The infamous sunbed wars in the Canary Islands have flared up once again, with holidaymakers seen sprinting at full speed to bag the best poolside spots before breakfast is even served.
A new video, shared by Dutch influencer Isabelle Hanssen, shows the moment guests at a luxury hotel in Lanzarote made a mad dash at 9:30am sharp, desperate to reserve their sun loungers with towels, bags and anything else they could throw down. “Nothing like a sprint at 9:30,” she joked in the caption, though some might not find it so funny.
The now-viral footage reignites the debate over holiday decorum, as frustrated guests increasingly complain about the so-called "towel tactics" of their fellow tourists, many of whom reserve prime sunbeds for hours without ever actually using them.
And it's not just a one-off. Resorts across the Canary Islands have been plagued by early morning rushes and arguments over who "owns" what lounger.
Now, fed-up hotels in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote are starting to take action. Some have introduced new rules allowing staff to remove towels from unused sunbeds after a set time, aiming to restore a bit of order and sunshine to everyone’s holiday.
But judging by the scenes captured this week, the sunbed wars are far from over. One thing’s for sure: if you're not quick off the mark in the morning, you might just miss your chance to soak up the sun.
