The new hotel pool rules

This article is part of FT Globetrotter. miami guide

You can almost hear the familiar, hoarse voice-over of the world’s most famous nature documentary filmmaker: we are observing a fragile environment, in which creatures of different stripes and sizes have congregated near a glistening body of water. Young people seek to play, pulling their parents to attract attention; others want rest, drinks in hand and beach readings within sight. A uniformed team strives to ensure harmony and satisfaction among all, observing, advising and complying. Someone takes out a phone. And the sideways eyes begin to tremble.

This is the hotel pool, an ecosystem governed by the practice of often unspoken codes of behavior. In Miami, a rapidly growing hub of luxury, capital and influence (i.e. influencers), with technology increasingly present, pool etiquette is evolving and more important than ever, particularly during the winter months. , when tourism in the Sunshine State is at its peak. top. Each hotel has its own pool conventions and suggested protocol (and often multiple pools, each with different rules); some are more relaxed, others more strict, but there are common points. Here’s our guide to the new hotel pool rules, with tips from some of Miami’s pool masters.

Photography and videography

With a smartphone and therefore a camera placed at the end of each guest’s arm, photography has become a particularly complicated subject, especially when it comes to the time-consuming and time-consuming collection of social media content. space. “Technology is taking over,” says Rodrigo Falcón, director of guest experience at the luxurious Four Seasons at the Surf ClubTall and tanned, in a polo uniform and shorts, he has led the pool team here for five years.

“Sometimes when people take too many photos, we have to ask them to stop,” he says. “Our guests want privacy, so we have zero tolerance for people taking photos of other guests.” He advises those who want to take photographs to be mindful of others, and is happy to help camera-happy influencers speed things up. “I’m usually the photographer,” he says. “I guide them where to take the best photographs.”

The Setaia quaint luxury hotel in South Beach, takes a more assertive approach. “We encourage guests not to take photos,” says Vitalii Andriianov, pool and beach crew chief, who after winning the green card lottery in 2017 moved to Miami from his home in Siberia, where he was a petroleum engineer. and mines. He cites the hotel’s appeal to VIP guests and celebrities who might be nervous with cameras around (apparently Drake is a regular). “But a selfie in a cabin with a pool is fine,” he adds. Discretion is the rule. Don’t even think about bringing a drone.

Other considerations of the new school

Portable speakers are another modern concern increasingly faced by hotel guests and pool attendants, and they’re categorically prohibited, so bring headphones (Andriianov says his poolside staff will provide a pair to anyone who uses them). need). And while the etiquette around smoking has historically been a fail (it’s banned in most pools and, as of last year, on Miami beaches), the use of vaporizers and e-cigarettes has now come to the fore. .

“Vaping is a delicate matter,” says Andriianov. Choose your e-cigarette wisely and be prepared to store it: “If there is no smoke, it is allowed, but if there is too much [vapour] It’s not allowed, so no one has to breathe it.” Falcon says he could ask guests to move to an area further away from the pool and other people, so they can vape without disturbing anyone.

Navigating old-school etiquette issues can also be a minefield for travelers. Can you reserve chairs? Do you tip pool attendants? Where are children allowed? Are there rules about alcohol consumption?

Chair reservation

Both Falcon and Andriianov say that it is not necessary to reserve your own chairs. They suggest letting a breakfast-time attendant know when you plan to go to the pool (and your seating preferences) and they’ll have a spot ready. If you don’t arrive on time, expect the venue to be held for 30 to 45 minutes, “then we release the chairs,” Falcón says.

tips

And should you tip for their service? In short, yes. “It’s hard work,” says Andriianov, smartly dressed in a navy suit, his uniform for the pool deck. “The sun forgives no one.” The automatic service charge on poolside food and drink bills often goes to the bartenders, not the pool attendants, so they’re always grateful to be recognized. “It makes both parties happy: people feel good when they leave or receive a tip,” says Andriianov. As for how much to leave, “it’s whatever people deem appropriate.” (A 20 percent tip for any service is standard across the board in Miami.)

