Holidaymakers were seen sprinting for sunbeds in the latest round of the infamous “sunbed wars” after queuing for half an hour before the pool even opened.
Dozens of tourists clutching towels charged towards prime poolside spots as soon as security staff opened the gates at 8am.
The mad dash was filmed by Hope Davies during a seven-day stay at the Spring Hotel Bitacora in Playa de las Americas, Tenerife.
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The 29-year-old said guests began gathering from around 7:30am to secure the best loungers.
Footage captured on 16 June shows holidaymakers racing across the pool area as soon as they were given the green light.
“I was awake early so slowly, I saw it building up from about 7:30, ready for the gates to be opened at 8am,” Hope, from Cardiff, told Whats The Jam.
“Then at 8am everyone was allowed to put their towels on the loungers for the day.
“There were around 40 people rushing for sunbeds.
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“People were panicking trying to secure the sunbeds directly next to the pools, mainly as this is a family hotel so I guess it’s to keep an eye on their children without having to be in the water.
“This happens daily.
“I honestly thought ‘surely there has to be a better system for this’.
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“It’s a big, busy hotel so there should be enough for everyone without the panic.
“I did find it funny that people were running to secure beds as if they were going to disappear.”
Hope said security guards prevented guests from entering the pool area before the official opening time.
The HR worker added: “There was a security guard to man the towels being put down and to open the gate.
“And then it’s a free for all.
“By 9:30am, I would say every single bed was taken apart from sporadic single ones throughout the hotel.
“When I was filming, I honestly just thought ‘why on earth do people queue for this?’
“There should be enough sunbeds for everyone, and if they aren’t being used after a certain amount of time, the towels should be removed and other people allowed to use the beds.
“It’s unfair for those who can’t get down at 8am with younger children, or adults that may want a lie in.”
Hope, who was holidaying with her husband and two friends, said they were unable to find sunbeds together later in the morning.
Instead, they often ended up heading to the beach or nearby water parks.
She added: “I’ve been unable to get a sunbed at 11am with my party of people.
“We managed to get beds for two days, but we all had to sit separately, and people were moving spare sunbeds into walkways and lying there instead of next to a stranger.”
Last month, another guest at the hotel Joanna Wright could not believe her eyes when she looked out from her balcony window and noticed guards by the pool.
The 31-year-old clocked a number of security staff positioned around the pool to prevent holidaymakers from getting a spot before the official opening time.
“I honestly found it quite surreal seeing security guards protecting sunbeds like they were guarding a major event,” Joanna, from Kent, said.
“Most guests seemed amused and shocked by it, and a lot of people were filming or talking about it.
“Some guests appreciated that the hotel was at least trying to make things fair, while others thought the whole situation was ridiculous and showed how competitive the sunbed situation had become.
“They were essentially standing guard and making sure nobody accessed the loungers before the official opening time.
“As soon as the gates opened at 8am, guests rushed into the pool area to try and secure the best sunbeds.
“People were moving very quickly and it felt quite chaotic, with everyone trying to claim beds immediately, they were all gone by 8:05.
“In my opinion, it hasn’t really stopped the sunbed wars – it has just delayed them until the gates open.
“Instead of people reserving beds earlier, everyone simply rushes in at the same time at 8am.”
The Brit captured the shocking footage on 22 May during her family trip abroad.
Jam Press has contacted Spring Hotel Bitacora for comment.
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