All-Inclusive Resort Guests are furious
Your novel, towel and seat may not be where you left it on your next vacation.
It seams vacationers are needing a vacation from their vacation. If you have spent any time on social media, you know people are often not happy about all kinds of things. One of the most frequent complaints published in travel planning groups is the early morning reservation of lounge chairs, daybeds and shade umbrellas. We have spent some time reading the comments and asking questions and the results of our conversations are quite interesting.
My wife and I have been traveling the Caribbean for more than 15 years. One of our oldest memories from our honey moon, involves us catching on to a game or custom involving the early morning reservation of lounge chairs. On our first day we decided to spend time at a large pool with a palm tree island and after breakfast we found two lounges near the pool. Throughout the day we noticed the lounges next to us had a few towels folded on them, bottles of sunscreen, and a novel or two. These chairs had a very nice large shade umbrella between them and as the heat increased our interest in these lounges increased. Our lounges were in the direct sun so Alaina and I kept an eye on these chairs all afternoon. We waited to see who had scored a nice spot yet no one came.
The next day at the beach we noticed the same. Many lounges under the palm tiki umbrellas had bags and belongings and guests would come and occupy the spots throughout the day. Again we were in the sun but tucked under a few palm trees for a bit of shade. We decided on day three to skip breakfast and get a real good spot. We woke up early and found our place. People would begin to arrive and pick out spots and leave a few things then disappear. We both looked at each other and smiled. People were waking up early getting their picks and then going to eat, excursion or back to sleep. Game on!
We never spoke to anyone who was upset about not finding their favorite spot available nor did we overhear anyone complain about people reserving chairs despite the resort being quite busy. Each day there were lines for the beachside lunch restaurant and dinner’s required reservations. People would just move on if they encountered towels and sandals on daybeds or lounges and moved to a new area on the resort till, they found a place they wanted to relax for a while. You would see people move around throughout the day as they grew tired of their spot or spotted someplace, they liked better. Often times guests would gather at the bars and enjoy a few beverages and then grab an open lounge chair or two if they spotted availability they liked. Everyone was relaxing socializing and enjoying their time.
Fast forward 15 years and one pandemic. Vacationers are very stressed and short on patience. A recent social media share of a photo showed 4 lounges on a beach with towels clipped to the seat backs. The individual who posted wrote that this photo was a classic example of selfish people. He explained that he had been at the beach all day and not one person came to claim these four chairs with towels neatly folded and clipped in place with large plastic cloths pins. There was a long thread of comments agreeing that reserving lounge chairs is selfish and rude. But what surprised me was the long thread of comments from individuals who stated that they simply move items to enjoy the daybeds or lounges they want.
I decided to find out more so I thought of three good questions to begin asking people. 1) What do you do with the items you move? 2) How long do you wait before you move personal items? 3) Has anyone been angry when they return to claim their belongings?
The responses were quite interesting.
Most told me they refuse to wake up early to acquire a spot to enjoy for the day. This makes sense. If you wake up early for work every day you deserve some time to sleep in. Unfortunately given the tradition of resort culture, the tradeoff for sleeping in is a lack of seating options.
The travelers who have moved someone else’s belongings told me if you do get up early and find a spot and leave expect to find your things in a pile or at the bar. Naturally I asked where do you pile the items you move. The common answer: To an empty chair someplace nearby. One guy remarked he chucks stuff up the beach. I do not know about you but I would be pretty mad if I came back from getting more towels or drinks and found my stuff chucked up the beach. Hopefully this guy finds the relaxation he needs.
When I asked how long should you wait before moving items, most vacation group members told me that if your items have been sitting untouched for an hour and your spot is better, you will probably come back to find your flipflops and sunscreen moved. A few told me they do not settle on vacation. If they arrive pool side and you and your friends are not using your chairs, your items are moved.
Not one group member replied that they had made someone angry due to moving the person’s items. One member told me that she has never seen anyone return to claim their books and bags while she was in their seat. This member told me that this is the whole point, people just do not come back. [As we chat I can hear little Michelle Tanner exclaim, “So Rude!”.]
A few members sent me policies from two or three large resorts. The policies were all similar in that lounge chairs are cleaned off by staff at 9:30AM and every 90 minutes after. The policy went on to state that lost items can be retrieved at the front desk. Our family loves all-inclusives and we travel often to many different brand and independent resorts. We have not witnessed the staff removing personal belongings. But there are a few official written policies regarding this long-time subculture, and it seems that reserving is against the rules.
Many resorts sell a reservation service. Resorts offer an upgrade to butler service or if you are a club member you may receive butler service as an included benefit. The butlers will check in with guests and ask where they want to sit for the next day. In the early mornings they move about reserving cabanas, lounges and sun shades so their guests can sleep in or enjoy an early excursion. The online chatter acknowledges that butlers go out and reserve on their client’s behalf. The general consensus is that using butler service is fine because families are paying a lot of money for that upgrade.
Recently we traveled with friends who paid for a private cabana at the beach. We asked the butler if anyone could enjoy the empty cabanas without paying and he replied yes. They wouldn’t get exclusive service and stocked coolers but the beach waiters would still come and take drink orders. He went on to say that if someone wants to upgrade for the day that the nonpaying guests may be asked to move based on availability.
Ok confession time. I have been that guy. No not the flipflop chucker… That other…guy. Just earlier this year on vacation, I woke up early one morning and planned out a whole day for my family. I acquired seating at the main pool near the swim up bar and I secured a double sunshade lounger on the beach. The plan was to get breakfast, chill by the pool till lunch, get lunch and then move to the beach for the afternoon. Of course, we cleared off our poolside seats when we left, making them available for others. It was a fantastic day. While writing this article my wife shared that reserving two separate areas pushed her comfort zone of kindness and after talking with so many people, I agree that taking two nice spots is kind of greedy. A kind lady I spoke with put the online frustration into perspective when she remarked, that while traveling as we are enjoying ourselves, we need to make sure other guests get to have a good time and enjoy their hard-earned vacation.
Three big takeaways from these conversations:
1) People are more stressed and may be less patient on vacation than they appear.
2) If you reserve a spot make sure you use it within an hour of claiming the space
3) If you are spending long periods of time in the pool, ocean or beach bar do not be surprised if you find your items moved and your seats gone.
Is resort culture changing? Are people becoming less tolerant on vacation? Have you ever had to go back to your room because there was no place to sit? Send us a quick note and let us know. You can email us at sunhatsntravelmaps@gmail.com or direct message us on Facebook and Instagram, just search for sunhats and travel maps. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunHatsnTravelMaps Instigram: https://www.instagram.com/sun_hats_and_travel_maps/
Until next time keep recycling more bottles of reef friendly sunscreen -Dan
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