A holidaymaker has filmed the so-called 'sunbed wars' in action at a Canary Island resort, showing dozens of poolside loungers already claimed with towels at 2am. The TikTok video, posted by user @babytank90, was recorded on Saturday, June 27, at the Blue Sea Playa Club hotel in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote.
Footage Shows Towels on Beds in the Middle of the Night
The clip, set to the Mission Impossible theme, shows nearly every sun bed covered with towels despite the early hour. The creator wrote: 'Operation: Sun bed Warriors. It's past 2:00 AM here in Lanzarote and the mission is already complete. Rules say no reserving, but the towel cartel waits for no one. Absolute madness. Spare a thought for the maintenance guys hosing around them at 8:30 AM!'
In the video, two people can be seen sitting on reserved beds while another floats in the pool, highlighting the lengths some guests go to secure a spot.
Common Problem Across European Resorts
The 'sunbed wars' have become a recurring issue at popular holiday destinations across Europe. The term refers to guests rushing to reserve prime poolside loungers early in the morning—or even overnight—by leaving towels or belongings, often returning hours later. This has led to frustration, arguments, and even fights among tourists.
Some Spanish destinations have introduced fines for unattended loungers, and many hotels have rules against reserving beds before certain times. In some resorts, staff remove belongings left unused for more than three hours.
TikTok Users Share Their Experiences
The video attracted hundreds of comments. One user said: 'Can't be ar**d with this. I'd rather enjoy my sleep.' Another called it 'My idea of hell.' A guest who stayed at the same hotel in April noted: 'We couldn't get a bed after 6am. The lifeguard did remove towels later if no one had used them.'
Another user claimed: 'Sadly same at our hotel Sandos in Lanzarote... towels on beds... fully blocked out by 7.30!! most annoying some remain unused until afternoon!'
Previous 'Sunbed Vigilante' Goes Viral
One comment came from Nanny Rachael, who previously went viral for removing towels from reserved beds in Tenerife. She said: 'I would have sorted it for you.' Her mission gained over 3 million views and sparked debate on Good Morning Britain.
