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Original poster

Sun lounger towel battles in all inclusive holidays

185 replies

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 10:20

We are booking our first all inclusive for Oct half term. Looking at reviews many people mention having to get up at 6:30am to put towels on sunloungers in order to secure your lounger for the day. A couple of reviews said they got up at 4:30am to do it?!?

This seems completely ridiculous to me.

We have three young kids and I want some sleep / relaxing time, not to be stressing about sun loungers or having to use ones that are miles away from the pool / ones without shade, because my kids will need supervising in the pool and shade.

Are there unwritten sunlounger rules when going to these resorts or am I within my rights to remove someone’s towels and bag a lounger if they don’t seem to actually be at the sunlounger?? Like if we get down there in the morning and they aren’t to be seen for 15 mins or so, not if they just pop off to use the loo or something?

OP posts:
IShouldNotCoco · 28/08/2025 09:46

Memberofstaff · 28/08/2025 08:32

Nothing to do with AI. Many package holidays are like this and have been since the 1980s.

The reason it’s more of a thing at AI hotels is that people tend not to venture to other places to eat if they’ve paid for an AI holiday. But the thing is that people leave their towels and wander off for hours.

YaWeeFurryBastard · 28/08/2025 08:49

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 28/08/2025 00:01

There’s a difference between no sun loungers and “not quite where I want them to be “ sun loungers.

Show quote history

Yes but it’s still very selfish to reserve the best loungers while you swan off for lunch or whatever, but some people just think their wants and desires absolve them of any need to consider others.

Memberofstaff · 28/08/2025 08:32

Nothing to do with AI. Many package holidays are like this and have been since the 1980s.

IShouldNotCoco · 28/08/2025 08:25

Jumpingthruhoops · 27/08/2025 23:44

Stay in the best resort you can.
Sunbed wars aren't really a thing at 5* hotels.

That doesn’t concur with my experiences.

IShouldNotCoco · 28/08/2025 08:23

This sort of thing is indeed a total nightmare and tbh it happens at most AI hotels. I went to one hotel that had a policy of removing towels which were unattended for more than 25 minutes which I think is completely fair. Maybe look for an hotel that has a policy like this?

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 28/08/2025 00:01

tellmesomethingtrue · 27/08/2025 23:34

Very entitled behaviour. Did you ever think that people would be waiting for a sun lounger, and it’s not fair that you go to lunch for an hour or so, leaving the sunbeds unused.

Show quote history

There’s a difference between no sun loungers and “not quite where I want them to be “ sun loungers.

Crazycatladywithnocats · 27/08/2025 23:50

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/08/2025 10:30

It is ridiculous so I would book a different resort if possible. So depressing to walk to breakfast and see all the loungers covered with towels a couple of hours before the pool opens. You need to find a place where the management deal with it rather than going vigilante. Lurking around the pool timing periods of sunbed inactivity is no way to spend a holiday.

Having said that, I've always found the best pool time to be 4pm onwards. Most of the territorial weirdos seem to have gone by then. Not sure where.

Edited

I’m with you. I’m a late afternoon pool user too. We visit the pool to cool off after being out and about all day. I don’t think we’ve ever been there from morning until evening.

Rewis · 27/08/2025 23:45

Ive been to hotels that has ahd enough sunbeds so no need to fight. Latest ones didnt have enough, so we just went to the pool in the afternoon. But yeah, it is ridiculius and people reserve them and then go to breakfast/lunch. There were 'premium' ones that were empty cause they cost extra. People just used those for free.

Some places have a "horn" every 30min and people need to go to their loungers. Then those not there has their towels removed. I wish hotel staff was more uptight about reserving the sunbeds.

Jumpingthruhoops · 27/08/2025 23:44

Stay in the best resort you can.
Sunbed wars aren't really a thing at 5* hotels.

tellmesomethingtrue · 27/08/2025 23:34

SummerInSun · 26/08/2025 13:17

I don’t understand this “not in use” idea. We go to the pool when it opens and set up lounges for the four of us. We have towels, sunscreen, googles and snorkels, books and magazines, some plastic tat toys when the kids are younger. That’s our base for the day, and I would say we are using them all day, but of course there are times when all four of us would be in the pool at once, or are getting a drink or lunch from the pool cafe, etc. I shouldn’t have to pack everything up and give up our lounges every time the kids want us to spend 20 minutes in the pool with them. Or even go to lunch for 45 minutes. Do people call that “not using the lounges”? Or do you mean people put their towels down and then disappear for a half day excision to a local attraction?

Very entitled behaviour. Did you ever think that people would be waiting for a sun lounger, and it’s not fair that you go to lunch for an hour or so, leaving the sunbeds unused.

