A hotel employee in Rhodes, Greece, was caught on camera removing towels and personal items from sunbeds that guests had reserved but left unattended during breakfast time. The incident, recorded by a 19-year-old tourist named Lucie Hewes from the UK, took place at the hotel where the staff strictly enforces a no-reservation policy for poolside loungers.
Lucie explained that despite the clear rule, many guests still attempted to save sunbeds by placing towels, hats, and bags before going for breakfast or returning to their rooms. Each morning, a member of the hotel staff would circulate around 8 a.m. to clear the unattended sunbeds, leading to some guests being surprised to find their belongings missing upon their return.
Some holidaymakers expressed confusion or frustration when they found others occupying the loungers they had claimed with their personal items. The hotel staff, however, calmly reiterated the policy to ensure fairness for all guests in accessing the sunbeds.
Lucie’s video documenting the incident went viral, garnering over 538,000 views, 23,000 likes, and 294 comments. Viewers praised the hotel’s strict enforcement of the sunbed policy, with many suggesting that all hotels should adopt similar measures to prevent disputes over reserved loungers.
The incident reignited the ongoing debate known as the “sunbed wars,” a common occurrence during British holidays abroad. The video sparked a range of reactions, with some users applauding the hotel’s actions and advocating for other establishments to follow suit.
In a separate incident, a British holidaymaker named Tom Caunce made headlines for using itching powder on towels left on reserved sunbeds in Majorca. Caunce admitted to the act, citing frustration with guests who claimed prime poolside spots early in the morning and then left them unoccupied for extended periods.
The incidents highlight the ongoing issue of sunbed reservation conflicts at holiday destinations, prompting discussions on fair and effective policies to manage loungers at hotels.