British tourists in Majorca have been left scratching their heads over the island's peculiar poolside towel customs, according to a new report. The study, conducted by Hotels.com, found that Brits are among the worst offenders when it comes to reserving sunbeds with towels, a practice that has long been a source of friction in holiday hotspots.
Etiquette expert William Hanson, director of The English Manner institute, weighed in on the issue, noting that Brits often behave differently in hotels than at home due to the 'commercial' nature of the transaction. 'Some people wrongly feel they are entitled to behave in a way that they wouldn't at home,' he said, citing examples such as leaving rooms in disarray or being rude to staff.
The Hotels.com report also highlighted other 'dark hotel deeds' committed by Brits, including queue-jumping at breakfast buffets, smoking in rooms, and washing underwear in kettles. Despite this, the same study found that Brits rank themselves among the world's most polite travellers. Hanson was unsurprised by this self-assessment, remarking, 'We are a tiny, tiny, tiny island nation and one thing that we pride ourselves on is our good manners.'
Hanson advised Brits to learn from American tourists, who are often more willing to address problems directly and courteously. He also emphasised the importance of treating hotel staff with respect and using their names to build rapport. 'They will go the extra mile because you have seen them as a person rather than as a function,' he said.
Finally, Hanson encouraged Brits to use hotel reviews to praise as well as complain, noting that negative reviews often dominate while positive experiences go unmentioned. 'If there are 10 bad reviews of the hotel there will be 100 positive reviews that were not written,' he concluded.
