• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Resort pool chair saving is getting out of hand.

klpenny

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
Messages
317
Reaction score
154
Location
Boston
Resorts Owned
Harboside Atlantis, Sheraton Flex ,Marriott Son Antem, Vidanta
I refuse to set an alarm for 4 am and head to pool with a flashlight to reserve chairs.
It is surprising the lengths vacationers resort to in this article. This is a vacation?

So agree. If I have to do that it is not a place I want to go. I was at Hyatt Vacation Club resort this week in Puerto Rico and went down about 10am to the pool, which is my vacation schedule after a nice breakfast on my balcony overlooking the ocean. Was able to get two chairs together with an umbrella, no issue. I know this is not the norm, but I prefer to go to this kind of resort. 9am is the earliest as a night owl I am willing to go down to the pool. If there is so much stress to get a pool chair, not a vacation.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,332
Reaction score
9,474
Location
East Coast
There are pool hog everywhere at resorts, hotels and on cruise ships. They liked to go down to the pool area before 7am and place a book or a towel on a chair and write this chair has been reserved.
 

Luvtoride

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
1,438
Reaction score
1,129
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
Marriott Cypress Harbor
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Marriott Desert Springs Villas II
Marriott Grande Ocean
So agree. If I have to do that it is not a place I want to go. I was at Hyatt Vacation Club resort this week in Puerto Rico and went down about 10am to the pool, which is my vacation schedule after a nice breakfast on my balcony overlooking the ocean. Was able to get two chairs together with an umbrella, no issue. I know this is not the norm, but I prefer to go to this kind of resort. 9am is the earliest as a night owl I am willing to go down to the pool. If there is so much stress to get a pool chair, not a vacation.

Kl, I agree. We also vacation at Hyatt Vacation club resorts (Secrets, Dreams, Ziva, etc.) and never have an issue getting good seats at the pools after breakfast.

Gerry, thanks for posting the article…we’ve been there (literally at the resort in Aruba referenced in the article) and done that. In order to avoid that early AM alarm, we’ve paid for and reserve the private vendor umbrellas and chaises in the front row of the beach. It’s part of the cost of being on vacation.
I’ve shared the article with our family members who have all suffered thru the chair hog game!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

gln60

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
1,519
Reaction score
1,119
Location
The Garden State
Resorts Owned
Marriot Harbour Lake
Abound Points
Kl, I agree. We also vacation at Hyatt Vacation club resorts (Secrets, Dreams, Ziva, etc.) and never have an issue getting good seats at the pools after breakfast.

Gerry, thanks for posting the article…we’ve been there (literally at the resort in Aruba referenced in the article) and done that. In order to avoid that early AM alarm, we’ve paid for and reserve the private vendor umbrellas and chaises in the front row of the beach. It’s part of the cost of being on vacation.
I’ve shared the article with our family members who have all suffered thru the chair hog game!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The Aruba Ocean Club has a very good system in my opinion..At 7am every morning you can go on their site and pick the Palapa of our choice…We head down to the towel hut around 9am to get our towels and 2 tickets to give to the young man to set our loungers up Under our Palapa...we have been there twice in the last 2 years and haven’t been disappointed yet…we usually get either the 4th or 5th Palapa from the water…which is fine for us…very easy and stress free.
 
Last edited:

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
51,820
Reaction score
23,295
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
The Aruba Ocean Club has a very good system in my opinion..At 7am every morning you can go on their site and pick the Palapa of your choice…We head down to the towel hut around 9am to get our 2 tickets..to givand towelsWe have been there twice in the last 2 years and haven’t been disappointed yet…we get either the 4th or 5th Palapa from the water,which is fine for us
They have the same system at the Surf Club. What the Ocean Club has going for it is a lot more beach area and many more palapas per guest.
 

dougp26364

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
14,755
Reaction score
3,576
Location
Kansas
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grand Chateau
Marriott Shadow Ridge
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Marriott Destination Club Points
Hilton Grand Vacation Club Las Vegas Blvd
Grand Colorado on Peak 8
Spinnaker French Quarter Resort Branson
I read through a good portion of the article and have to wonder, do these folks really relax on their vacation? Has vacationing become a competition? I especially worry about the woman who admittedly “wore down” another guest who had removed her sunblock from a chair she wasn’t using. Who wants to relax by fighting with other guests over a chair?

