AIBU swimming pool etiquette..

I think you ought to thank your lucky stars you can afford a holiday in the canaries! Lots of us can’t.
Be grateful for what you’ve got

YABU
Book somewhere with a private pool if you want silence

If they weren’t speaking on their phones they would be speaking to each other so yes you are being unreasonable in not wanting people to speak, maybe you should plan for a different type of holiday.

Had a holiday in Turkey this year. Resirt was very family friendly. Never heard anyone on a phone other than when an adult was letting the rest of the family know which pool he was at. Don't know if cost of making calls there were prohibitive and most contact was via texting. I know this us what my family did.

There was a photo of a fairly crowded beach recently, circa 1960. There were no phones, radios or, remarkably, anyone looking overweight. The main comment was that if you need music on a beach you haven't got the point.

I can't think of anything more boring than laying on a sunlounger by a noisy swimming pool! I would get up early, have my swim (that's what the pool is for!) Then shower and go out to explore. Leave the noisy lot to it.

Really??? Would you object to people around you having conversations? I think maybe a villa on your own with a pool maybe more suited.

You are being slightly unreasonable.

I love silence. But I know that about myself - we choose skiing in silence, small boat cruises with tables for 2, our own balcony, and so on. Perhaps choose differently next time you holiday?

Not on holiday but on a train last week a bloke got on immediately on his phone talking really loud and monotonous , I listened for two stops then I moved up another carriage. Peace at last. Why do people have to talk so loud so everyone had to listen.

I quite enjoy hearing others conversations I can weave my own little fictional story around them
If you want peace and quiet go to a bigger beach, a cove, or a nice open area, never round a pool where ll you ll hear conversations, squealing, shouting, laughter and even quarrelling

I emerged from a long gorge walk last year to many missed calls from an unknown number. Turns out my dad had called 999. The paramedics couldn’t find anything wrong with him but I ended up having a long conversation with them in front of the other people travelling with me. It had to be done but I was embarrassed.

There are 2 factors here. Firstly the issue of mobile phones which are here to stay and this should be accepted. Secondly people should behave considerately in public areas. Holidaymakers are often quite excited and noisy. Please accept this and find a different type of place to stay. For example some hotels have quiet adults only pools. For me this would be a nightmare. I love the company of others and enjoy busy places and people watching. Although I love to visit the countryside and other remote places I could never live or holiday in an isolated area. Last week I met with an old friend. She confided in me that she disliked the modern world. I love it!!

They're on holiday, it's up to them what they do. Try a retreat or a villa in the middle of nowhere next time.

I try to be considerate of others around me. I’m aware others won’t want to listen to me wittering on! I was on the bus the other day, going to see my elderly stepfather. My phone rang. It was a friend who I’d not spoken with in a good while. I just said ‘I’m on the bus I’ll ring you back when I get off’. Which I did and we chatted as I walked from alighting the bus up to my stepfather’s front gate.

Someone earlier here said the word “retreat” which may be perfect for you for the silence you want. But do they have swimming pools?

If you’re in the Canaries at some resort hotel, there will be noise, movement, commotion, laughter, talking. You cannot restrict people from talking - even if the place you’re at is for 60 and older. And seniors can be a real lively problem too.

You might just be at the wrong place.

Totally with you MrsAF. I hate people bawling into their phones wherever I am. Walk in the woods? Here comes a runner jabbering into thin air. Cuppa in a restaurant? Same thing. There's a different cadence - not to mention, often volume - to these one-sided exchanges. I find them invasive and often inappropriate and most certainly different from groups of people having fun together. If I need to have a phone call like that I am most apologetic, talk quietly and end the call ASAP. The idea that we have to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime is to my mind draining and depressing.

It's a long time since I've done package holidays, but do some hotels not have rules about mobiles round pools?
I've just checked one I know in S of France, and the rules state that phones should be switched to silence round the pool.
A placer leur téléphone portable en mode silencieux.
Maybe if you are bothered by noise, it's best to check first.

Very very yabu - there is not one universal idea how to enjoy and behave on a holiday

Adults only does not mean it is going to be more peaceful

In the future, please do call the hotel to ask for the rules for the guests in the common areas

Usually in the Canaries there is a wall poster with pool rules, typically in adult only areas it will mention it being a “quiet area”
Enlist the help of some nearby Germans, stare hard at the shouty people and start making pointed comments to make them aware…

I do understand where you are coming from but I think it’s just the way of the world now and you don’t do yourself any favours by getting cross,
Unfortunately a mobile phone conversation seems to require a louder volume than a real life conversation. The odd thing is that most of the time the speakers don’t seem to notice that they are so loud.
We should all be considerate of each other in public places but perhaps phone etiquette hasn’t developed as far as, for example, table manners yet?

Hmmmmmm, I would look on it like this...

a) You are fortunate to be able to on a foreign holiday, a lot can't afford.

b) It's other people's holiday too and if they choose to partake in a, b or c then brilliant, it makes them happy.

c) We can't expect other people to adhere to our own way's.

Saying all that I hope you have a fabulous holiday.

Totally agree

Yes you are unreasonable hire a private villa if you want silence around the pool if others have family who enjoy conversation with them it's really up to them you are not the pool police

i do agree that perhaps it was not the best place you could have chosen to have the sort of holiday you wanted, but then people should be considerate too , especially regarding phone calls. I have my own immediate and available answer to things like this!! I was travelling by train, and had chosen to be in the quiet carriage. As a singer I often need tolook at music and learn things. I can put on headphones and quietly play the piece so that I can read the music and see how it will fit into the rest of the orchestra or choir. So there was a most annoying man who was bashing away on his laptop and then also talking - or I should say shouting - on his phone. I looked across and said could you keep the noise down please, this is the quiet carriage, hearing agreement from two other people behind me. He just huffed and continued with his selfish ways. So I waited until he began yet another loud phone call and then began singing quite loudly in his direction. He looked startled, said What a couple of times and then that he would ring them back. Once he was quiet I also sat quietly. He rang another number and started again in a loud voice- I began to sing Verdi Requiemt!! He then said , will you be quiet, I am trying to work , to which I replied, yes well I am a singer and I am also trying to work. If you do not adhere to the silent rule then neither will I . To which , rather sweetly, a voice behind me said "Much prefer to hear your singing" so he then shut up and so did I. about 20 miles fiuther on , he began again and so did I. He then snorted and muttered but got up took his possessions and left!! So I would always try and be fair and allow for a reasonable amount of time for a phone call etc but I have immediately at hand my weapon of my voice!! Can chose most appropriate song too to fit the bill. !Try it sometime!