Sunbed conflicts have reached a new level with British holidaymakers resorting to overnight camping to secure poolside loungers. This summer has witnessed scenes reminiscent of the Hunger Games as hotel guests fiercely compete for their preferred poolside spots.
One holidaymaker, Ben Smith, was shocked to find prime loungers already taken three hours before the pool opened. Despite the early hour, most beds were occupied, apparently by guests who had camped out overnight to reserve their places. Ben, 30, from Sheffield, described the situation as a “vicious circle” and shared a video of the incident while staying at the £259-a-night 4-star Gf Fanabe Hotel in Tenerife.
“People are sleeping on sun loungers to hold their spots,” Ben informed Luxury Travel Daily. “They claim the beds but the hotel enforces a policy where unattended beds are cleared of towels, so they simply lie on them. Some appear to be asleep. It’s a bit nonsensical. I understand why they do it, but they are essentially creating the problem they are trying to avoid. If people refrained from reserving unnecessary beds, there wouldn’t be an issue. I’ve noticed that the beds are mostly covered in towels rather than people.”
The trend of reserving sunbeds has not been limited to Tenerife. Numerous videos have emerged showing individuals hurriedly securing sunbeds with towels to ‘save’ them. Some holidaymakers were observed using questionable tactics to gain access to the pool.
This behavior leads to complications when sunbeds are reserved but left unoccupied for extended periods, preventing others from utilizing them. Hotels in various European destinations are implementing strict regulations to address the chaos. Recently, a couple received a warning from staff at a hotel after leaving their sunbeds unattended for too long.
In Spain, measures have been introduced to combat sunbed reservation practices on beaches, with hefty fines imposed on violators in cities like Barcelona and Costa Blanca. According to the regulations, beachgoers who reserve sunbeds or spots but fail to occupy them for an extended period may face fines of €250. Police are authorized to remove unattended sunbeds or towels before 9:30 am, with the belongings taken to a municipal depot for retrieval upon payment of the fine.
Have you witnessed peculiar sunbed conflicts? Share your experiences with us at webtravel@reachplc.com.
