Guests · 5 min read · Updated
Out-of-town guests:where they sleep and how they arrive
Sleeping, arriving and the day before: what to settle before choosing the house.
One question arrives late in almost every wedding: where do the people who travel to it sleep. And it almost always arrives after the venue has been chosen.
Almost no finca lodges the entire wedding. It solves the core: you, your parents, your siblings, the friends who come from furthest. The rest sleep elsewhere, and that shapes schedules, transfers and even the hour of the ceremony.
The label does not say how many beds there are
On the island people speak of a possessió, a finca or an agroturismo. A possessió is Mallorca's traditional country estate: a group of buildings around a large farming holding, tracing back to the properties divided up after the Christian conquest in the thirteenth century. It is a type of building, not a promise of bedrooms: none of the three words tells you how many beds the place has or who manages them. Ask for figures, not for the label.
Questions to request in writing
- How many rooms are there, and how many people fit in total?
- Are the rooms included, or booked separately?
- Who may sleep there the night before and the night after?
- Does the house's team attend guests in English?
- Is there a minimum stay?
The distances of an island
An island looks small on the map, but between the guests' lodging and the house there can be a long journey. These figures, from Palma and by road, are approximate and without traffic; in summer they can stretch.
| Journey | Approximate distance | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Palma airport – Palma centre | 8 km | — |
| Palma – Sóller | 25 to 30 km | About 30 minutes |
| Palma – Santanyí | About 52 km | 45 to 50 minutes |
| Palma – Alcúdia | About 55 km | 45 to 55 minutes |
| Palma – Artà | About 70 km | A little over an hour |
Work out the journey for each group before fixing the ceremony hour, and keep in mind the sunset time of that month. The table in the text on the light of the island gives you the figure.
Arriving and entering the country
If any guest is travelling from outside the European Union, it helps to check the entry requirements early. Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System has been fully operational across the Schengen countries, registering non-EU travellers who arrive for a short stay (up to 90 days in any 180). According to the European Commission, the ETIAS travel authorisation (for travellers who do not need a visa) is scheduled for the last quarter of 2026; check its current status before your guests buy their tickets.
The tourist tax
Guests who sleep in tourist accommodation in the Balearic Islands pay a tax per person and per night, which the accommodation itself collects. The amount depends on the category and the season; check the current figure on the official site of the tax before you tell guests what their nights will cost.
The day before and the day after
If the core party sleeps in the house, the morning of the wedding has a natural place: a room with a large window and morning light. That is where it helps to get ready.
And if the house is empty the next day, a second moment becomes possible: unhurried portraits of the couple, without guests and in the light of another hour. Ask whether the house allows it.
The evening before is also often the best moment for a welcome dinner or a walk with those who have travelled far: it helps the families meet and means nobody reaches the ceremony without having greeted anyone. Ask the house whether it can host that gathering or whether it should be arranged elsewhere. On the eve: what to settle the day before the wedding. If what weighs is the effort of those who travel, when a small wedding makes sense.
Language and timetables for those who travel far
A timetable written in two languages, with the departure time of the coach or car, the meeting points and the phone number of one contact person, saves calls on the day itself. Ask the house whether it can help with translation, or whether its team speaks your guests' language.And for the ceremony and speeches in two languages: bilingual wedding.
Two lists for today
Write down who will sleep in the house and who elsewhere, with the approximate journey for each group. With those two lists in front of you, the email to the house stops being a general enquiry and becomes a conversation with facts.
Frequently asked questions
How many guests fit in an estate with accommodation?
It depends on each house, and the label does not say. Ask in writing for the number of rooms and of people, and who manages them.
How far is Palma airport from the city?
About 8 kilometres from the centre of Palma. From there, the journey to the estate depends on the part of the island; the table above gives an idea of the distances.
What do non-European guests need?
To check the entry requirements for their nationality, and to keep up with the EU's Entry/Exit System and the ETIAS authorisation. Always consult the EU's official travel site.
Is it worth organising a shared transfer?
If several guests are staying in the same place, a shared transfer avoids extra cars and the risk of arriving late to the ceremony. Ask the house whether it can arrange or recommend one. How guests and the team arrive, and how the day's transfers are organised: getting to Ibiza for a wedding.
Is there anything to pay for sleeping on the islands?
Tourist accommodation in the Balearic Islands charges a tax per person per night. Check the current amount on the official site before passing it on. Y si quien se casa vive fuera: getting married in Mallorca while living abroad.