Is SunDibs better than a written towel policy?
short answer
For fairness and for staff, yes. A towel policy depends on a member of staff removing a towel, which is where the confrontation comes from. SunDibs releases an unclaimed lounger when the arrival window expires, so the rule enforces itself and nobody has to touch anyone's belongings.
in one line
For any property where lounger scarcity is a regular complaint, a towel policy loses on every axis that matters to guests. It survives mainly because it is cheap.
| feature | SunDibs | a written towel policy |
|---|---|---|
| Fairness of outcome | Guaranteed by the arrival-window rule. | Depends entirely on how consistently staff enforce. |
| Guest-staff confrontation | None. The system releases pins silently. | Common. Removing towels creates arguments. |
| Front-desk complaints about towel removal | No staff member removes anything, so there is no interaction to complain about. | Every removal is a staff action a guest can dispute at the desk. |
| Cost to deploy | €24-€36 per lounger for Easy, software only, no hardware. Pro is €48-€72 with the markers and gateway included, 24 month minimum. | Effectively free, just a laminated sign and staff time. |
| Cost to operate | Near zero, enforcement is automatic. | Real, one staff member per pool, most of the day. |
| Works when property is short-staffed | Yes. Enforcement does not require humans. | No, enforcement is what the humans do. |
| Group adjacency | Live, based on measured Bluetooth adjacency. | Whoever gets to the deck first sits together. |
where a written towel policy wins
- A towel policy costs almost nothing to try, and it is universally understood by guests. If your property has occasional pressure only, such as a shoulder-season 4-star with a small pool, a well-enforced towel policy may be sufficient.
- There is no hardware to install and no dependency on wifi or a gateway.
- It is the incumbent approach, which means guests have zero learning curve.
Common questions
- Can we keep our towel policy alongside SunDibs?
- Yes, and most properties do during the first season. The published towel rule becomes a backstop while guests learn that a claim on their phone holds the lounger for them.
- What does SunDibs cost compared with a towel policy?
- A towel policy costs a sign and staff time. SunDibs costs a season licence per lounger, and Easy needs no hardware at all. Current rates are on the pricing page.
SunDibs is in its first pilot season. Where this page gives a number, it is either sourced or labelled as a target.
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