Tourists in Spain have taken sunbed reserving to a whole new level—using torches in the dead of night to claim their spot by the pool. The bizarre trend has caused chaos at popular resorts, with holidaymakers waking up as early as 5 am to secure a lounger.
Hotel staff have reported guests sneaking out before dawn, armed with torches, to place towels on sunbeds—despite strict rules against reserving them overnight. Some even use multiple towels to block off entire rows, leaving other visitors frustrated.
Why the Mad Rush?
The fierce competition for prime poolside spots has turned holidays into a battleground. Many resorts have a 'no reserving' policy, but enforcement is patchy, leading to early-morning scrambles.
"It's like a military operation," said one hotel worker. "People are so desperate, they’ll do anything—even if it means waking up at 4 am with a torch."
Tourists Fight Back
Fed-up holidaymakers have started removing unattended towels, sparking arguments. Some hotels now remove reserved sunbeds if left empty for more than 30 minutes, but tensions remain high.
"It’s ridiculous," said British tourist Sarah Thompson. "I came here to relax, not to fight over a sunbed at sunrise."
With summer in full swing, the sunbed wars show no sign of cooling down—unless hotels take stricter action.
