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Original poster

Reserving sunbeds

125 replies

OhamIreally · 29/07/2023 06:18

I have just got up and reserved two sunbeds at the resort I'm in.

I hate doing it but 25 minutes ago all the sunbeds were clear then when I looked again 10 minutes ago about 30% were reserved with towels.

Now, I am not an early riser and I fully accept that the early bird gets the worm BUT this is not early risers going for breakfast and reserving a sunbed on the way as breakfast hasn't even opened yet.

This is the last day of my holiday. Most days we haven't had sunbeds as I have refused to do the reserving thing and we have gone to the beach instead.

I'm really upset that this is a thing and that I've had to do it.

Thanks for letting me vent. Don't know what the answer is.

OP posts:
Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie · 29/07/2023 06:19

What happens if you go to the pool later and your towels are gone?

BoobyDazzler · 29/07/2023 06:24

The answer from hotels should always be that towels left for more than an hour should be removed. I wouldn’t go to a hotel that didn’t have that policy.

Weesiewoo · 29/07/2023 06:34

I come from a country where this isn't a thing. It is considered very bad form. When I go to countries where it is a thing I move the towels. It's rude, entitled and selfish. If you want to use the chair, use it. If not leave if for someone else.

Twilightstarbright · 29/07/2023 06:42

I can’t remember its name but there’s a hotel in Cyprus which allocates sunbeds- you state that number, location preference, shady/sunny etc. sounds wonderful!

mum11970 · 29/07/2023 07:00

Absolutely hate it when hotels allow this behaviour. Went to a 5 hotel in Turkey a few years ago and they would actually line up at the entrance to the pool area and then sprint for beds as soon as the chain was moved. Sometimes these people didn’t appear again for most of the day. Alternatively we went to a bog standard 3 in Greece a few years prior and the life guard moved any towels that were left for more than an hour. I’d only return to one of these hotels and it certainly isn’t the 5*. I now spend ages researching sunbed wars on trip advisor before I book any hotel. I refuse to book anywhere that allows this kind of behaviour.

mum11970 · 29/07/2023 07:01

Please excuse the bold. I forgot and used an asterisk to denote 5 star and 3 star

tonystarksrighthand · 29/07/2023 07:05

We are in an alleged 5* resort now and this happening. Watched a family put their towels on beds at 9pm last night!!

Tapasgoofy · 29/07/2023 07:06

We are at a resort now too… and if you don’t have a sun bed by 7.30am you won’t have one on the front row (which I prefer as I want to be able to watch the kids properly and there’s only 2 rows.

Iv hated getting up so early every day for a bloody sunbed but by 8am they are pretty much gone!

Lifeguard checks once at 9. Removes a few which has caused a scene the other day and after that they are left for the day.

We do leave the towels on the sunbeds while eating lunch too as we wouldn’t get any when we get back otherwise.

TerfTalking · 29/07/2023 07:11

We’ve never been a hotel and pool holiday family so this was an alien concept to me until we went to a AI in Cuba. There we first encountered a “sunbed family” who went down early with six towels complete with giant clips holding the towels in place and reserved the best spot every single day, only for between 2 and five people to turn up several hours later. They were only ever a five person family, but needed six beds for their bags you know! They came and went throughout the day in varying numbers, but those towels and clips were there for 12 hours.

it was fascinating to observe and distracted me from my Kindle because they were the only people that did it and there were literally dozens of spare beds all day. Like hot-desking at work, you arrive, you sit, you leave, someone else comes and takes your seat.

it’s ridiculous, but it was entertaining to watch.

it dozens of people did this I would avoid the hotel.

dogsweetdog · 29/07/2023 07:14

It's bloody annoying but I can understand why you joined in.

Previously I've removed towels and left them folded on the floor, and moved the beds to a different spot 😂

Wheresmyrobe · 29/07/2023 07:15

Why have you waited until the last day to reserve beds when you knew you wanted them and needed to reserve them?

WandaWonder · 29/07/2023 07:16

If they cause this much stress is it worth thinking of other things to do on holidays?

DatumTarum · 29/07/2023 07:18

This is mad.

I just move the towels.

A few years ago I watched a load of people put them out and go to breakfast. Must have been about 25. I picked up the lot and piled them in a corner and then went to breakfast myself.

IncenseAndPeppermint · 29/07/2023 07:19

I’ve never been to a resort where people do this, so I find it fascinating & strange. Surely if there’s no one on the sunbed for hours then you could just move whatever towel has been left on it? Why is everyone allowing this bizarre & selfish behaviour to go on?! I mean, honestly, what would happen if the towels were moved?? (Genuine question - not trying to be goady!)

DatumTarum · 29/07/2023 07:21

tonystarksrighthand · 29/07/2023 07:05

We are in an alleged 5* resort now and this happening. Watched a family put their towels on beds at 9pm last night!!

Take them to reception as lost property

IncenseAndPeppermint · 29/07/2023 07:21

Snap! I like your style @DatumTarum 😁

IncenseAndPeppermint · 29/07/2023 07:24

Follow up question - in these situations do the towels belong to the guests, as in they brought them from home, or are they using hotel towels?

LizaTarbuckForQueen · 29/07/2023 07:29

And this is why I love small, boutique hotels with more sun beds than sleeping beds.

PinkPondQueen · 29/07/2023 07:30

I remember seeing a video of a crowd of people standing by the gates to the pool area early in the morning and when the hotel staff opened the gates they all ran with their towels to reserve their loungers! It was just genuinely bizarre to watch. It shouldn't be allowed and why the hell can't hotels just provide enough loungers for everyone anyway!

Mylobsterteapot · 29/07/2023 07:32

It would be such a shame if the wind blew all the towels into the pool, wouldn’t it.

DatumTarum · 29/07/2023 07:32

PinkPondQueen · 29/07/2023 07:30

I remember seeing a video of a crowd of people standing by the gates to the pool area early in the morning and when the hotel staff opened the gates they all ran with their towels to reserve their loungers! It was just genuinely bizarre to watch. It shouldn't be allowed and why the hell can't hotels just provide enough loungers for everyone anyway!

I've seen that!

More Hunger Games than holiday

freetheunicorn1 · 29/07/2023 07:33

Sad!

Hotels should be removing towels off beds unused for a certain period!

gogomoto · 29/07/2023 07:33

Much prefer hotels with pool staff, they issue the towels too do you cannot reserve just with a towel. Not had an issue myself but I choose hotels wisely and I'm not keen on the pool anyway (plus by the time we get up, eat, faff about some are leaving!)

cuckyplunt · 29/07/2023 07:35

Try holidaying with a choice mix of Russians and Liverpudlians like we did in Turkey.
I didn’t mind getting up at 7 to reserve sun beds, I did resent having to do it though. I wish hotels would actually enforce the policy and actually remove towels.

PinkPondQueen · 29/07/2023 07:38

DatumTarum · 29/07/2023 07:32

I've seen that!

More Hunger Games than holiday

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