The controversy surrounding reserving pool chairs at hotels is nothing new, though it comes in different forms. In the United States, you might see people place towels on chairs in the morning, and then return a while later. However, broadly speaking, Brits seem to be in a league of their own when it comes to making reserving pool chairs a competitive sport.
While I’ve seen a lot of examples of this, I’ve never seen anything quite like this…
In this post:
Guests at Tenerife resort sleep on pool chairs
There’s video footage going viral from the Gf Fanabe Hotel, a four-starresort in Tenerife, Spain, where rates are often $500+ per night in peak season (not exactly cheap!). In a video clip posted online, you can see that it’s still dark outside, yet a good percentage of the pool chairs are already reserved. Many of the pool chairs even have sleeping hotel guests on them, as if they’re hotel beds.
This was filmed by a 30-year-old guest on Monday, August 25, 2025, as he was on a two-week holiday at the resort. As the guest explained:
“People sleep on sun loungers to reserve their spot. They reserve the beds, but the hotel has a policy that if your bed is left unattended, they will remove the towels – so they just lay in them. Some even look to be asleep. It’s a bit silly. I do get why people do it, but it’s a vicious circle, so to speak.”
“They’re the ones creating the problem that they’re aiming to avoid. If people didn’t reserve beds they didn’t need, then there wouldn’t be an issue. I haven’t seen the beds anywhere near full in terms of people, just towels. We got one bed between three of us the other day, and a lady kindly said we could have one of hers – it wasn’t being used and she told us to take her towel off. I mean, in a sense, it’s nice of her, but in another, why is her towel on it when she’s not using it? It’s mostly selfishness.”
More often than not, we see these kinds of hotels only open the pool area at a certain time, to avoid this kind of situation. When that happens, you’ll sometimes see a stampede the moment the gates open, with all chairs being reserved within minutes.
Honestly, I’m not even sure which system is worse. At least the hotel where people are sleeping on the loungers (in theory) requires guests to stay with their towels, and at least this avoids a wild stampede.
I don’t really understand the psychology of this?
I don’t know about you, but when I go to a resort for a vacation, my goal is to relax. That sort of involves doing what I want, when I want, and not being on anyone else’s schedule. Yet somehow, it seems that at so many of these resorts, it almost turns into a competitive game of who can claim pool chairs the earliest.
Do people actually enjoy this? Like, at this point, why go on vacation? You’re going to sleep on a pool chair rather than a comfortable bed, just so you can maximize your rays during the day? Do hotel guests who deal with this think “I can’t wait to book my vacation here next year?” Before anyone accuses me of being classist, or anything, let me remind you that these hotels often aren’t cheap. People are spending a lot of money for the privilege of this “experience.”
From a guest experience perspective, it always amazes me how hotels don’t do more to manage this ridiculous practice. At the of the day you presumably have fewer pool chairs than guests who want them, yet “first come, first served” is the only system that hotels can come up with?
The problem with any of these unmonitored system is that 100% of the pool chairs might be reserved, while only a small percentage are actually being used at any given point. So whether it’s a case where people sleep on the chairs or simply storm the pool when the gates open, it seems like there should be a better way to handle this:
- If a pool chair isn’t occupied for some amount of time (30 minutes, one hour, etc.), it should be given up to a guest who wants it
- Maybe each guest should get a certain amount of time in a pool chair, and sessions can be broken up so that you can be guaranteed a pool chair either in the morning or in the afternoon
- Not to suggest more revenue opportunities, but maybe pool chairs should cost extra and have dynamic pricing, so that guests can pay a little extra but actually enjoy their vacation; I wouldn’t actually like to see this, but it seems more rational than spending over $500 per night, only to sleep on a pool chair
Below are a few more clips of “stampedes” at resorts in Spain. In particular, the commentary in the first video cracks me up, starting around two minutes in:
- “We’re all watching it, because we’re all horrified that we’re about to do this every day on holiday, this has ruined my holiday”
- “Look, they’re all like bloody locusts, I’ve been a locust too”
- “I’ve done it every day, the stress involved in getting a sun lounger has been horrendous”
- “It’s actually made me feel really poorly”
Bottom line
Reserving pool chairs is basically a competitive sport at many resorts in Spain in summer, especially those frequented by Brits. The most common practice we see is that the gates to the pool open at a certain hour, and then there’s a stampede.
