that the pool areas are an oasis of tranquillity for everyone. It is a matter of collective awareness. Think for a moment that you could be the guest who arrives and has nowhere to sit, while there is a single towel on the sun lounger for hours, taking up a space that you could be enjoying.

Both we and the other guests will appreciate it if you only use the sun lounger when you are actually going to enjoy it. If you are going to be away for several hours, free up the space so that another guest can relax. This way, the pool becomes a pleasant place to socialise, rather than a silent battlefield for who can ‘get’ the most space.

Direct communication: the key to a smooth holiday

Most people book their holidays through traditional travel agencies or online travel agencies (OTAs), seeking convenience and the ‘best price’. However, this convenience can come at a hidden cost.

A guest who books through an intermediary usually arrives at the hotel as an anonymous piece of data. Some information, such as severe allergies, reduced mobility needs or arrival time, may be lost, arrive incomplete or late, and it is vital for us that it arrives correctly. This allows us to personalise your experience safely and smoothly, preparing the room for a person with reduced mobility or informing the chef about a severe allergy before you arrive. Direct booking is, in essence, an investment in a better travel experience for you. It is an opportunity for us to get to know you and offer you a service that goes beyond the standard, from the moment you click ‘book’.

Booking and/or communicating directly with the hotel gives you clear advantages:

• Flexibility in check-in and check-out.
• Personalised attention for special cases.
• Transparency in rules and services.
• And, in the case of direct bookings, extra benefits or more advantageous conditions.

Thank you for being part of the solution

Hotel rules are not just business regulations. They are the basis of a complex logistical operation, a commitment to everyone’s health and safety, and a pact of coexistence and respect. The staff works tirelessly to ensure that your stay is impeccable, but your cooperation is the secret ingredient that turns a good holiday into a perfect one.

Your respect for the rules not only benefits the hotel, but also every person who, like you, has come to enjoy the magic of Menorca.

In the end, travelling means much more than just relaxing: it means sharing a common space with respect, and that is what transforms a holiday into a truly memorable experience.