Sun lounger towel battles in all inclusive holidays

Gagamama2 · 2025-08-26T09:20:31+00:00

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?

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.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 26/08/2025 10:38

Definitely try to find one where the reviews confirm you can get loungers at any time of day. They do exist, but they seem to be in the minority. We're trying our first all inclusive holiday in October too - the research was remarkably lengthy (!) but hopefully will mean we can have a relaxing holiday.

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 26/08/2025 10:42

Ive been 2 places now within the last year ( benidorm and turkey ) and both have stated towels are removed if not used within 1 hour. This didn't happen . Last month we went 5star all inclusive in turkey and it specifically stated no towels before 8am or they were to be removed by staff. I was down there 7.45am and couldn't get one at all around the perimeter of the pool . Day 3 I complained nothing was done. It's just pot luck

Scottishskifun · 26/08/2025 10:46

I think it depends on the resort. I've been to a few where they don't allow it until 8am and actually I much prefer that.

Generally with young children I've found it doesn't matter where the sun lounger is as you never actually sit on it for more then 5 minutes as you have to be in the pool anyway!
If wanting shade and to get tour kids out of the pool you won't want one right on waters edge either!

JimmyGiraffe · 26/08/2025 10:47

What has “all inclusive” got to do with sun beds? All inclusive is simply your board/meals arrangement - there may easily be guests at the OP’s hotel who are staying on a B&B or HB basis?

Sunbed availability is usually determined by the ratio of guests to sun beds - not meal plan arrangements?!

Nousernamesleftatall · 26/08/2025 10:51

I confirm in advance in writing the hotel’s policy. If they don’t adhere to the policy I go to reception and they get the pool person to find us some beds. I do it each and everyday and wish more people would to be honest.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 26/08/2025 10:54

Nousernamesleftatall · 26/08/2025 10:51

I confirm in advance in writing the hotel’s policy. If they don’t adhere to the policy I go to reception and they get the pool person to find us some beds. I do it each and everyday and wish more people would to be honest.

That's a very good tip. At least then you have solid grounds for complaint if they don't do what they said they will.

Antiperspirant · 26/08/2025 10:57

JimmyGiraffe · 26/08/2025 10:47

What has “all inclusive” got to do with sun beds? All inclusive is simply your board/meals arrangement - there may easily be guests at the OP’s hotel who are staying on a B&B or HB basis?

Sunbed availability is usually determined by the ratio of guests to sun beds - not meal plan arrangements?!

Ive noticed that at an all inclusive resort guests are more likely to stay at the resort the majority of the time compared to self catering where they are frequently out at restaurants/ bars/activities etc. Thus making the swimming pool area busier as they will often want their space for the day rather than an hour or two at a time.

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!

CountryQueen · 26/08/2025 11:24

JimmyGiraffe · 26/08/2025 10:47

What has “all inclusive” got to do with sun beds? All inclusive is simply your board/meals arrangement - there may easily be guests at the OP’s hotel who are staying on a B&B or HB basis?

Sunbed availability is usually determined by the ratio of guests to sun beds - not meal plan arrangements?!

Some hotels are exclusively all inclusive. The guests are more likely to stay in the hotel all day and so the available loungers tend to be in use all day.

Is it that hard to get your head around?

OP just book something else, you’ve been warned by the reviews. Don’t do it to yourself

Original poster

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 11:43

Thanks for the replies, my partner has said he won’t come on holiday with me if I’m going to go vigilante with it so it’s back to the drawing board as I don’t think I could handle the sheer entitledness of it all 😩.

OP posts:

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 26/08/2025 11:45

Antiperspirant · 26/08/2025 10:57

Ive noticed that at an all inclusive resort guests are more likely to stay at the resort the majority of the time compared to self catering where they are frequently out at restaurants/ bars/activities etc. Thus making the swimming pool area busier as they will often want their space for the day rather than an hour or two at a time.

Show quote history

Yes, I think this is it. People are more likely to set up camp for the day at an all inclusive resort, understandably. But it's bloody annoying if they're setting up well in advance of wanting to start their day.

