Sunbed wars at popular holiday resorts have sparked innovative hotel policies designed to stop early morning battles over loungers. Following a landmark payout to a holidaymaker, several hotels along the Mediterranean have adopted strict, organized systems to guarantee fair sunbed allocation and eliminate the notorious “dawn dash.”
Strict Sunbed Rules Sweep Popular Resorts
One visitor to two bustling French Mediterranean camps revealed that “twice a day they sound a horn, and if you’re not at the lounger, all items are removed to lost property.” This clear-cut tactic ensures that sunbeds don’t remain “reserved” by unattended towels or belongings.
Meanwhile, at a hotel in Protaras, Cyprus, guests face a rigorous policy where “sunbed tenants” must officially reserve their lounger for the entire holiday and notify the hotel if they want to switch spots. This system enforces discipline and fairness, preventing guests from monopolizing loungers.
Sun Lounger Allocation Systems Win Praise
Colin Davison, 73, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, praised a similar approach at a resort in Paphos, Cyprus, describing the “sun lounger allocation” system as “brilliant.” The hotel website confirms that guests receive a sunbed upon check-in and may request a preferred spot for their entire stay. Changes can be made fairly and thoughtfully, avoiding disputes.
Ashley Herman from Watford also highlighted an effective method: “At a hotel in Cyprus, the parasols are numbered. The hotel allocates them—one parasol per two people—right at the beginning of the holiday. Each sunbed is placed on either side of the parasol, so a family of four gets two parasols and four sunbeds. Voila.” This clear system prevents confusion and ensures equitable distribution.
Unconventional and Risky Tactics from Some Holidaymakers
Not all sunbed reservation strategies are official or effective. Some guests resort to makeshift methods that can backfire. For example, one holidaymaker recalled that in Ibiza, guests placed towels on beds in the dead of night to claim spots.
However, this tactic “soon stopped when some lads were going down in the middle of the night and throwing all the towels into the pool.” Such informal methods may temporarily deter early reservations but risk escalating tensions between guests.