However, one resort in Tenerife doesn’t seem to only open its pool gates at a certain hour, but does require people to stay with their towels. As a result, some guests seemingly sleep on these chairs long before the sun rises. This can’t be fun, can it?
What do you make of this whole pool chair fiasco?
Even with high SPF, pasty white Mel O'Noma probably shouldn't spend more than about an hour in one of those beach chairs in summer...
Just don't stay at any hotel that is that difficult to secure a pool chair. Read a few reviews before booking. This 6am que for a pool chair crap comes up a lot in reviews.
This is similar to allocated bourbon drops here in the US. I have seen mostly men camp out at liquor stores in order to be the first or nearly first in line to get a good bourbon.
I've heard of this and will never do it. Worst case scenario, hire somebody on TaskRabbit to wait for you.
@Ben, it's a little different from Florida, where shades are a premium and people will park 100+ yards away in an empty lot, just to be under a tree. These Brits probably only get 13 days of sunshine a year where you can actually be shirtless.
"These Brits probably only get 13 days of sunshine a year where you can actually be shirtless."
And most of them should have the good sense not to be.
Why are people planning to spend their holidays next to the pool anyway? They don't have pools back home? Go do something on your vacation
I'm fine with three hours at a pool, but a whole day at one is ridiculous. And I can't imagine caring about which chair I have.
I've done a whole day at the pool and you slip into a semi-catatonic state
Can someone explain to me why people go to beach destinations and camp at the pool day?
Great question! I was thinking the same thing
Jeff, Matteo …. it is so true, a great question well presented Matteo, sadly with many people, it comes down to some very simple things which please little people with very little minds.
A pool is usually very close to a bar, therefore, less effort to obtain a drink.
A pool is considered by many to be much cleaner than any nearby open water.
In the pool the swimmers cannot see the...
Jeff, Matteo …. it is so true, a great question well presented Matteo, sadly with many people, it comes down to some very simple things which please little people with very little minds.
A pool is usually very close to a bar, therefore, less effort to obtain a drink.
A pool is considered by many to be much cleaner than any nearby open water.
In the pool the swimmers cannot see the microscopic creatures which might do them harm.
In open water there maybe ‘dung fish’ or other nasties, plus that sandy material gets into all sorts of crevices.
One could tabulate so many reasons why the annual traveler confines themselves to their hotel.
Outside, beyond the hotel, etc, there lies local people who are probably thinking that it could be nice here if all the tourists went home! …. :-)
My takeaway from this whole topic is: build a much bigger pool and the problems go away. This issue doesn't come up at Sukhothai Bangkok, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor Siem Reap.
I once stayed at a resort at Kata beach in Phuket, where pool staff tracked each chair and after 31 minutes stuff was removed and the chair "officially" made available for any guest. Sign clearly said unused chairs would be cleared after half an hour. It was fun to watch.
Ben, I take exception to you only singling out “Brits” for the subjects of your article.
Your German pals have been world renowned for inventing the practice over 60 years ago.
Exactly what I was looking for
I would want nothing to do with BS like this. Personally, I'd prefer a nice boutique hotel or a rental from the likes of VRBO or Booking.com. Nor would I care to spend the day sitting by the pool unless it's at my own villa.
These people are sheep who actually think they're wolves.
Quite right. Come to that, isn't this whole issue a perfect ad for VRBO?
Absolutely. This is only an issue in large chain hotels.
Why not buy a cheap $25 beach chair on Amazon and have it delivered to you at the hotel?
Why not buy a cheap $25 beach chair on Amazon and have it delivered to you at the hotel?
I see this simply as a FAIL for the property. If I were expecting poolside lounging, I'd expect the property to deliver. In some cases, it probably means they didn't build a big enough pool, or purchase enough chaises longues. Or, maybe they didn't staff the pool deck enough, or they should ban "reserving" a chair you're not using. I'd like to see online ratings of hotel pool deck crowding. There must be pleanty of...
