A viral TikTok video from the Akasha Beach Hotel & Spa in Crete has reignited the sunbed wars debate, showing tourists queuing from 8:10am to reserve loungers by the main pool while a rooftop pool with empty sunbeds sits completely ignored just metres above.
The clip, posted by user @heyiitshannahyoung, has garnered over 116,000 views and 1,500 likes. It captures holidaymakers holding towels as they line up before the pool gates open at 9am. Once opened, guests dash to claim spots around the lower pool, with beds snapped up within seconds.
Rooftop Pool Overlooked in the Chaos
The video's striking contrast shows the rooftop pool area at the same hotel entirely vacant, with rows of untouched loungers available and no queue. The user captioned the 40-second footage: "If only they knew."
Social media reactions were divided. One user commented: "Hotels should provide enough beds for everyone." Another wrote: "I went last year in June never happened this is wild!!" A third said the scene would put them off booking: "That's just written that hotel off my list. That's a shame but I'm not doing that."
Familiar Holiday Ritual Sparks Debate
The early-morning scramble for sunbeds has become a staple of European package holidays during peak summer. While some view it as part of the routine, others argue it undermines the relaxed atmosphere expected from a holiday. One viewer branded the behaviour "stupid," to which the original creator replied: "Especially on holiday," accompanied by laughing emojis. Another suggested a hands-on approach: "I would be throwing the towels off if no one is actually using the beds."