We go on vacation to relax and get away from stress. Unfortunately, it seems it’s becoming harder and harder to be spontaneous while on vacation. If you have a must do on your list, it nearly always requires advanced planning rather than spontaneity.
 
Last edited:

jp10558

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2022
Messages
1,835
Reaction score
1,285
Location
Southern Tier NY
Resorts Owned
HGVC Seaworld
Wyndham Smoky Mountains
Foxrun Lake Lure
Gatlinburg Town Square
I read through a good portion of the article and have to wonder, do these folks really relax on their vacation? Has vacationing become a competition? I especially worry about the woman who admittedly “wore down” another guest who had removed her sunblock from a chair she wasn’t using. Who wants to relax by fighting with other guests over a chair?

We go on vacation to relax and get away from stress. Unfortunately, it seems it’s becoming harder and harder to be spontaneous while on vacation. If you have a must do on your list, it nearly always requires advanced planning rather than spontaneity.
It really depends IMO. If you go to cities I find there's always something you can just go and do - museums, last minute tickets to a show, heck just browsing the cool shops along the street. Some TS resorts really aren't in locations where there's stuff to do that doesn't need more pre-planning. That said, I also think it's the idea of "vacation" being sit by the pool. Seems strange to me. Like, go in the pool, sure. If I just want to sit somewhere, I can do that in the room, anywhere anyone in the group wants to go, I can do it at home without traveling.

I also agree with pedro - off season is way less stress. Though it does limit going places in the summer months.
 

Ski-Dad

TUG Member
Joined
May 18, 2019
Messages
613
Reaction score
536
Location
East Coast - Canada
Resorts Owned
Sheraton Desert Oasis
Marriott Grande Vista - Florida Club
Grandview LV - Vacation Villages
I play the game and go out early to secure two chairs, usually around 7 am. We are up early anyway.

The key difference is we actually camp out for the day from that time. Its our favourite time of day. We also tend to let the chairs go around 2 per 2:30. Nap time
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,332
Reaction score
9,474
Location
East Coast
I play the game and go out early to secure two chairs, usually around 7 am. We are up early anyway.

The key difference is we actually camp out for the day from that time. Its our favourite time of day. We also tend to let the chairs go around 2 per 2:30. Nap time
Good for you. There are so many people that will get up at 7am and will place a book or beach towel on a pool chair and reserve that chair. Liked There are no other guests at the resort or on a cruise ship but them. IMHO.
 

dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
May 20, 2006
Messages
51,820
Reaction score
23,295
Location
NE Florida
Resorts Owned
Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
Perhaps someone needs to start selling "pool chair saving kits". Buy some books at a library book sale, save some old empty lotion bottles and perhaps some cheap flip flops from the dollar store. Sounds like a good business opportunity.
 
Last edited:

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,332
Reaction score
9,474
Location
East Coast
Perhaps someone needs to start selling "pool chair saving kits". Buy some books at a library book sale, save some old empty lotion bottles and perhaps some cheap flip flops from the dollar store. Sounds like a good business opportunity.
LOL. dioxide45, please do not give pool hogs , any more new ideas.
 

WaikikiFirst

Guest
Joined
Apr 20, 2023
Messages
1,433
Reaction score
701
What's all this about resort pool hair shaving? That's disgusting. Who wants to swim in a pool that someone shaved in? All those little whiskers floating around, getting on my legs. And god forbid someone nicks themselves. Then you've got blood to deal with.

Umm, Rosanna ...
 