I see this simply as a FAIL for the property. If I were expecting poolside lounging, I'd expect the property to deliver. In some cases, it probably means they didn't build a big enough pool, or purchase enough chaises longues. Or, maybe they didn't staff the pool deck enough, or they should ban "reserving" a chair you're not using. I'd like to see online ratings of hotel pool deck crowding. There must be pleanty of resorts where this doesn't happen. I'd like to know about that, so I can avoid the ones that FAIL.
So it's not just Americans participating in this outrageous charade lmao.
Not just Americans. Not just Germans. There are people who won't believe this, but it's true. Obviously Canadians don't behave this way.
Canada is America's hat.
Yeah Canada with their free healthcare is simply the best. Chef's kiss.
Uhhh, it's not free. Nor the best.
...
"Darling hold my hand...!"
Germans love getting up at 6am to reserve their pool chairs. It's like part of their vacation routine :)
Wow, this whole “pool chair Olympics” is honestly wild . I can’t wrap my head around the idea of paying hundreds of dollars a night at a beautiful resort only to end up sleeping on a sun lounger just to “secure a spot.” Is not vacation supposed to be about relaxing, not competing?
I totally agree that hotels need a better system — whether it’s time limits, booking slots, or simply enforcing the “no unattended...
Wow, this whole “pool chair Olympics” is honestly wild . I can’t wrap my head around the idea of paying hundreds of dollars a night at a beautiful resort only to end up sleeping on a sun lounger just to “secure a spot.” Is not vacation supposed to be about relaxing, not competing?
I totally agree that hotels need a better system — whether it’s time limits, booking slots, or simply enforcing the “no unattended towel” rule. Otherwise, it becomes less about enjoying the pool and more about playing a stressful game no one actually signed up for.
At the end of the day, vacations should be about soaking up the sun, sipping a cocktail, and forgetting the clock — not racing for chairs before sunrise. Honestly, if I ever find myself in this situation, I’d rather sleep in my comfy bed and enjoy the pool later than ruin my trip stressing over a lounger.
Just absolutely insane to me that people go on vacation and stress themselves like this. I've done a couple trips to Excellence brand all-inclusives in the Caribbean and never experienced anything like those videos, there's always plenty of loungers and poolside space.
I think the actual issue is that hotels do not have enough spots for people to lay out and relax so people feel the need to do this.
"There's nothing like a Jet2 holiday!"
The narrator on the second last video is amazing. Felt like national geographic
Another cool summer sport in Spain is "balconing". Google it.
Vacation or not, I tend to awaken at 5am and out for daily exercise shortly after rising. So grabbing some towels and dropping them to my preferred loungers becomes part of the daily vacation routine.
On our honeymoon stay last month at the St Regis in Aruba, we saw firsthand how this was extra stressful (infuriating even) for guests who sauntered over to the beach after finishing breakfast at 10am expecting first row beach...
Vacation or not, I tend to awaken at 5am and out for daily exercise shortly after rising. So grabbing some towels and dropping them to my preferred loungers becomes part of the daily vacation routine.
On our honeymoon stay last month at the St Regis in Aruba, we saw firsthand how this was extra stressful (infuriating even) for guests who sauntered over to the beach after finishing breakfast at 10am expecting first row beach chairs to be available, only to learn that even the second row beach chairs were fully occupied and they had their choice of loungers by the kiddie pool.
Early bird does get the worm, sometimes.
You're taking a chair, putting a towel on it and not using it for several hours. You're not part of the problem. You ARE the problem.
Boooooo. “A part of the daily routine” to reserve loungers I’m fairly sure you don’t use daily use most of the day.
Indeed, you are the problem
Why go all the way to Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls when you can watch it for free from your balcony at your local resort? No, you do not need to sit right next to the pool, and no, you don't need a chair for every person in your party. This stuff is ridiculous, and if you do it, you're a moron and a loser.
I 100% agree with you. I can stay home and be stressed. Do a little research, there are plenty of hotels (sometimes better and less expensive boutique ones) that have plenty of seating if you just go a little outside the main tourist area.
100% agree. Moved away from big resorts to small boutique hotels for all our European vacations. Night and day experience. Just stayed at a fabulous family owned place in Italy with only 20 rooms. Treated like king, zero stress, pool basically only for ourselves.
But its easier to just book a package to a large chain hotel with the herds.