Can I reserve the hotel lounger by the pool with a towel?

As vacation season begins, many hotels see a rush for the best loungers at the beach or pool, often reserved with towels. But is this even allowed? Experts clarify.

Some people hate it, while others take advantage: In many hotels, guests reserve the best loungers at the beach or pool with a towel early in the morning to use them later in the morning or afternoon. But is this allowed?

There is no uniform or legal rule for this, explains lawyer Nadja Hettich from the German Hotel Association. Each hotel can decide for itself what rules to set - it's a matter of house rules.

Morally, it's frowned upon, says etiquette expert Karin Schleines: 'You just don't do that. I think it's not nice for other guests,' she tells the travel bettercities.net. 'If the hotel says: 'No reserving loungers,' then you should avoid doing so!' As a guest, you must abide by the hotel's rules and customs.

For those who agree with Schleines and remove an abandoned towel, it's important to stay calm during a confrontation and possibly find another lounger, advises the expert. 'If you remove a towel from a lounger and are confronted, don't retaliate. Keep a clear head and address the issue. This also applies to the person whose belongings were moved.'

It's essential to explain why you're occupying the spot. If there's a sign with rules, refer to it. Often, hotels have staff who will remove towels after a certain amount of time.

For potential confrontational guests, Schleines suggests: 'Perhaps the person didn't know the lounger was reserved because the towel was removed by staff.' If that's the case, travelers can naturally disassociate blame. However, 'if the person insists on their lounger, I would personally give in and find another. Eventually, one will become available,' advises the expert, to avoid confrontation.

To avoid conflicts and remain legally safe, Hettich recommends speaking with hotel staff to have the towels placed in a designated area.

Fundamentally, there are no ownership rights to loungers or other seating just because a towel or object is placed on it. Hotels use various methods to deter guests from reserving loungers.

At Allsun Hotels, the pool service staff is instructed to react accordingly if a lounger is occupied by a towel for an extended period but not used by the guest, reports tour operator Alltours. Because reserving loungers is not allowed. Tui, however, states that they have an average of 1.5 loungers per guest, making reserving rarely an issue.

Some hotels set a specific time limit after which staff removes towels. This is often between 30 to 60 minutes. To indicate the 'penalty time,' some use yellow or red discs to signify the time limit.

Meanwhile, some hotels allow reserving loungers, but only after a specific time. To ensure even late sleepers can find a suitable spot, some places do not allow loungers to be reserved with towels before 10 a.m.

Travel bettercities.net