We just returned from Capella Pedregal (trip report soon!) and wanted to post this as a general topic of discussion. ....not about this resort in particular.....but about many beach resorts.
We dislike the practice of holding beach/pool chairs and haven't been to many resorts where this is done. And while there were plenty of available full-frontal fabulous-view lounge chairs at Capella Pedregal (particularly by the residence pool), there were some at the main pool that people would “hold” with their celebrity gossip magazines, barely-there cover-ups and whatnot until they decided to wander down around 11 or 12. Since we are early risers, we found this irritating, and at one point we got a little fed-up and decided if we wanted a nice spot by the main pool, we’d better just place something on a lounger before we sat down for breakfast. About an hour later, we came down to our lounger only to find someone else’s stuff “holding” our chair. When we asked a staff member whose things those were, it got weird and uncomfortable and pretty soon there was a manager desperately trying to make it up to us, etc. etc. And while everyone was very polite, we decided we would never try to reserve a lounge chair again.
Our recommendation for resort general managers is to discourage the practice altogether….just ask guests not to do it. For people like us who routinely arrive at the beach or pool by 8 or 9am, it does nothing but create bad feelings when those seats go empty for hours at a time. Thankfully, the Capella Pedregal had other great “view” chairs to choose from so it worked out fine.
Just curious....how do all of you feel about this? And if you agree it's not good, how could a property stop it? Maybe a nicely written letter as part of the guest welcome packet?
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While I think you are absolutely correct in your position, we must as well defend the right of guests to temporarely live their chairs for any kind of reason(s)...as example they forgot one of those celebrity gossip magazine in their room and they just need to go to pick it up, or they have some phone calls to do and do not want to bother fellow guests with their noisy chat...there might be tons of reasons.
I believe the best policy I had encounter is to clean any chair/bed that is let for a maximum time of one hour.
I agree I hate that people get up early and place personal items on a lounge chair so it can sit empty till they decide to use it. Not that I am proud of it but many years ago at Las Ventanas I got up early to use the pool and watched a guest come down and dump their stuff on a chair. It happened to be windy so after my swim I walked by and dumped it in the pool.
At the Setai in Miami Beach I was very happy sitting front row one morning looking at the sea. About 11 am the beach attendants came and set up a new row for a couple right in front of me, umbrella and all blocking the view.
My visit to Amanpuri it was very clear to me that the front row was reserved by the beach attendants for guest already at the resort. You could move into those seats once the guest checked out.
So yes I hate it!
when i said "only way to completely eliminate is to immediately prevent/remove" i was referring to timelimits only being possible theoretically, and not really being possible practically, in terms of being a perfect solution to the problem
immediately prevent/remove is just going a slight step further than >
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ericka
Our recommendation for resort general managers is to discourage the practice altogether….just ask guests not to do it
in terms of actually mandating policy, and being the simplest to explain/enforce
although, perhaps there could a clarification - immediately remove upon arrival of new guest
one question there becomes variation in chair placement and therefore preference
zigzag, im not understanding re amanpuri. im interpreting what you said as this - they have tiers of guests based on arrival date. technically, short stay guests would check in and checkout before long stay guests check out, so they would never be first tier if there are enough long stay guests... especially if long stay in 6BR villa maximum occupancy (incl owners) vs short stay in 1BR pavilion.
something aman might do at some smaller properties is actually have more chairs than maximum occupancy, and then actually permanently reserve a chair for each guest for their entire stay
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Nov 11, 12 at 2:59 pm..
It is an issue that happens everywhere which is really annoying.
Where we own our condo in Bali - there is one spot around the pool that we love, its an area that has garden on either side of it - and just enough room for two loungers and a table for two between. Right on the pool and you look over the pool to the ocean and beach.
If we do not get there first - thats' just the way it goes.
One year we arrived on the Saturday afternoon and its often taken which is fine. Sunday morning due to jet lag I was up early, my partner was fast asleep -so I got up grabbed my stuff and went down to the pool so my tossing and turning would not wake him.
There was a dirty ashtray and an empty beer bottle on the table with a towel. This was 630am.
I went and sat on the beach and watched the sunrise. There was an older gent reading just along the pool. I came back from the beach at about 8am - asked the older guy if he had seen anyone at the table - he said no ive been here since 530, so i cleared the stuff - handed the towell into the pool boys and set myself up for the day.
