Spanish holiday resorts see ‘sunbed wars’ as tourists scramble to grab sunbed spots

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Tourists from resorts across the country Spain Caught running to grab the best pool seat this year summer.

The high-season practice – often referred to as the “sunbed wars” – resurfaces every summer, with booking etiquette sparking heated debate.

This year, Vacationers Guests at Ohtels Vila Romana in Salou vie to reserve sun loungers before breakfast.

Some social media users filmed other guests running to the pool early in the morning because they were worried about missing out on coveted lounge chairs.

A TikTok video posted by @kirstyp89 The photo, captioned “Crazy people”, shows tourists holding towels, bags and inflatables as they queue for staff to open the door to the pool.

We saw dozens of holidaymakers, including Brits, rushing out of the lobby to take up a sunbed by one of the resort’s two swimming pools.

A similar video was shared with the caption “Salou sunbeds vs idiots”. Garth McKeon Morning chaos in Villaromana, Tarragona.

The video of the sunbed race, where people throw towels onto the beds, was posted three days ago and has been viewed more than 1.8 million times.

TikTok users were quick to condemn the sunbed booking system in the comments.

“We were there last week and the number of people ‘booked’ Sunbeds It’s ridiculous to not use them all day! Most of the time we couldn’t find a lounge chair or even a chair so we just headed to the beach,” one user wrote.

Another commented: “I take towels from people who aren’t there. Easy.”

Some hotels have banned the trend of reserving towels outright, and if no one is in the hotel in the morning, staff will collect towels and items left on lounge chairs.

In July, the battle over sunbeds Calpe, Spain warns tourists not to book beach beds Otherwise you will face a fine.

Seaside town White Bank Dissuading Visitors Fines of up to €250 (£210) will be imposed for setting up sunbeds from sunrise in a bid to stop the sunbed wars during peak season.

Those who continue beach Residents in areas such as Arenal-Bol and Playa de la Fossa on the Calpe coast are at risk of having their belongings seized by local police.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast.