‘Reserved’ towel renegade who took on seated holidaymakers dubbed himself ‘hero’
The sun is out, the sun is out.
The millions of Americans getting outdoors this Memorial Day weekend might want to think twice about claiming prime spots at pools and beaches after Reddit was inundated by an online debate about proper waterfront etiquette .
@konijn12 wrote about how she got so tired of fellow guests at her all-inclusive resort using towels to “reserve” beach chairs for later use that she began removing them from unattended chairs every morning.
On the first day at the resort, the Redditor said she didn’t find any open lounge chairs on the beach.
“Alright, we arrived in the afternoon,” she wrote.
However, the next day, she and her travel companion arrived back at the beach to find heaps of open loungers — but were “overwhelmed” by towels that unseen guests had placed there.
“We find a seat and to our surprise many of the chairs remain reserved most of the day or are never used,” she posted.
On the third day, the vacationer decided to take matters into her own hands – in the truest sense of the word.
She and her companion decided to just grab the towels from two lounge chairs and settle in for a day in the sun.
After four relaxing hours by the sea, an elderly couple confronted the Redditor saying that’s where they left their towels and hired an attendant to “get us on our way.”
“This pissed me off so every day after breakfast I would remove the towels from any unattended lounger and then go watch the chaos from my balcony,” she wrote.
After numerous complaints from resort guests, “by the end of the week there were signs that unattended towels were being removed,” she said. “Success!”
Users immediately voiced their support for the Redditor’s bold move and criticized the “ridiculous” audacity of eligible vacationers.
“The whole concept of ‘reserve’ a seat with a towel is ridiculous. If you absolutely want a seat, show up early. How dare they think that someone should sit on the floor just because a towel was hung there? Talk about selfish and entitled,” one user replied.
“Small revenge leading to small grievances leading to policy change against the complainants is just awesome,” wrote user RSKG.
Some even celebrated the traveler as a hero.
“Not all heroes wear cloaks, but it could have been made into a towel,” joked Jeffriestubesteak.
Others could not believe that the attendant sided with the other couples.
“I don’t see how the overseer could throw you out of your seats – when your word is against the old couple and you’re in possession. I’m not Karen, but I’d yell for the manager if they dared transfer me,” said another Reddit user.
How long can a seat remain unoccupied before it is allocated?
One user, Rabid_Dingo, said that the unwritten rule is that if the seat is vacant for 15 minutes, it’s anyone’s business.
Others argued that 30 minutes was more appropriate and more than enough time.
“I’m sticking with it [resorts] Often for business reasons and most have signs by the pool advising that your belongings can be moved if your seat is unattended for 30 minutes,” said one commenter. “It’s good that you’re forcing the lazy management to finally set up sensible rules.”
At least one person should stay behind if others have to leave temporarily to qualify for a seat, some said.
Most agreed that the practice of reserving seating with towels would appear to be dying out, meaning first come, first served and moving your feet loses your seat.
