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.

Glad others leave the key card. I do that but I didn't want to say in case the thread was derailed by the 'what if someone takes it and goes and ransacks my room or lies in wait to attack me when I go back there' crowd.

After all, we know that hotels are full of wronguns don't we and you can't be too careful.

I always take an old book and a pair of glasses and leave on table whilst we get breakfast

Why should I? The table was empty when we found it.

Why shouldn't he apologise for the confusion, or more importantly, for shouting at me?

Or do you think women need to apologise for merely existing in the presence of an angry man?

Actually, at an hotel we were holidaying in, when staff showed us to a table at breakfast, they took the presented napkin, and unfolded it so it hung at the front of the table. This was the signal that the table was occupied.

This was the signal that the table was occupied.

if staff showed you to the table, perhaps that was a signal to other staff

If I'd folded a napkin to indicate I wanted a table, then someone took it, I'd assume they hadn't got the message and found a different table. I can't imagine that table was in any way special. It's not like reserving a sun lounger at the edge of the pool (although don't get me started...!)

We usually go straight to the fruit juice then take the juice to the table and then get breakfast. It's worked well so far.

The main thing people should understand is if you want someone to do something, ask nicely. They may not do it in the end, but are certainly not going to do it if you get their back up.k

Tricky - take it in turns is safer. I would also leave possessions if it wasn't far to the food.

Leave something at the table. I’m a single mom with small kids so can leave anyone at the table

Can’t

We take it in turns. Definitely easiest and most obvious.
What he did was not obvious and so you did nothing wrong. Well done for staying and not giving into his bullying.

I don’t think the fact he was American is the pertinent issue here. It sounds like he was a rude, entitled individual trying to bully a woman.
If he’d been polite I’d have considered moving, but shouting and being rude, nope stay put. Well done OP.

I usually pick up some juice and water on the way to my table, I'm fond of leaving a book too.

We would take turns or leave obvious items at the table. Most likely to take turns though.

How can grown adults fall-out over this, days alot about their personalities.
Surely it can be sorted without a blow out.
Often someone has sat in my seat at the theatre by mistake or I've sat in theirs.

You just deal with it nicely. Never has a row blown up.
People don't not know how to handle things.

I always use the take turns method.

Leaving a napkin is a very strange way to show you’ve bagged the table. About as effective as saying he’d moved the salt half an inch.

Yes that's what I do, or OJ, whichever is easier/accessible.

Usually leave belongings, never had an issue.

Take it in turns.

not heard of the napkin, if it was something else eg a coat or jacket etc then id understand but not a napkin

That’s why I hate buffets. I don’t go on holiday to eat on my own whilst my husband is stuck in a queue for show cooked eggs.

We would take turns or get drinks first so that it’s clear the table is occupied

I go and get two glasses of juice and leave them on the table. Then go and get the rest of my breakfast.

Seems an odd question. Why wouldn’t an adult know this basic stuff?