As thousands of Brits jet abroad for their summer holidays – one spot is taking no risks when it comes to the morning lounger rush.
Guest 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.
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“I honestly found it quite surreal seeing security guards protecting sunbeds like they were guarding a major event,” Joanna, from Kent, told What’s The Jam.
“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.”
The bizarre measures were put in place at the Spring Bitacora, Tenerife, during Joanna’s holiday.
The Brit captured the shocking footage on 22 May during her family trip abroad.
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The hotel’s pool opened at 8am, with security in place an hour prior to the gates opening to prevent cheeky guests from getting a spot early.
Despite the measures the chaos still took place – with all the beds taken up within five minutes.
Joanna said: “They were essentially standing guard and making sure nobody accessed the loungers before the official opening time.
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“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.”
Unfortunately, the security measures have actually backfired on the hotel – with Joanna claiming it is even more chaotic than before.
Some guests won’t even make exceptions for kids either – with one taking a sunbed from right in front of her son.
Joanna said: “My son managed to get a sunbed for me when the gates opened because I had to walk around to the ramp with the pram.
“While he was holding the beds, another guest came over, put his towels down and told my son to move.
“By the time I made it over there, we ended up having to find somewhere else instead.
“It just showed how intense and stressful the situation had become for families trying to enjoy their holiday.”
This the latest instalment in the annual Sunbed wars – with Spain being a hotspot for the morning poolside rush.
One family even cheered on their dad from the balcony who had braved the chaos.
Nicole Mason-Price, 35, watched on from the safety of her balcony with her daughter Nevada as the father braved the morning rush.
Shawn, 34, joined the eager queue at 8am following a breakfast pep talk from his wife at the Golden Donaire Beach Hotel in La Pineda, Tarragona, Spain.
Despite the pool not opening until 9am, tourists wanting to grab a top spot start lining up from as early as 7:45am.
“People push, swear and shout and claim more sunbeds than they should which causes arguments.” said Nicole, from the West Midlands.
