A hotel in southern Tenerife has introduced what holidaymakers are calling 'sunbed police' to control the daily scramble for poolside loungers, after a British tourist filmed dozens of guests racing to claim spots at dawn.
The footage, captured by Hope Davies during her stay at a hotel in Playa de las Américas, shows a security guard monitoring the pool entrance to prevent early reservations. At exactly 8am, the barrier is removed and around 40 guests sprint to secure the best loungers for the day.
Ms Davies told reporters: 'I woke up early, so I watched the queue forming from about 7.30am while everyone waited for the gates to open at 8am. Then everyone was allowed in to put their towels on the sunbeds for the day. There were about 40 people running for the loungers.'
Viral Video Sparks Debate
The TikTok video quickly went viral, drawing dozens of comments from viewers critical of the practice. One wrote: 'Imagine this for two weeks, it would be torture. Never understood people who go on holidays like this.' Another said: 'Very sad, not my idea of a holiday!' A third commented: 'It's like letting kids into a free candy store.'
Known as the 'Dawn Dash', the phenomenon sees guests in holiday hotspots across Europe—including Greece, mainland Spain, and the islands—setting alarms as early as 5am to sprint to the pool area, draping towels and placing books or hats to reserve prime spots. Some tourists controversially reserve multiple beds for family members who may not arrive for hours, sparking frustration, verbal disputes, and even physical altercations.
Legal Consequences
European courts have ruled that failing to manage sunbed reserving constitutes a breach of the package holiday contract. Last month, a German court ordered a major tour operator to pay a family an £850 refund after they found all loungers reserved by empty towels every morning.
The hotel's new measures aim to prevent such disputes and ensure fair access to sunbeds, though some guests still find the early-morning rush stressful. The practice remains widespread despite growing legal and social pushback.