BusyBeatle · 27/08/2025 23:05

I think it depends on the resort. I just returned from one which was huge with multiple pools, so this wasn’t a problem except at the kids water park. And the staff removed towels from empty loungers if you asked for a seat. Not sure if the place you’re going has a kids club but we also found that the Adults Only area had plenty of loungers.

Galdownunder · 27/08/2025 22:20

Why can't you just move the towel and lie down? If they're not in the pool then I'd just use the lounge. What are they going to do?

the80sweregreat · 27/08/2025 22:14

If you’re out for the day then reserving loungers for a 4pm return is out of order :(
People , they spoil everything don’t they !

shitshow1976 · 27/08/2025 22:13

We've just come back from the titanic in Antalya and it was a little difficult some days but I moved towels off beds if it was obvious they'd cleared off out for the day. We got challenged once by one family and I explained I'd moved their 3 towels off several hours beforehand and told them they were selfish if they expected us to go without sunbeds whilst they had a nice day out and expected to come back to "their" saved beds. Didn't go down too well but whatever 🤷

the80sweregreat · 27/08/2025 22:02

I liked the website for IKOS! Some web sites are definitely better than other ones .. lol

BourgeoisBabe · 27/08/2025 21:57

I have never gone to an all inclusive, but when booking holidays I read the reviews very carefully, and any hint that there aren't enough loungers is enough to rule it out.

Sally20099 · 27/08/2025 21:47

the80sweregreat · 27/08/2025 20:32

I like the look of the IKOS resorts , but sadly out of my price range. Heated pools sounds lovely!

Looks like there are a few other affordable recommendations appearing on the thread 😎

Overthemoun · 27/08/2025 20:56

Parr1960 · 27/08/2025 20:49

Hi Yoshiblue

Would you mind telling me where you find these 5* campsites in France, please? That is right up my street.
I know I could google but would love a recommendation.

Show quote history

www.yellohvillage.co.uk/5_star_campsite

Shotokan101 · 27/08/2025 20:54

A decent hotel will have a posted/policy not allowing such selfish behaviour and staff to remove unused towels and belongings as required.....

Parr1960 · 27/08/2025 20:49

yoshiblue · 26/08/2025 10:57

Yuck! This is why we go to France on a 5* campsite. None of this sunbed hogging, even turning up after 2pm you can get loungers. Not stuck in a hotel room either, but you also get outdoor space at your cabin. So much less stressful!

Hi Yoshiblue

Would you mind telling me where you find these 5* campsites in France, please? That is right up my street.
I know I could google but would love a recommendation.

the80sweregreat · 27/08/2025 20:32

I like the look of the IKOS resorts , but sadly out of my price range. Heated pools sounds lovely!

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 27/08/2025 20:26

Sally20099 · 27/08/2025 19:38

Yes, but if you pay peanuts you can get surrounded by monkeys. Just trying to help based on our experience.

It really depends on where you go(not necessarily price wise), who they cater for and what your expectations are.

Some of the people complaining about “sunbed wars” are the ones causing it by being the ones out at 6:45 to put their towels on. How ironic. Or what they mean by no beds is none(or not enough for a family of 5) on the first row by their favourite pool. Or the worst ones , the ones that have “their” sunbeds and how did someone dare to be there the next day.

Our holidays are the cheap AI’s , we always found sunbeds easily despite all the reviews complaining about “wars”.

RhiRhi78 · 27/08/2025 20:23

Sally20099 · 27/08/2025 19:34

I recommend IKOS resorts - all pools are heated and plenty of space all round. No sunbed wars needed plus the food and service is first rate. On

Mitsis Selection Laguna in Crete isn’t as good as Ikos but it is a fabulous 5* hotel with 2 heated outdoor pools, lots of space and lots of sun loungers. Drinks are branded and free mini bar is refilled daily.

Kevintheminion · 27/08/2025 20:23

Lakeyloo · 26/08/2025 12:28

Any of the Barut chain in Turkey are good. Excellent customer services and have never had any issues with sunbed wars (have stayed in 3 different ones and some of them twice) I don't think you can remove the towels after 15 minutes as someone may have gone back to grab something from their room/ get a drink/ use the toilet /get a late breakfast, but 45 mins or so is absolutely acceptable.

Am at the Lara Barut at the moment. Can confirm sunbed wars are in force here....mainly the Brits. It's marketed as a five star AI, but my experience of five star is as a precious poster where a pool attendant finds you a sunbed and sets you up for the day...no reservations.

MissAmbrosia · 27/08/2025 20:17

I've booked AI for the first time in 25 years for next month, but selected one where it sounded really clear there were plenty of sunbeds, even in August, and that the food was very nice. I had to rule out many places from my list for these reasons. Even really pricey places. I hope not to be disappointed.