A German vacationer who was frustrated about not getting a sun lounger despite waking up early at 6am took legal action and successfully obtained compensation. The man, accompanied by his wife and two children, spent approximately £6,200 (€7,186) for a holiday package to Kos, a Greek island, in August 2024. He complained that despite his efforts each day to secure sun loungers for his family, most were already occupied by guests reserving them with towels, contrary to hotel rules.
The man, unnamed in reports, stated that even at 6am, the majority of sunbeds were already taken, leaving his children to lie on the ground. He also alleged that hotel staff did not enforce the policy against reserving sun loungers in advance with towels. The dissatisfied tourist sued a tour operator in Hanover, and the court ruled in his favor, determining that the holiday package was flawed as it did not provide the expected experience.
Although the tour operator was not directly managing the hotel, the court held it responsible for ensuring each guest had access to a sunbed during their stay. Additionally, the judge mandated that the travel company ensure a reasonable ratio of sun loungers to guests at the hotel. As a result of the ruling, the operator was required to refund the man £850 (€986.70), initially offering only £300 (€350). This significant decision coincides with the upcoming Summer holiday season for British tourists who frequent similar pool and beach resorts.
The practice of the “dawn dash,” where guests wake up early to secure sunbeds, is a recurring issue. Last year, a holidaymaker recounted being surprised to find sun loungers already claimed hours before the pool opened. The individual noted that people seemed to have reserved beds by sleeping on them overnight, causing unnecessary conflicts. Another guest shared a similar experience of waiting over an hour for a sun lounger at a high-end hotel, describing the situation as chaotic due to the ongoing “sunbed wars.”
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