[AnonChick]

Here's what I did when I was visiting a casino resort in Vegas and all the seats at the pool were occupied by towels and random other things, while no one was actually IN the pool:

I would stand near the chair I wanted to sit for five minutes. If no one showed up, I would move all those random other things, and the towel, to the chair next to me. On top of the towel and random other things that were already there.

Every single time, without fail, I was able to occupy that "reserved" seat without being troubled by whoever "reserved" it showing up to reclaim it. Upon leaving, I would simply move all the items back where they were when I showed up.

If people can't have the courtesy to BE THERE in the seat they claim they want badly enough to deposit their belongings, then they'll just have to suck it up when someone who actually wants to sit, does so.