It shouldn’t have to be said but don’t pee in the pool.
Picture it: You’re finally on your long-awaited vacation. You’ve had visions of sparkling blue water dancing in your head for months, and you roll up to the beautiful pool at your resort, sun screened up and beach bag in hand, ready to lounge the day away.
Then: Sad trombone. Every single lounger has a towel or other belongings on it, indicating that the space is occupied. A quick glance around, and the math doesn’t add up. There are way more towels on chairs than people at the pool. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to quickly deduce that people are saving chairs, perhaps stealing out in the early morning hours to claim prime poolside real estate, and then going about their morning business, leaving the seat “occupied” and unavailable for other guests to use.
Rules are everywhere, and resorts and cruise ships are no exception. Although resort etiquette can sometimes be murky, there are just some things vacationers shouldn’t do at the resort or cruise ship pool. Summer vacations are in full swing now, but people flock to the tropics year-round, so no matter what time of year you’re hitting the resort pool, consider this your friendly pre-trip etiquette refresher.
Don’t Claim a Pool Chair You Don’t Intend to Use Presently
Whether or not it’s okay to save a pool chair is almost as hotly debated as whether or not you should recline your airplane seat. Leslie Bishop, managing partner at 5WPR, lists saving pool chairs as being high on the list of resort guest complaints. “Staff are often approached about available chairs and guests reserving them with towels or personal items for extended periods without using them or even being in the pool area,” says Bishop, who has managed global hospitality brands such as Foxwoods Resort & Casino and Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels.
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While the early bird catches the lounge chair, early bird swimming might not align with your vacation plans. While it might be tempting to rise early to secure your spot at the pool before heading back to bed or to grab breakfast, ask yourself if you’re being fair to other guests. Spoiler alert: you’re not. It’s an inconsiderate move that makes it harder for those actually present at the pool.
Most properties have posted signs about the pool chair policy. There’s usually some vague statement about not saving seats or referencing a limit on how long a seat can be unattended. How–or whether–those policies are enforced is another story. On a recent trip to Beaches Resort in Turks & Caicos, my husband and I arrived mid-morning at a nearly empty pool to find a towel on every single chair. After watching us walk around the pool twice trying to find a chair, the pool attendant removed two towels and waved us over to a set of loungers in the shade, explaining that the people had left a while ago.
Aulani, Disney’s resort on Oahu, has one of the most transparent and proactive pool chair policies I’ve seen. Posted signs state guests may reserve a chair with towels or other items for one hour and that after that, the staff reserves the right to remove the property. On top of that, Aulani has a system in place to flag chair hogs. I spoke to an Aulani Cast Member who shared that a fresh towel draped across the back of your lounger signals that pool staff is honing in on that spot as potentially unattended and watching to see if you come back. If you’re visiting Aulani and see that towel, that’s code for “They’re about to come and take your stuff,” so make sure you’re legit using your chair.
Taking matters–or towels–into your own hands might end badly, so move someone else’s property with caution. If your resort pool is a sea of empty loungers adorned with lone towels and no other signs of life, ask pool staff to help you find a seat. It’s always best to let hotel employees be the ones to remove towels or someone else’s possessions. Let them be the heavies – it’s their job and will save you from unnecessary friction with another guest.
Travel Consultant Jenn Greene of MEI-Travel says she always reminds clients who book vacations with her to use common courtesy when using shared resort space. “Oftentimes, travelers seem to think the pool at their resort or on their cruise ship is their own private pool. I once saw a family on board a cruise put 25 towels on two rows of chairs at 7 a.m. Yes, 25 towels! Don’t be that family.”
Chill With the Poolside PDA
Maybe everybody loves love, but that doesn’t mean other humans want to see you canoodling in the hot tub or on the loungers. Even if you have a cabana, which affords those willing to drop a little more cash some additional privacy, be mindful of what your fellow vacationers might be getting an eyeful–or earful–of. Sure, there’s always the “But we’ll never see these people again” mindset, and while you probably won’t, it’s selfish to subject other resort guests to a front row to your smoochfest.
Get a room. Literally, you’re already at a hotel–how hard can this be?
Don’t Let Your Kids Run Wild
Your kids are on vacation, too–let them have fun. That said, you’re not on vacation from being parents, and the lifeguards and other parents aren’t babysitters, so don’t glaze out in your lounger or get lost in your novel to the extent that you’re unaware of what your youngsters are up to.
“Children at the pools must be observed and monitored at all times,” says Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez, a hotel industry veteran whose client roster includes 35+ Hilton properties worldwide and numerous other resorts. D’Argenis-Fernandiz lists kids in the jacuzzi, diving, and running on the pool deck as her top three most common breaches of pool rules. She also stresses that these rules are in place for the safety of guests and resort staff.
If your resort has a designated family pool, it’s best to utilize that. Family pools usually have amenities that cater to kids, such as water slides or organized pool games. They also provide a spot where kids can find other kids to play with and for young families to find their people.
It should go without saying that no one should try to slip their kids into clearly marked adult-only spaces, although you’ll occasionally encounter someone who missed the sign or thinks their little angels are the exception. Still, families using shared pools should read the room–er, pool deck–when selecting their hangout spot. Setting up camp next to anyone giving off “I didn’t come to the pool to get wet” vibes is not the ideal scenario, so if you must pick that seat, some extra vigilance with your small humans is probably in order.
Packed That Personal Speaker? Not so Fast
According to Jo Hayes, a leading etiquette expert, the biggest no-no at a resort pool is excess noise. “There should be no personal stereo systems, including music via phone speaker, allowed in the resort/pool area. This is what earbuds are for. One’s music is for one’s ears, and one’s ears only,” says Hayes. She adds that phones should be on silent when using shared resort spaces with no dinging, ringing, or loudspeaker conversations. “People want, and need, an escape from the stressful triggers of day-to-day life, including noise pollution.” It’s also a good idea to take phone calls elsewhere—if you must answer your phone at the pool, keep the call off speakerphone or FaceTime.
The same goes for kids playing on a tablet during pool breaks. Use headphones or keep the sound all the way down. Families with kids probably wouldn’t dig someone blaring explicit material on their personal speaker, but that works both ways: the kid-free vacationers would doubtfully be thrilled with Blippi or Peppa Pig noises coming from the next chair over.
Under No Condition, No Matter What…
It shouldn’t have to be said but don’t pee in the pool. Although this is a breach of pool etiquette that will probably slip by undetected–unless you announce it, which would be next-level rude–just don’t do it.
Peeing in the pool is nothing compared to a couple of 10 year old kids pooping in a pool!! This happened at a hotel at which we were staying last summer. The parents were sitting poolside but ignoring the kids. After the poops floated up, the pool had to be closed for our entire visit.