Holidaymakers in Tenerife were seen sprinting for sunbeds in the latest round of the infamous 'sunbed wars' after queuing for half an hour before the pool area opened. Scores of tourists clutching towels rushed towards coveted poolside positions the moment security personnel unlocked the gates at 8am.
Chaotic scramble captured on video
The frantic scramble was captured on camera by Hope Davies while on a week-long break at the Spring Hotel Bitacora in Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. The 29-year-old revealed that guests started assembling from approximately 7:30am to bag the finest loungers. Video recorded on June 16 shows holidaymakers dashing across the pool deck as soon as they received the all-clear.
“I was awake early so slowly, I saw it building up from about 7:30, ready for the gates to be opened at 8am,” Hope, from Cardiff, told creatorzine.com. “Then at 8am everyone was allowed to put their towels on the loungers for the day. There were around 40 people rushing for sunbeds.”
Security guards hold back guests
Hope explained that security guards stopped guests from accessing the pool area before the official opening time. “I honestly found it quite surreal seeing security guards protecting sunbeds like they were guarding a major event,” Joanna, from Kent, said. “Most guests seemed amused and shocked by it, and a lot of people were filming or talking about it.”
“They were essentially standing guard and making sure nobody accessed the loungers before the official opening time. As soon as the gates opened at 8am, guests rushed into the pool area to try and secure the best sunbeds. People were moving very quickly and it felt quite chaotic, with everyone trying to claim beds immediately, they were all gone by 8:05.”
Daily ritual at busy hotel
“This happens daily. I honestly thought ‘surely there has to be a better system for this’. It’s a big, busy hotel so there should be enough for everyone without the panic,” Hope added. “I did find it funny that people were running to secure beds as if they were going to disappear.”
Some guests appreciated that the hotel was at least trying to make things fair, while others thought the whole situation was ridiculous and showed how competitive the sunbed situation had become. “In my opinion, it hasn’t really stopped the sunbed wars – it has just delayed them until the gates open. Instead of people reserving beds earlier, everyone simply rushes in at the same time at 8am,” Joanna said.
