Etiquette expert reveals No.1 rule for bagging sun loungers & people aren’t impressed

A self-proclaimed expert on etiquette has divided holidaymakers over her rules for reserving sunbeds by hotel pools.

Every Summer, Hotels become the scene of hectic battles as guests try to reserve the best loungers with their towels first thing in the morning.

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But etiquette and elegance expert Katarina, who shares her expert opinion on manners on TikTok at @katarina.etiquette, says people should be less selfish and more considerate of other hotel guests.

In the footageShe said: “If you’re staying in a hotel, don’t block the sunbeds if you don’t want to stay there. This is disrespectful to other guests.”

“Unless the hotel has a reservation system, only use the sunbeds if you’re staying by the pool.”

The video was viewed 30,000 times and people gave their opinions in the comments.

One person had their own technique: “If nobody’s there and all the beds are occupied, I throw away a few towels.”

Another disagreed with the rule, saying: “If I go to a hotel that costs £100 plus a night I’ll take any seat.”

Another simply wrote, “It’s not etiquette, it’s common sense.”

And Katarina isn’t the only one to speak out on the matter, as renowned etiquette expert William Hanson believes there’s a 30-minute grace period for poolside reservations.

Here hotel guests can reserve a seat for a maximum of half an hour with a towel or a book.

Wilhelm told Sun Online Travel, “In the morning, early in the day, and you’re at the pool after breakfast, then it’s okay to put your towel on the bed at 8:30 to reserve your spot.”

“But later in the day, after you’ve used the lounger and go, for example, to a massage that will last an hour, you can’t reserve the sun lounger with a towel.”

If you want to grab a bite to eat at lunchtime, William says holidaymakers are allowed to eat in the hotel bar or restaurant as long as they aren’t gone more than 30 minutes.

He said: “It also gives your towel time to dry.”

William said, despite the grace period, “You can’t sit on the sun lounger all day.”

In the meantime, Laura Akanothe head trainer and coach of Polished Manners, doesn’t believe vacationers have any right to reserve a sunbed.

She told Sun Online Travel: “I think it should be on a first come, first served basis – if the resort doesn’t have a booking system.”

At some hotels, staff removed towels after tourists occupied the best seats without actually using the pool.

And in 2021, a “sunbed eater” caused a stir after brazenly discarding water bottles and towels at a resort at 7am to “reserve six loungers”.

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