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
4,209
Reaction score
3,720
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
There are pool hog everywhere at resorts, hotels and on cruise ships. They liked to go down to the pool area before 7am and place a book or a towel on a chair and write this chair has been reserved.
I guess I’m not sure why people expect that the chairs will be saved? Whose to just go and take the chairs?
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,604
Reaction score
5,540
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
Remove items place on other "reserved" chair, lie down, relax, ignore when they return.
 

Dean

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
10,729
Reaction score
4,250
I guess I’m not sure why people expect that the chairs will be saved? Whose to just go and take the chairs?

Remove items place on other "reserved" chair, lie down, relax, ignore when they return.
I've seen several confrontations related to doing this. The interesting thing is that in several of the instances the staff was the one that removed the items. I'd suggest asking the staff rather than doing the deed oneself. IF a resort enforces this for a while then most people will get the message. My vote is for staff to remove the items left for whatever the cutoff is, usually 45 minutes to 2 hours and charge for towels not returned personally.
 

pedro47

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
23,332
Reaction score
9,474
Location
East Coast
I agree staff should remove the unattended items and be place , where everyone can see them for violation of the resort pool chair rules. No item should be reserved before 7:30 am and left unattended for more than 30 minutes; unless you are using the resort pool or at the grill bar.
 
Last edited:

Luvtoride

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
1,438
Reaction score
1,129
Location
New Jersey
Resorts Owned
Marriott Cypress Harbor
Marriott Ocean Pointe
Marriott Desert Springs Villas II
Marriott Grande Ocean
What's all this about resort pool hair shaving? That's disgusting. Who wants to swim in a pool that someone shaved in? All those little whiskers floating around, getting on my legs. And god forbid someone nicks themselves. Then you've got blood to deal with.

Umm, Rosanna ...

Never mind!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

davidvel

TUG Member
Joined
May 9, 2008
Messages
8,604
Reaction score
5,540
Location
No. Cty. San Diego
Resorts Owned
Marriott Shadow Ridge (Villages)
Carlsbad Inn
I've seen several confrontations related to doing this. The interesting thing is that in several of the instances the staff was the one that removed the items. I'd suggest asking the staff rather than doing the deed oneself. IF a resort enforces this for a while then most people will get the message. My vote is for staff to remove the items left for whatever the cutoff is, usually 45 minutes to 2 hours and charge for towels not returned personally.
Totally agree. But when this is a problem, it means the staff isn't doing a thing. We've been brushed off too many times to ask anymore. Never had anyone physically confront us, maybe a few times they'd ask "did you move our stuff?" "Nope these were empty when they arrived."

One time a guy said "Hey buddy those are our chairs. We reserved them this morning." "Sorry, they were empty when we arrived, and you aren't allowed to reserve chairs." People next to us said they were empty when they arrived (that part was true, as we removed 8 towels.) He walked away muttering and I smirked at him every time I saw him.
 

easyrider

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
16,822
Reaction score
9,471
Location
Palm Springs of Washinton
Resorts Owned
Worldmark * * Villa Del Palmar UVCI * * Vacation Internationale*
On our last trip, from the view on our deck, we would watch all of the people toweling the best spots every morning even though there are multiple signs saying this is not allowed. The pool guy came out every morning with a few staff and removed any unattended items. The chair towelers realized they had to have at least one person watch the chairs. So these wipes would save a row of chairs with one person present.

Until.....

I watched a couple go down to the saved chairs and move the items while the chair saver person was yelling at them. The pool guy came over and told the yeller there is no saving chairs.

To me, the pool doesn't really matter. If it's early morning and I'm up and out, it's going to be for fishing or an ocean activity.

Bill
 

Dean

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
10,729
Reaction score
4,250
Totally agree. But when this is a problem, it means the staff isn't doing a thing. We've been brushed off too many times to ask anymore. Never had anyone physically confront us, maybe a few times they'd ask "did you move our stuff?" "Nope these were empty when they arrived."

