The, which has over 65 thousand likes, sees user AV16mm share two images. The first is of a handwritten sign that reads: “Reserved for a birthday party. Please respect the space we’ve set aside and do not use our tables. This is a 4 year old’s party. Don’t be the one to mess it up. Thank you.”
The second photo is of four unoccupied park benches with table cloths in a reasonably busy park, with people sitting on the grass in the background, and a person sitting in a camping chair to the right left of the tables. On what appears to be a hot day, the four tables are the only ones’ visible in shade.
Users in the comments compared the situation to the well-known and contentious debate surrounding reserving deckchairs on popular holiday beaches, resorts, and cruise ships. The top comment left by Boolash77 reads, “It’s like people reserving pool chairs at 7am and not showing up to the pool until 3!”, with nearly 12 thousand likes.
Back in 2016, the situation in Italy became so difficult a crackdown was made on tourists reserving sun loungers, fining those who refuse to comply with their Sea Safe initiative $200. Similarly, in 2019 a German man sued a fellow cruise ship passenger after a violent argument broke out between two couples over the reservation of sun loungers.
Some resorts, such as the Four Seasons in Maui, have clear rules to avoid conflict, with notes in every room signed by the resort manager reading: “Personal belongings placed on chaise longues prior to 7a.m do not constitute possession of that chair.” Items are removed after one hour. Similarly, at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, Miami, pool loungers are available on a first come first serve basis, with unattended belongings removed after an hour.
A study by Travel Supermarket from 2016 surveying over 3,000 British and German travelers found that 11 percent of Brits are more likely to reserve a sun lounger with a towel, compared to 8 percent of Germans.
One user commented: “I’ve seen pools now say things unattended for 2 hours will be moved. That’s the way to do it. Park needs a similar policy, while another user replied, “I’d say 2 hours is being too generous. One max.”
Another user shared their own experience: “Once had someone toss our personal towels, books, sunglasses, hats, and lunch. We were in the pool. Better make real sure that someone isn’t using the pool/in the water before you toss their stuff,” in a comment with over 1,400 likes.
