A US comedian has ignited a fiery transatlantic debate about a common holiday resort habit, after declaring she will happily sit on a poolside lounger 'reserved' only by a towel if no one is using it.
The Viral Declaration That Divided Holidaymakers
Houston-based comedian Quinn Doran took to TikTok to share her controversial stance, stunning viewers with her audacity. In a video shared to her account @pumpquinnspicelatte, she stated plainly: 'This might be controversial but I sit at chairs that already have towels on them.' She justified her position by arguing she does not view a lone towel as a reservation if the chair is unoccupied for hours on end.
Doran expressed bewilderment at holidaymakers who wake up extremely early to place a resort towel on a prime sunbed, only to disappear for a large portion of the day. 'I don't see them as reserved, because nobody is sitting there,' she asserted. Her core argument was simple: 'If you're mad at me for 'stealing' your chair - that's not your flippin' chair!'
The 'Collateral Rule' and Fierce Online Backing
Doran did outline one exception to her rule, which she dubbed the 'collateral rule'. She explained she would leave a chair alone if, alongside the towel, there was an item of genuine value. 'I'm gonna take your chair, unless you have something of value on it,' Quinn said. 'You left the Declaration of Independence on the chair. You left some collateral, your firstborn. Alright, fine. I'll leave your chair alone. But if it's just a chair with a towel? Girl, I'm taking that chair.'
The video amassed thousands of views and comments across TikTok and Instagram, with the vast majority of respondents firmly in Quinn's corner. Many labelled the act of towel-reserving for hours as 'bad manners' and 'fair game' for anyone else to claim. One supporter commented: 'I find it so wild people do this. I am taking that damn lounger every time.'
Others shared their own strategies for dealing with confrontations, with one saying: 'When/if they come back I say, 'Oh sorry, it was bare when I got here? Maybe the staff moved it?' I. Do. Not. Care.' Another simply suggested replying: 'The chair was empty.'
A Widespread Resort Dilemma and the Policy Reality
Commenters noted this is a frequent issue not just at resorts but also on cruise ships, describing the behaviour of 'horrifically entitled' guests. Many pointed out that numerous resorts have explicit policies prohibiting chair reservations. One holidaymaker recalled: 'Our resort in Cancun had a 90-minute rule - and the beach and pool staff enforced it.' Another mentioned a resort that placed timed cards on chairs and removed belongings after 30 minutes of absence.
An ingenious deterrent was highlighted by another traveller: 'At the last resort I stayed, there was a $25 USD charge for losing a towel, which prevented people from 'reserving' pool chairs out of fear someone would steal their towel. It was great!'
Despite the overwhelming support for Quinn's view, a minority defended the practice. One person argued, 'I wake up at 5am to get my spot. Don't take it,' while another bluntly stated: 'If you move my towel I will indeed come back after I'm done swimming to tell you to move.' However, even some who secure spots early agreed that leaving a chair empty for hours is disrespectful.
The debate culminated in anecdotes from self-described 'pool vigilantes'. One couple boasted: 'My husband and I stayed up one night until 6am, and before we went to bed, we took all the towels off the chairs that everyone had been placing out from 5am onward and put them in a huge pile on the pool deck. Chaos.' The discussion underscores the unspoken tensions and clashing holiday etiquettes that can turn a relaxing poolside into a zone of quiet conflict.