One time a guy said "Hey buddy those are our chairs. We reserved them this morning." "Sorry, they were empty when we arrived, and you aren't allowed to reserve chairs." People next to us said they were empty when they arrived (that part was true, as we removed 8 towels.) He walked away muttering and I smirked at him every time I saw him.
I'm not sure it's fair to say the staff isn't doing their job unless management has given them specific instructions to do this. Even if it's posted that they will remove items, often management doesn't instruct them to do so consistently. I'd put this on management in most cases. I understand they need to balance these issues for staffing and to minimize conflicts but I think in most cases they should do better than they do. Not all pools have an attendant or towel exchange booth but for busier pools during busier times, they should IMO. Still it seems that people are more selfish and less courteous than ever as a group and more easily upset or offended. Conflict is a risk in this situation and I've seen examples. Fortunately none of them turned violent but I'm sure there are examples where it did.

This is a problem at any resort where the pool is a focal point and cruises as well. Lately cruise companies do seem to be becoming more aggressive in enforcement though to some degree.
 
Last edited:

Superchief

TUG Member
Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
4,224
Reaction score
3,197
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I'm not sure it's fair to say the staff isn't doing their job unless management has given them specific instructions to do this. Even if it's posted that they will remove items, often management doesn't instruct them to do so consistently. I'd put this on management in most cases. I understand they need to balance these issues for staffing and to minimize conflicts but I think in most cases they should do better than they do. Not all pools have an attendant or towel exchange booth but for busier pools during busier times, they should IMO. Still it seems that people are more selfish and less courteous than ever as a group and more easily upset or offended. Conflict is a risk in this situation and I've seen examples. Fortunately none of them turned violent but I'm sure there are examples where it did.

This is a problem at any resort where the pool is a focal point and cruises as well. Lately cruise companies do seem to be becoming more aggressive in enforcement though to some degree.
I agree and people are more aggressive everywhere. At least it is harder to 'conceal' and carry in bathing suits, but I've even seen a guy with a gun in his locker at our Planet Fitness. I never asked him to hurry up and stop texting while on a machine.
 

jbman

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2023
Messages
92
Reaction score
78
Resorts Owned
Marriott's Grand Chateau
Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas
Vacation Village at Williamsburg
There is the other side of the coin to consider, how many people really want something like a 45-minute rule enforced?

If we are at a resort, we're not necessarily going to be spending much time sitting in a pool chair, we are going to be swimming with the kids, or going for a walk on the beach, or playing ping pong, or walking around the resort, but you (a) still need somewhere to put all your stuff and (b) you do need somewhere to sit throughout the day,

Having to pack up all your things, especially with young children, anytime you want to do anything is no good, nor is constantly having to watch your time to ensure you're back to the chairs before someone takes all your stuff away.

Maybe they need two sections, one section of prime chairs that are use them or lose them and have very strict rules that are enforced, and then the rest of the chairs be more relaxed for the drifters.
 

dayooper

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
4,209
Reaction score
3,720
Location
The Land of Ice and Snow
Resorts Owned
HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
There is the other side of the coin to consider, how many people really want something like a 45-minute rule enforced?

If we are at a resort, we're not necessarily going to be spending much time sitting in a pool chair, we are going to be swimming with the kids, or going for a walk on the beach, or playing ping pong, or walking around the resort, but you (a) still need somewhere to put all your stuff and (b) you do need somewhere to sit throughout the day,

Having to pack up all your things, especially with young children, anytime you want to do anything is no good, nor is constantly having to watch your time to ensure you're back to the chairs before someone takes all your stuff away.

Maybe they need two sections, one section of prime chairs that are use them or lose them and have very strict rules that are enforced, and then the rest of the chairs be more relaxed for the drifters.
You time your non-chair time around your pool time. If you are taking up a pool chair for more than an hour and not using it when there are multiple families that are waiting to use it, I'm not sure how I feel about that. If you want to go for a walk or play ping-pong, do it after your pool time. The only difference is when you are actually using the pool. This is still different than someone coming down at dawn to place towels on a chair and not come down until late morning to use it. If you want unfettered access, than rent a cabana if they are available. We have done that several times at resorts and we come an go as we please.
 
Top