When the better half came down we went and had breakfast by the pool.
The hotel policy is after 1 hour an items are cleared.
At about 1130 I was in the pool and saw someone speaking to my partner - i could tell by the body language that it was not a nice converstation.
we had stolen their table and done something dreadful with their hotel issued pool towel.
i told my partner he should have referred him to management but he moved.
Another year - another couple wanted it too. Friends who got up early every morning and prayed on the beach at sunrise, said she would reserve it for me, which she did. when she came off the beach he was sitting there - she asked him about her book and stuff on the table - he said he never saw it.
The next day she left her keys on the lounger - that worked.
Its just a joke - but the hotel staff will rarely interfere.
I like the idea of dumping stuff in the pool and blaming the wind
The whole "reserve the chairs" thing is ridiculous and should not be allowed full-stop. I have noticed that Americans and Russians in particular have an obsession over this- waking up at 4:30AM to run down and claim "their" chairs. What kind of vacation is that?
If I arrive now at a place with this type of reservation policy I check out and go somewhere else the next day- I don't need this aggravation in my simple life.
Not as good as their penalty shootout ad, but I bet most Brits would remember this ad from nearly 20 years ago...
The ad with the Italian national soccer team practicing for the world cup was also phenomenal. I never thought of this as a German trait- in general the whole idea just makes me roll my eyes (or rent a private villa and be done with it).
I am against this idea of reserving loungers by placing your items on it for hours at a time while you're out doing something else. At a luxury resort, they shouldn't allow this. I would definitely voice my opinion as a a guest which may influence management to implement a policy against this.
Unfortunately, if this is allowed, you have to play the game or risk not having a chair to sit on ! I actually paid for "priority" beach lounger access at the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos so I wouldn't have to rush out and play this stupid game. I guess it is much like paying for cabanas by the pool in order to have somewhere to sit.
We generally sit out earlier but only stay for an hour or two... it would be very annoying to have to run out early and "save" a spot.
The main property that pops to my mind is FS Maui. Granted we've only been the once, but I vowed never again -- as has been reported numerous times, there's a line waiting to grab seat by 6:30 am!
I actually like the way the FS Maui handles this kind of thing. You won't see the boorish behavior of people claiming lounge chairs by leaving their stuff on them and then disappearing for hours on end. Yes, you have to wait in line early if you want the prime spots but the attendants have every chair mapped out and know exactly which guest has claim to what chair. You only have a certain amount of time you can be gone before your chair gets given away. If all chairs are occupied, they'll take your name and call you when something opens up (instead of having to wait around).
At first I thought this kind of "system" sounded a bit rigid but it completely eliminates the problem the OP is describing.
I actually like the way the FS Maui handles this kind of thing. You won't see the boorish behavior of people claiming lounge chairs by leaving their stuff on them and then disappearing for hours on end. Yes, you have to wait in line early if you want the prime spots but the attendants have every chair mapped out and know exactly which guest has claim to what chair. You only have a certain amount of time you can be gone before your chair gets given away. If all chairs are occupied, they'll take your name and call you when something opens up (instead of having to wait around).
At first I thought this kind of "system" sounded a bit rigid but it completely eliminates the problem the OP is describing.
Ah, thank you. This system is new since I was there (before they converted the children's pool and the empty grassy area next to it to an, I believe, adult pool).
Still sounds horrific, but at least they've taken steps to mitigate the disaster it used to be.
Ah, thank you. This system is new since I was there (before they converted the children's pool and the empty grassy area next to it to an, I believe, adult pool).
Still sounds horrific, but at least they've taken steps to mitigate the disaster it used to be.
I should point out that I spent most of my time at the Serenity (adult) pool and I'm pretty sure they don't have the same system for the regular pool.
I agree it would be a nightmare for those who hadn't planned on getting up early. We were lucky with the time change, coming from LA, so we were up before 6 AM anyway.
When we asked a staff member whose things those were, it got weird and uncomfortable and pretty soon there was a manager desperately trying to make it up to us, etc. etc. And while everyone was very polite, we decided we would never try to reserve a lounge chair again. 
and they just need to go to pick it up, or they have some phone calls to do and do not want to bother fellow guests with their noisy chat...there might be tons of reasons. 