Original poster

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 11:46

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 26/08/2025 10:38

Definitely try to find one where the reviews confirm you can get loungers at any time of day. They do exist, but they seem to be in the minority. We're trying our first all inclusive holiday in October too - the research was remarkably lengthy (!) but hopefully will mean we can have a relaxing holiday.

If you find something good would you mind sharing it on here? After a LOT of research we were looking at Titanic Lara in Turkey but then realised the Oct half term week is the last week of their season and reviews warn that a lot of the entertainment and pools wind down / shut. It seems that’s the case with lots of resorts in that region

OP posts:

Blueyshift · 26/08/2025 11:47

I have found a 3 start Half board or just breakfast. The smaller hotels are much better than the all inclusives.
I scoured tripadvisor there are places. We just git back from a 3 star, modern in Rhodes. Wasn't all inc so think thats the difference. We had a much better hol self catering though.

Original poster

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 11:49

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!

I hear you, we’ve been self catered in France since the kids were tiny and the holidays are beautiful but it never seems like an actual break! Partner and I have agreed that while an all inclusive isn’t ideal in many ways we just want someone to cook and clean for us all week, and a pool on site with slides, and a bit of childcare…my SIL swears by them so we shall see…!

OP posts:

Campingisnexttogodliness · 26/08/2025 11:51

I mean why wouldn't you just fold the towel and place it on the floor?
You can't 'bagsy' a bloody sun lounger!! Grown ups simply can't!!
If a ranting holiday maker turns up offer to budge along...

Original poster

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 11:52

@Nousernamesleftatall This is a great idea, thank you!!

OP posts:

Newmum2610 · 26/08/2025 11:52

We are at a resort where the doors to the pool area
dont open until 9am and there are no towels
out there before. You do have to queue from
aroind 8:45am for the poolside loungers but if you have kids you’ll be awake by 9am. It’s an H10 hotel. Hopefully it’s a rule throughout the chain

imadeitnice · 26/08/2025 11:52

Many hotels in Cyprus have allocated sun bed systems. I’m not sure if other countries do too.

jeaux90 · 26/08/2025 11:53

Look OP the sunbed stuff is usually because people want specific loungers right next to pool so they don’t have to get off their arse and watch their kids. I’ve been to a few places where they are very vigilant about moving towels but I’ve never had an issue actually finding a lounger at 11am or whatever but then we don’t care if it’s by the pool or beach. 5 star AI places just join the hotel face book groups, it will tell you what you are getting into.

jeaux90 · 26/08/2025 11:54

Also OP swim up rooms are your friend here if you are paranoid about sun loungers

Original poster

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 11:54

Campingisnexttogodliness · 26/08/2025 11:51

I mean why wouldn't you just fold the towel and place it on the floor?
You can't 'bagsy' a bloody sun lounger!! Grown ups simply can't!!
If a ranting holiday maker turns up offer to budge along...

Well this is what I think too! But my partner is already freaking out that I’m going to actually do it. I does seem insane that grown ups can behave like this though. If my kids exhibited this kind of selfishness they would be pulled up on it!

OP posts:

JimmyGiraffe · 26/08/2025 11:55

jeaux90 · 26/08/2025 11:54

Also OP swim up rooms are your friend here if you are paranoid about sun loungers

Yes, this worked really well for us in Sharm el Sheikh

Original poster

Gagamama2 · 26/08/2025 11:57

jeaux90 · 26/08/2025 11:54

Also OP swim up rooms are your friend here if you are paranoid about sun loungers

Excellent tip, I’ve seen those in some of the resorts we were looking at. Also these cabana things on a pier over the sea which you can book for the day which look amazing and would also solve the issue, although couldn’t afford one for more than one or two days

OP posts:

Sunshineandrainbow · 26/08/2025 11:57

I read on another thread that it's best to avoid AI as those people's tend to want to stay by the pool all day to make the most of the Al perks! Doesn't really help you though.