Brits battling for poolside loungers may have finally met their match – after a hotel worker was filmed removing towels and bags from reserved sunbeds while guests were at breakfast.
The footage, filmed by Lucie Hewes, 19, from the UK, shows a member of staff making his morning rounds at a hotel in Rhodes, Greece, clearing unattended loungers despite personal belongings being left on them, as reported by Whats The Jam.
Lucie said the hotel has a clear policy banning guests from reserving sunbeds, but many holidaymakers ignored the rule by laying out towels, hats and bags before heading off to breakfast – or even back to bed.
She said: “The pool man comes round at around 8 every morning and removes towels and belongings from the beds with no one sitting on them.”
According to Lucie, some guests returned looking confused when they discovered their belongings had vanished, while others were unhappy to find fellow holidaymakers already sitting on what they considered “their” sunbeds.
She added: “It was funny and entertaining to watch and good to see, as the rule of no sunbed reservation is fair.”
One woman reportedly confronted a member of the pool staff, complaining that her belongings should not have been moved because she now had nowhere to sit.
Lucie said staff calmly explained the hotel’s policy, telling her sunbeds could not be reserved so that all guests had a fair chance of getting one.
“She did not agree despite getting all her stuff back,” Lucie said.
The clip has reignited the annual sunbed wars debate, which has become a familiar feature of British holidays abroad.
Lucie’s video was viewed 538,000 times, had 23,000 likes and had 294 comments.
One user said: “Well done wish all hotel done this.”
Another person said: “All hotels should do this.”
Someone else added: “If you don’t like this, all skip breakfast and stay on your loungers.”
Jay said: “Every hotel should do this! Well done.”
Another user added: “Not all heroes ware capes.”
It comes just days after another UK holidaymaker made headlines for taking a far more controversial approach to the problem.
Tom Caunce admitted secretly sprinkling itching powder onto towels left on reserved loungers during a holiday in Majorca, saying he was fed up with guests claiming the best poolside spots before sunrise and then disappearing for hours.
But while Tom’s prank divided opinion, many holidaymakers may find this hotel’s approach a little easier to support.
For now, at least, the battle for the best sunbed in Rhodes appears to have a new referee – armed with nothing more than a stack of confiscated towels.
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