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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take towels off "reserved" sunbeds?

121 replies

Nancy91 · 04/06/2017 16:18

Every time I go on holiday there are people reserving the hotel's sunbeds by putting their towels on them at stupid o'clock in the morning, or even the night before! When I see that nobody has been on these "reserved" beds for an hour or so, I just fold the towels and put them on the floor and we go on the beds. Ok, it's slightly awkward when the people eventually come back, but I have paid for the holiday too, and lying on a towel on the floor isn't ideal when there are sunbeds that aren't even being used!

Does anyone else move the towels? My partner reckons it's a bit rude.

OP posts:

sodablackcurrant · 04/06/2017 17:11

I know I am not helping here, but the one and only time I went to an hotel with sunbeds was a similar story. I fuppin hated hated hated the fact that a scangy towel was the official reservation system.

I did move the towels as I got the rage one morning. It didn't end well and there was a language barrier.

Apartment/hotel with a nice terrace is the only way for me now. Nip down to the pool for a swim and back up. Privately booked so I don't have to mix with anyone. I am a bit odd like that, but to each their own and all that.

Holidays are for relaxation not fighting for sunbeds and all that mullarkey.

Fairylea · 04/06/2017 17:12

Surely a sunlounger is for anyone and everyone to use? You wouldn't put your bag on a table in a restaurant or on a park bench and expect to come back later to find people had left it empty for you... it's the same thing.

trinity0097 · 04/06/2017 17:14

I specifically go on holiday at a place where you get allocated sunlounger with your room number on the umbrella. Takes all the agro out of it.

Hotels should also have enough loungers for all guests to have a bed.

Oysterbabe · 04/06/2017 17:16

I don't really get the appeal of staying at the hotel all day anyway. I prefer the beach.

80sMum · 04/06/2017 17:19

What I can't fully accept is, do people really spend an entire day sitting on a sunbed next to a noisy pool and crowds of other people and really only get up from it in order to have meals or go to the loo?! I can't imagine doing that. .

bigbluebus · 04/06/2017 17:20

We don't generally do hotel/package holidays but have been on 2 in the last 24 years . One was a cruise, where the rule was that no towels could be left on the sun bed unattended for more than 45 mins - that included lunchtime. It was policed by staff who stuck a ticket on any vacant towel noting the time. After 45 minutes the towel was removed if it's owner had not re appeared. We have also recently returned from a 4 * hotel holiday. Pool towels were provided by the hotel so most towels looked the same. There was a rule that said no unattended towels on sun beds before 9.00am. (so no reserving your lounger before breakfast!) The hotel also had a section of beach reserved for it's residents so battling for sun loungers didn't actually appear to be a problem - but there was a hotel lifeguard both at the pool and the beach section so there was someone who could police it if necessary!

EeekWhat · 04/06/2017 17:20

Unless you are in the pool or just nipping to the loo or to get a drink then it's rude to reserve a sunbed

YANBU

Honeyandfizz · 04/06/2017 17:28

There's a very interesting clip on YouTube that some pissed off woman has filmed of the sun bed wars. Completely fascinating!

DarkFloodRises · 04/06/2017 17:29

YANBU. I've moved towels in the past. And I also pick up my own towels when I'm leaving the pool area.

Needanewaura · 04/06/2017 17:30

Bigbluebus 45 minutes sounds like a very reasonable compromise. It allows people to nip to breakfast or lunch, take a dip in the pool etc but stops them reserving a bed they have no intention of using for several hours.

Taking someone's towel off after five minutes is just ridiculous. It means you can't even go to the loo without losing your place. But these things really seem to bring out people's inner toddler. Some (entitled) folk think they deserve all the resources. Other, more timid, people don't like to rock the boat. However, having manners shouldn't mean you always get a crap deal.

OP yanbu.

manicinsomniac · 04/06/2017 17:31

YANBU

But, if people are getting up at 4am on their holiday to guarantee access to a sunbed, I'd say the hotels need more sunbeds, no?! Having somewhere to sit in the sun is not an unreasonable expectation on a sun holiday - seems crazy that the number of seats wouldn't correspond to the number of people booked at the hotel/resort.

Original poster

Nancy91 · 04/06/2017 17:32

I love spending a couple of days per holiday hanging around the pool drinking They aren't budget hotels or anything but it seems the staff don't ever enforce the no reserving policy. I think it's easier for them not to get involved and upset guests. I take my stuff off the sunbed when I leave because it's not fair to hog it all day.

OP posts:

ememem84 · 04/06/2017 17:35

The last "pool" holiday I went to loungers were allocated to you based on room number as soon as you entered the pool area. If you left they were reallocated. Some people complained but it worked well.

seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 04/06/2017 17:35

Or you could do this ...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=LuIJqF8av6I

cheeeekyavocado · 04/06/2017 17:35

If your place your towel on a sunlounger, you should immediately place your arse on it and use it immediately. It's very cheeky to hog a lounger indefinitely while you faff about else where when other people are there wanting to use them now.

Really hotels should allocate sun loungers per room and number them, and also have soft areas to lie towels on the floor too.

Honeyandfizz · 04/06/2017 17:38

Have a look at this clip recorded by a well pissed off woman on holiday!

sodablackcurrant · 04/06/2017 17:40

@seadragon

That really made my day. Thanks for that!

choccyp1g · 04/06/2017 17:43

* manicinsomniac But, if people are getting up at 4am on their holiday to guarantee access to a sunbed, I'd say the hotels need more sunbeds, no?! Having somewhere to sit in the sun is not an unreasonable expectation on a sun holiday - seems crazy that the number of seats wouldn't correspond to the number of people booked at the hotel/resort.*

I was about to post exactly this.

Efferlunt · 04/06/2017 17:46

Worse when at a fancy spa last week. The towels were the hotels so when people finished using the sun beds they walked of and left them. By lunch every one had a Towel on it and you'd couldn't tell if they were being reserved or not. Grrr

Beyondworried · 04/06/2017 17:50

Because I intend to spend the day by the pool. The same as everyone else. Going to breakfast do 20 minutes should be allowed as I am using the sun beds from the time I put the towels on

But you are not using the sun bed while you are having breakfast though are you. Anyone would be in their rights to remove your towel and use the sun bed themselves if you aren't even there

Crumbs1 · 04/06/2017 17:52

Don't the hotel pool staff usually give you your towel and set up your sun bed? Why would you need to reserve loungers - aren't there enough for all the guests?

WindyWednesday · 04/06/2017 17:55

I hadn't ever seen anything like this until we went to turkey on honeymoon. We had travelled the world and never seen it.

We strolled down to the pool on the first day and no loungers to be had. We spent the day in our room as there literally wasn't anywhere to sit outside. We spoke to the holiday rep and she advised us to get down and reserve one at the crack of dawn to get one. I said it wasn't fair, but she was all for it. I agree with the angry lady on the video clip. It was so stressful and after our wedding all I wanted was to lie by the pool.i was so annoyed.

Original poster

Nancy91 · 04/06/2017 17:57

Crumbs1, not where I've stayed. Some provide the towels but not all, and the sunbed thing is always a free for all

OP posts:

AyeAyeFishyPie · 04/06/2017 17:57

Crumbs1 - no idea where you are holidaying, but I've never been to a hotel that does that.

PossomInAPearTree · 04/06/2017 17:59

This is why I will only book an apartment/room with a private terrace/balcony and it's own sun beds!

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