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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People reserving hotel sun loungers with their towels...

118 replies

MoreCatsForMePlease · 18/04/2022 19:26

Arrrggghhhh!

I just returned from a lovely week away in the Algarve.

I was not able to get a sun lounger by the pool during my entire stay! Every time I went to the pool, all of the sun loungers were reserved with towels/ books. There'd only be actual people on around half the loungers.

There were signs up everywhere asking people not to do this, yet every morning, without fail, a scrum of people would run out and do it anyway!

I'm not brave enough to tell anyone off or complain Sad

Has anyone been at a hotel that has actually put a stop to this twattery?

OP posts:
TheRocketWillFly · 19/04/2022 10:33

[quote HunterHearstHelmsley]@MissMarpleRocks

What if they’ve gone to the loo or for a swim? When the dcs were young no way could I’ve got to the loo & back in 10 minutes!

Someone did this to me once! I'd gone to get a drink. I perched on the end and smoked a cigarette.[/quote]
Yuk. Must have been a while ago.

SolarPortrait · 19/04/2022 10:40

Many years ago, I was at a hotel where people started putting towels down on the sun beds the night before! One night we were on the balcony very late and watched one drunk reveller take all the carefully laid towels and throw them into the pool. He got a round of applause from us.

It such a selfish thing to do. You can see towels laid out for people who are out all day and then just have a quick dip in the pool and leave.

Original poster
MoreCatsForMePlease · 19/04/2022 18:14

It's very easy to say "just chuck the towels in the pool", "just tell them to do one", and so on, but in reality very few people are brave enough to actually do this.

The clowns who hog the sunbeds by reserving them clearly have a bit of a brass neck about them. They aren't the type of people you want to start a fight with.

OP posts:
balalake · 19/04/2022 18:37

Agree about the Trip Advisor review.

You should have moved the ones nearest to a team member or perhaps the reception. Folded the towels up neatly and in a pile away from where you were, and not just one or two.

TheRocketWillFly · 19/04/2022 18:59

Just wondering, for those of you that think it is ok to just chuck all the towels in the pool - who do you think is going to have to pick them all up every day?

woodhill · 19/04/2022 19:08

@Shmithecat2

I must admit, I started bagsying sunbeds 3 days into my last holiday. Went down about 7.30am, put my towels down, went back up to sort stuff put for the day and was on my lounger by 9am. It wasn't for the lounger or location of lounger though - it was for the parasol. So many of the loungers had no parasol or shade, which was really unpleasant for the first couple of days. No amount of SPF50 or hats could make it bearable. If there were more parasols, it wouldn't have been an issue.
Yes especially if you burn. It's a problem when there are not enough parasols
Alwayscheerful · 19/04/2022 19:13

The Russians always do this en masse before breakfast.

Lavenderlid · 19/04/2022 19:33

I've stayed in hotels where this happens. It's a pain. You end up in a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" mind set unfortunately.
There is no way I want a row with a family who've possibly been drinking all day either if I've chucked their towels off.

Shmithecat2 · 19/04/2022 19:36

@woodhill

I do indeed burn (white as milk). And my ds is only 6y, he gets plastered in factor 50, wears rash suits etc but the shade is still needed! I genuinely don't care where I lounge, I just want some shade whilst I'm lounging!

woodhill · 19/04/2022 19:43

I'm the same and it's not always easy to find

Change123today · 19/04/2022 19:54

We trying to find and book a holiday ….I can’t be bothered with the whole sun bed drama - I’ve discounted so many hotels after reading the reviews Grhh

We stayed one year where you there was a pool attendants and they would allocate you bed/parasol etc and then move the parasol around during the day to ensure no burning! We also stayed in one place where family of 4 would save themselves 4 sun beds…..2 never used as the kids having fun in the pool! When people would ask if they could take one they wouldn’t share!! I don’t get why the children needed one! I only use two for us and the kids just either sit on the inflatable they’ve been using or end of the bed! And the ones never used all day - just selfish!!

Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 19/04/2022 20:31

I always check the reviews for sun beds. Last place I went I was lucky enough to bag a double bed right next to the pool because there was more than enough to go round. I find the higher starred hotels dont have sunbed issues.

Lucyccfc68 · 19/04/2022 21:22

First beach/pool type holiday I ever had (Greece), was full of entitled sun bed reservists. They would literally put towels out at mid-night for the next day.

I was early 20’s so was out clubbing most nights and didn’t even manage to get to the pool until about 2pm each day.

I had a great time rolling in at 5am every morning and removing all the towels. I never threw them in the pool, but would dump them all in a big pile by the bar.

MossyBottom · 19/04/2022 21:28

I wouldn't be brave enough to risk confrontation by moving towels.
However, even in the busiest hotels I've never failed to get a sunbed. It's not usually the beds that are the issue but the location. Everyone wants to be by the pool. I'm happy in a corner in the shade which is not the most popular location.

cansu · 19/04/2022 21:59

This tends to be an issue in these big family hotels. You get people in massive family groups who tend to monopolise the pool area. The best place I stayed was in a complex with lots of smaller pools scattered around the grounds. It was also close to the beach and there were no kids. Loads of space, none of this weird reserving of sunbeds. Bliss

Fairisleflora · 19/04/2022 22:13

One of the reasons why this type of holiday is my kind of hell.

StoneofDestiny · 19/04/2022 22:36

Just remove them - and move the lounger elsewhere if you are wary of repercussions.

TizerorFizz · 19/04/2022 23:23

@Fairisleflora
And mine. It’s no fun is it? Don’t some hotels have pool cabanas? Make guests pay for them! Reserve for the holiday in advance. It’s the only way. This pool stress is why we gave up on this type of holiday.

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