Falcón says that at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons, one of the most expensive stays in the city, the level of service they provide is reflected in the price of the room, although tips are certainly appreciated. “Sometimes guests tip every day of their stay, at the end or the beginning,” he says. Tips typically range from $20 to $100 per day, but $20 is the norm.

Family friendliness

As for children, family hotels often have pools reserved specifically for them, and the general rule is to keep noise levels and safety in mind, so don’t run around. Poolside games and toys are often offered, but “we don’t allow big toys, like water guns,” says Andriianov.

The familiar treatment extends to dogs, whose presence is more common after the pandemic as people increasingly travel with their pets. Dogs can be in the pool areas, but on a leash or on a bed (or, in Miami, in a bag). “We sit them in the shade with water and treats,” says Falcón. “But we have to be aware that not everyone likes dogs, so we have to control where they sit.”

I ask about PDA (public displays of affection), having recently witnessed a swimmer trying to avoid a couple curled up like octopuses, tied at the mouth, drifting and unaware. Falcón says you have to remember that “you are not in a house, you are sharing space with others.” Sometimes you have to intervene if you feel a couple’s PDA is bothering other guests and might move them to a quieter pool or offer them a complimentary cabana: “I’m not shy to tell the couple, but I find the right time and the correct words to explain [the situation].” (She also suggests going to a pool as early in the day as possible if you want to swim.)

As for drinking? Continue, but be aware of your surroundings. “I’m from Russia, I don’t care,” Andriianov says, laughing. “We don’t have any problem [with drinking]. It’s not a party atmosphere, but you can enjoy the atmosphere and feel relaxed.”

Pool Party Etiquette

The party scene, another facet of Miami hotel pool culture, is its own ecosystem of daytime drinks, DJs, dancing, poolside posing, strutting and splashing. Does the etiquette differ and the rules are just as strict in an environment that should be relaxed? To discover it I venture to the legendary Fontainebleau hotel, which since its opening 70 years ago has hosted every U.S. president since Dwight D. Eisenhower and has been a hub for notable pleasure seekers, including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Liberace.

The Fontainebleau’s pool deck is spacious and vibrant, with a total of 11 pools, one of which is designed for partying: the Arkadia Day Club, a lively and cheerful atmosphere open Friday to Sunday from noon to 6 pm Hotel guests and the paying public ($500-$3,000 for a chair, chaise lounge or cabana, depending on the season) can expect live DJs (Calvin Harris will host on New Year’s Eve), bachelor parties and single and bottle service. The parties peak during Art Basel, the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Swim Week.

“It’s designed to be a lush, adults-only tropical park,” says Cole Boucher, founder of Essential Hospitality, the management company that oversees pool operations at Fontainebleau. But there are some rules to keep in mind. Drinks should be consumed “safely and responsibly,” it says, and “when it comes to taking photos and videos at the pool, we recommend being aware of the people around you and capturing your memories without interfering with others.

“Remember, others may not be as excited to be photographed as you are, so keep your friends and family informed at the shoot,” she adds. And “if you want to smoke or vape, do so with consideration for the pool-goers around you. Maintain a respectful distance, especially if food or drinks are nearby, and properly dispose of used cigarettes or cartridges.”

As for what to wear? Swimsuits, of course, but once you leave the pool deck and into the bathrooms or other areas of the hotel, “resort attire must be worn at all times, including shoes, tops, pants and clothing.” .

Later that afternoon, looking for a categorically more low-key environment, I head to my hotel’s quieter pool with my laptop. Also present are five other adults, two school-aged children, a Chihuahua and a huge, furry Alsatian dog. The dogs are in the shade, leashed and relaxed, intermittently sipping their water bowls or sniffing their humans for a pat. Parents remind children to be careful with their splashes and to “use their inner voices.” Two men, enjoying a few beers, chat animatedly but at a considerate volume, and I type silently, without needing to wear headphones. Everyone seems satisfied. The system works.

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