A hotel in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife, has introduced what holidaymakers are calling 'sunbed police' to control the daily scramble for pool loungers. The move comes after a video showing dozens of guests queuing from 7.30am and then sprinting to claim beds went viral on TikTok.
Security Guard Enforces 8am Opening
British tourist Hope Davies filmed the scene during her stay at the hotel. The footage shows a security guard standing at the entrance, preventing anyone from reserving sunbeds before the official opening time. At exactly 8am, the barrier is lifted and around 40 guests rush to place towels on the best spots.
'I woke up early, so I watched the queue forming from about 7.30am while everyone waited for the gates to open at 8am,' Ms Davies told The Sun. 'Then everyone was allowed in to put their towels on the sunbeds for the day. There were about 40 people running for the loungers.'
Viral TikTok Sparks Debate
The video, shared on TikTok under the username @hopedaviesx1, quickly went viral, attracting comments from viewers who criticised the practice. One wrote: 'Imagine this for two weeks, it would be torture. Never understood people who go on holidays like this.' Another said: 'Very sad, not my idea of a holiday!' A third commented: 'It's like letting kids into a free candy store.'
European 'Dawn Dash' Problem
The phenomenon, often called the 'Dawn Dash', is common in holiday hotspots across Europe, including Greece and Spain. Guests have been known to set alarms as early as 5am to sprint to pool areas, reserving multiple beds with towels or personal items for family members who arrive later. This practice leads to frustration, verbal disputes, and even physical altercations.
Legal Consequences for Hotels
European courts have ruled that failing to manage sunbed reserving constitutes a breach of package holiday contracts. Last month, a German court ordered a major tour operator to pay a family an £850 refund after they found all loungers reserved by empty towels every morning.
