‘Absolutely embarrassing’: British mother claims parents send children sprinting for sun loungers after hour-long queues in Spanish resort
A British holidaymaker says competition for poolside sun loungers at a hotel in Salou became so intense that parents sent children ahead to claim them. Cait Fennel said the daily scramble prevented her family from using the pool for the first three days of their holiday, illustrating continuing concerns over informal sunbed reservation practices at busy resorts.
Fennel, 42, travelled from Liverpool with her husband and five-year-old son for a week-long stay from 5 August at Hotel Best Oasis Park. She said guests began queuing from about 8.45am for a 10am pool opening, sometimes leaving bags in line or using the hotel gym as an alternative route; footage showed children running towards loungers and adults following with towels. After three days, she joined the queue herself, while her family otherwise used the beach during the reported £3,000 trip; the hotel was contacted for comment.
- Guest alleges chaotic daily sunbed scramble at Salou hotel
- Children reportedly ran ahead to reserve loungers
- Family avoided the pool for three days
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Salou is a seaside resort in Catalonia, in north-east Spain, where hotels and beaches attract many holidaymakers, especially in summer. At busy hotel pools, there may be more guests wanting sun loungers than loungers available.
Some guests try to secure a place by putting towels or bags on loungers before they use them, a practice often called reserving a sunbed. Hotels set their own rules for pool access and for how loungers may be claimed, so the arrangements can differ from one resort to another.
Disagreements over sun loungers reflect a wider challenge for popular holiday destinations: meeting visitors’ expectations when shared facilities are in high demand. Pool access can shape how families spend their holiday, particularly when they have paid for a hotel stay.