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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The big sunbed debate

51 replies

BibbleandSqwauk · 07/08/2023 16:10

Just wondering what the general consensus is in the whole "bagging" sunbeds for the whole day with towels but nothing else and then buggering off / removing said towels if you're actually there and want to use them? 100% wouldn't move books / sunglasses etc where people are mostly likely in the pool but when it's just towels and there none others free? I moved some today but felt awkward the whole time after in case they came back.

OP posts:
ItsNotRocketSalad · 07/08/2023 16:11

The staff need to deal with this by moving the towels. But at most places they don't, so you need to spend some time on TripAdvisor and make sure the hotel you're going to doesn't have a sunbed problem.

Cosyblankets · 07/08/2023 16:14

If i was absolutely sure they had reserved them for later and the hotel had signs requesting people not to do this then yes i would take them off

GasPanic · 07/08/2023 16:33

I'm convinced the daily sunbed race keeps some people alive, helping them shake off the booze from the night before.

Hoppinggreen · 07/08/2023 16:34

My view on it is that if I have to race for sun beds I have picked the wrong hotel

TheChosenTwo · 07/08/2023 16:37

Hoppinggreen · 07/08/2023 16:34

My view on it is that if I have to race for sun beds I have picked the wrong hotel

Same here! Mind you we tend to go for villas so it’s just us there using the pool and enough beds for everyone staying.
However dh and I did an AI last year just the 2 of us and there were so many sun beds, never seen so many! Hundreds and hundreds, all in excellent condition and obviously the hotel wasn’t full because there was never a time when even 50% of them were in use.
I would hate what has been described in the OP but don’t think I could move anyone’s stuff.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 07/08/2023 16:39

Bodies reserve sunbeds not towels. I have moved them and will carry on moving them if people aren't using them. I wish hotels would step up and actually move peoples stuff if they haven't been used for 30 mins.

CamelSilk · 07/08/2023 16:41

I have removed towels in the past.

Humidititties · 07/08/2023 16:41

I have moved them once when we went on our one and only AI holiday, wouldn't think twice about doing it again. Selfish arseholes

Vrisky · 07/08/2023 16:44

What you do is put the towel on the ground, then move the sunlounger to a different place and lie on it.

Vrisky · 07/08/2023 16:45

That way you avoid any arguments!

helpfulperson · 07/08/2023 16:45

I'll try and find the link but a Spanish lady was assaulted recently by a British family for moving there towels.

GasPanic · 07/08/2023 16:53

Here is my solution. Fix the beds down. Have a loop lock so they can be folded over and padlocked and no one can undo the padlock without a key.

Then sell access to the beds along with the holiday, a bit like flight tickets - you can choose your place. More expensive ones near the pool.

gogomoto · 07/08/2023 17:02

My trick is to not bother looking for one until 3pm, never an issue by then Grin. Not early risers here

Noodledoodledoo · 07/08/2023 17:10

Bagging beds at 9am so you can use at 3pm is downright rude. I would move towels. Just had this on our holiday and it really narked me but the hotel seemed unbothered. It is going on my feedback. One group the 'Dock and Bay' family as we nicknamed them, bagged beds by 8 am and were not seen most days till about 2pm! Its self centred.

Move the towels - I suggested with another set of 4 who hadn't shown up by 330 one day but bagged them all day we wrote rude words with the towels but my husband persuaded me out of it =(

Original poster
BibbleandSqwauk · 07/08/2023 18:31

Thanks.. interesting mix of responses. As to the "I wouldn't choose that type" well it's not always that much if a choice....villas are out if my price range. A simple package deal for me and the kids is what's possible but this is such a common issue and it irks. I can't leave it til 3pm as my kids are not late sleepers and want to be at the pool but equally don't get up at sparrows fart. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

OP posts:
CornishGem1975 · 07/08/2023 18:34

This has been a problem for decades, not sure why it's suddenly newsworthy again. A lot of hotels will remove them, I just ask the staff.

Original poster
BibbleandSqwauk · 07/08/2023 19:00

It's not "newsworthy" just happened to me today and I'm idly wondering.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 07/08/2023 19:02

If someone is in the pool I don't think that they are reserving sunbeds, just using them.

If they are nowhere to be seen for more than a few minutes (the time it would take say to nip to the toilet), then reasonable to move the towels etc to a dry place away from the subbed.

cancan678 · 07/08/2023 19:02

But how do you know someone's isn't just in the pool or getting a drink at the bar

ForestGoblin · 07/08/2023 19:04

I don't understand why people go on holiday to lie like a sausage on a turny thing in canteen.

Shurleyknot · 07/08/2023 19:05

Im a member of the facebook page where we are holiaying next week and already have seen posts telling others to 'just go down early and leave your towel out'. I am peri and not one to be fucked with these days so if I see a dry towel with nothing else around and no person around I am moving my stuff to that sunbed and leaving the towel in reception.

fetchacloth · 07/08/2023 19:08

Hoppinggreen · 07/08/2023 16:34

My view on it is that if I have to race for sun beds I have picked the wrong hotel

Yup same here.
I go away on holiday to escape stress, not sign up for more 🙄

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 07/08/2023 19:12

cancan678 · 07/08/2023 19:02

But how do you know someone's isn't just in the pool or getting a drink at the bar

This

What the OP describes is total dick behaviour but surely it's ok to leave for half an hour to grab a drink/swim/pop to the loo?

And yes villa holidays are often £££££. We've just returned from 11 nights in Sorrento half board (no sun bed fuckwittery either! Amazing) and that cost us less than a villa for 4 in Spain with the basic amenities and shared pool access.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 07/08/2023 19:13

ForestGoblin · 07/08/2023 19:04

I don't understand why people go on holiday to lie like a sausage on a turny thing in canteen.

Many people also get out and about and maybe just do a rotisserie sausage impression for a few hours a day Grin

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 07/08/2023 19:13

And that price comparison was before we'd even factored food in

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