A Scottish holidaymaker has described witnessing tourists sprint for sunbeds in a 'Hunger Games-style' rush after queuing for two hours at the Best Oasis Hotel in Salou, Spain. Leah Norman, 37, from Ayrshire, said crowds flooded through the pool gates on July 4, leaving many families without shade for their children while sunbeds lay empty all day with towels on them.
Daily queue from 8am
Leah observed a 'big queue' of sunbed-hoggers each morning during her week-long break. 'Every morning there was a big queue inside hotel full of people waiting on the doors to open at pool area. The door was locked and would open at 10am,' she said. 'People would start queuing up from around 8am and when the doors opened at 10am, everyone would start running to grab sunbeds that were stacked up to place next to the pool, like the Hunger Games had just started.'
She added: 'Some families with young children were unable to get sunbeds or parasol shades for their babies as they would be taken. Some days, beds would lie empty all day with towels lying on them.'
Similar incidents in Salou
Leah's experience mirrors that of Glasgow tourist Chris, who filmed a 'manic race' for sunbeds at a Salou hotel in June after an hour-long queue. Chris commented: 'It was a manic race and scramble for the sunbeds surrounding the pool at the hotel. I don't judge but found it funny so had to film it. Some people just rolled out their bed, queued up, mad-dashed to secure the bed then they were seen going back to their hotel rooms or off for breakfast. It doesn't leave room for those who don't queue for an hour.'
