We all know the particular kind of heartbreak that comes from descending to your hotel pool, ready to soak up some rays and sip cocktails, only to find that not a single sunbed is free. With more and more holidaymakers opting for a 6am wakeup in order to reserve seats in 'sunbed wars', it seems securing your poolside spot is becoming an increasingly tough challenge.
A German holidaymaker took legal action after losing one such battle while staying at a hotel in Greece - and has now received a £770 payout after successfully suing his tour operator. David Eggert, 48, claimed his children were left lying on poolside concrete because every one of the 400 sunbeds at his luxury Greek island hotel had been reserved with towels. The Dusseldorf pilot, who paid more than £6,200 to take his wife and two children on holiday to Kos in 2024, this month won the payout after successfully bringing a case against his travel firm.
How Hotels Are Tackling the Issue
Here, we find out the exact measures in place to ensure everyone gets their sunny spot on holiday.
Hotel Barriere Le Majestic, Cannes
At this popular Cannes hotel, the problem is solved through reservations and a priority system. A spokesperson explained: 'We have a policy where we naturally prioritize our hotel guests and our regular clients. Our pricing is regulated and capped by the city of Cannes, and varies according to the season’s events, with preferential rates for our hotel guests. We have 350 rooms for a maximum of 250 to 275 sunbeds during high season, so we cannot accommodate everyone at the same time. We prioritise reservations and operate on a first come, first served basis. We still sometimes manage to rent the same sunbed twice in one day, although this remains quite rare.'
St George Beach Hotel & Spa Resort, Paphos, Cyprus
At the St George Beach Hotel & Spa Resort in Paphos, Cyprus, there is an allocation system in place - described as 'brilliant' by one guest. The hotel website says: 'Upon check-in, our guests are promptly allocated a sunbed by our attentive pool attendants, taking into consideration the current availability. Recognising that preferences may change, we offer the flexibility for guests to adjust their sunbed allocation. Should you wish to change your spot, a simple contact with our pool attendants will set the wheels in motion. Our Sun Loungers Allocation System operates with fairness and attentiveness.'
Amanti MadeForTwo Hotels, Ayia Napa
At Amanti MadeForTwo Hotels, Ayia Napa, guests are assigned their own designated sunbeds upon check-in for the duration of their stay. As a result, they can enjoy a stress-free sunbathing experience. The hotel website explains: 'The deluxe wide cushioned loungers were custom-designed for extra comfort and feature a modern multipurpose thoughtfully designed table with a locker for your personal belongings while you are in the swimming pool.'
Amàre Beach Hotel Ibiza
Amàre Beach Hotel Ibiza says: 'There is a no reservation policy for the sunbeds. After 30 minutes of not using a sunbed, towels and guest belongings will be removed and saved for later collection. If you are going to have lunch at the restaurant you can inform the customer service team by the beach or pool area and they will allow a longer reservation time during your meal.' The same applies at other hotels in Ibiza. For instance, Hotel Garbi Ibiza & Spa says: 'Sun beds can’t be reserved. There is a limited number of sun beds. The pool staff is authorised to remove your towel if you do not use the sun bed for a long period of time.'
Top Tactics from Other Hotels
Other hotels have introduced an array of measures to ensure no guests hog sunbeds. On Reddit, one user wrote: 'When we went to Cyprus, the sun loungers were allocated and you could change them if you didn't like it. I thought that was a reasonably fair system.' Another added: 'We went to a hotel in Alcudia (Spain) where they stacked them every night and chained them up.' A third explained: 'Recently stayed some place with a very simple rule posted by their pools - “all items left unattended for 45 minutes will be moved to the Lost&Found”. I assume it must be enforced, because it seems to work pretty well.'
Tourists Taking Matters into Their Own Hands
Unfortunately, despite measures in place many tourists are still heading out nice and early to grab sunbeds. But a select few holidaymakers - seen by some as unsung heroes, and by others as a real menace - are enforcing their own rules to combat the sunbed wars. One such hero wrote on Reddit: 'As a kid I went further than just throwing the towels into the pool. We drenched them, tied them into a rope, played tug of war, then let the rope dry in the sun.' A different onlooker added: 'I didn't witness it, but I got told some legend picked up the towels and threw them in the pool... Apparently there were no more attempts to reserve loungers in the near term.' Another wrote: 'There's an easy fix for "reserved" spots. Just ignore the towel and sit down.'
