At a truly posh resort, wouldn't it make sense and/or be possible to bribe/tip someone (beach boy, pool attendant, bellhop) to reserve the chair FOR you? I mean, luxury in all things, after all....!

I have never gone on a vacation woth the sole intention of planting my arse at the pool all day. And, anyone who does this and needs to make sure of it by "reserving" a chair by 6AM is missing out on the finer things of travel and life.

I'll go to the pool at around 4pm after my activity filled day when all the sun gods have left.

... and the beat goes on. Some of us never have a problem finding a poolside chair or a parking space. Must be our even temperament, and refusal to confront poeople over something as SILLY, yes, Donna, SILLY, as chairs. But since it is sooo important to you, I do wish you luck in your eternal pursuit of your holy grail, the hallowed lounge chair.

Regardless of ones' demeanor, if you stay at a resort with 400+ units, there will never be enough seating at the beach or pool. "Posh resort" aside, you can tip all you want but you can also bet your bottom dollar that the "reservie" can also play the tipping game.

Ahhnold: that IS the problem...IMO it is those people who hold chairs, go out for the day - leaving those chairs unusable b/c they have left their book, reading glasses, paper, etc. on the chair, and then they return at 4pm they can, without effort, plop themselves down. It leaves those people who would like a late morning or mid-afternoon respite to flounder around with no place to sit.

Are you implying that it is ME that is leaving the towels?;-)

I don't know Ahhnold...are you reading Jackie Collin's "Lethal Seduction" and do you wear rhinestone glasses? :)

Rhinestone glasses.....and NOTHING else.

Oh, baby......

We've gone from politics and headed towards porn on this travel forum. Who knew!?!?

What do you expect from the Democratic National Convention week. I've heard rumors of Clinton smoking cigars all week.

I think I would pull a 'blonde' stunt and say something like "oh, isn't it nice of the resort to put towels on the chairs," and sit down in the one I want.

Since I'm an early bird at the pool and usually leave by 10:30 (need to keep the pale white pallor) I haven't had a problem at the one resort I've been to that had this system. I'm more of pack the car and let's head to the coast person.

ncgirl, you made me laugh out loud! Thanks! I needed that!

ahhnold-so quick to judge!
"anyone "reserving" a chair by 6AM is missing out on the finer things of travel and life". Not true.

There are many places that I travel to where it is unbearably hot during the day and sightseeing begins at 4pm - Morocco & Costa del Sol for example.

I also have had skin cancer. While my husband is off scuba diving during the day, I am slathered with 30 sunblock, dressed in a sarong, t-shirt, glasses, and hat, and parked under an umbrella. I don't want to be out wandering in the sun during peak times. Shade at the beach and pool are perfect for me.

ahhnold, hopefully while you're by that pool you're also watching and reading those great speeches. maybe the country needs to change when good citizens are fighting about towels on chairs.

hehehe!

Blacktie...No, I was not one of the three people who is watching those great speeches. But I did see Uncle Ted last night, and his pronunciation was worse than Dubyas.

The Royal Hawaiian starts taking reservations for their beachside loungest,tables and umbrellas at 3 pm the previous day. You have to occupy the spot by 10 am or lose it. Once you've figured out the system, it works pretty well.

Regardless of who gets what chair, the needless pollution and resources/energy used to wash all those towels always bothers me! Compulsive, I know. But so many towels get washed that never were really used. A big waste. Couldn't people just hold a chair using their book or beach bag or suntan lotions, etc.-- if they must hold a chair at all? The worst offenders I've seen have been at resorts where people hog those nice beachfront cabanas all day long.

My daughter came back from a trip to St. Lucia a couple of years ago with stories about hotel guests who were able to drop towels from their balconies on to the poolside chairs below. Then they went back to bed, presumably, secure in the knowledge that their chairs were reserved with a minimum of effort. Nice, huh?