How do you save a table at breakfast? Row with other guest

[PJHarvey]

So you're staying in a hotel with one other person, and breakfast is a buffet where you can choose your own table. How do you save your spot?

• take turns going up to get food, so there's always someone at the table.
• both go up together but leave some belongings there, like a jacket or sunglasses.
• something else to indicate your presence (if so what?)

I had a pretty unpleasant encounter with a horrible man this morning over this, and am wondering who is in the wrong.

If I have a jacket or something that I don’t mind leaving at the tablet I do that, but if not we would take it in turns, usually the latter

Ok I'm American can never heard of the napkin thing. I usually drop off my drink and go get my food (while my husband gets his food and drink). The man is a buffoon and sorry he yelled.

This.

Also, at lunch or dinner some way of indicating to waiters/sommeliers that you don’t want any more wine in your glass. I frequently have my glass topped up when I don’t want it to be.

'I'm not American and I have no idea about your arcane rules. We're not in America now, you lunatic, so do one before I call security.'

Did he just slope off when he saw your husband? What a spineless wimp

Well it wouldn't. Sadly even well travelled Americans rarely get other cultures. And if the non-well travelled Americans go abroad it is a car crash (particularly in the work place). Lived there for 3 years; worked for a US investment bank in the UK.

It's certainly arrogant but I've seen this attitude with Americans before, a total lack of understanding that things are done differently (and thus worse!) in Europe. And differently again in different European countries.
I've never seen or heard of the napkin thing, in the States or here.

In Japan, they leave all sorts on tables to reserve them. We had been in Tokyo for a couple of days and needed a sit down and a coffee. Found a Starbucks which was heaving apart from one table that had an empty juice bottle on it.
I sat down and DH went to order drinks. A few minutes later a very stroppy young girl flounced by our table, coffee in hand, grabbed her empty bottle and sat at a newly empty table a few along from us!
We soon twigged it was the done thing and had an old umbrella that we used to reserve tables from then on.

Does that mean the table hadn't been wiped and reset? I would have moved. Wouldn't have wanted to use someone else's napkins n stuff.

The hotel the OP was eating in isn't in the UK...

same

Many thanks
I feel foolish but I hope I have helped the OP along with some of the others here
In my thread I stated we've been to the USA many times and a son has lived and worked there - never have we heard about a "folded napkin" - the guy is an entitled clown

They hadn't used the table, just turned up and folded a napkin.

Thank you. Good to hear from you and the Americans on the thread that this is not normal!

More fool him. Everyone knows that you have to thoroughly, beyond and doubt, mark your territory at breakfast! God help him if he ever wants a sun lounger

That guy sounds 🦇 💩 never heard of repositioning a napkin to indicate a table is taken. Cheeky twonk!!

@PJHarvey never heard of folded napkin - just the things you suggested. Ignore him, he’s an arse.

Leave a drink on the table.

DH stays while I go up and then he goes.

In fairness, in the absence of belongings I have unfolded the napkins and left them in disarray as an indication that the table was in use.

You can do the chat and cut. It's a thing.

I take it in turns, mainly to look after belongings, but also to show its occupied.
If I'm by myself I put a coat or cardigan on the back of my chair.

I'm guessing he was so rude because he's constantly losing tables to people who don't recognise his folded napkin signal?

If I’m travelling with others we take it in turns, if I’m on my own I leave my keycard and a book or something and quickly go and get juice, as others have said.

I travel with work so often eating breakfast alone in hotel.
Never heard about this napkin rule
Usually someone in hotel shows me to or indicates where to sit. I'd often leave bag, coat or just quick get glass juice leave it over.
Not nice to start your day with an encounter like that