A mum has shared the ‘controversial’ way she makes sure she gets the perfect sun lounger spot each time on holiday.
We’ve all experienced the struggle to find that ideal sunbed for relaxing on holiday – we’re after loungers close to the pool, soaking up the sun, and positioned together so the family isn’t spread out. However, during busy periods, finding an unoccupied lounger can be a challenge – leading to the so-called ‘sunbed wars’ at numerous popular European holiday destinations.
Mum-of-three Danielle openly declared that she’s unashamed about hurrying down to claim loungers near the swimming pool. “Yes, I’m that mum who gets up really early to put her towels around the pool so that I’m guaranteed to get a bed,” she stated in a recent TikTok confession.
The social media influencer detailed her strategy whilst vacationing in Benalmádena, Spain, waking at 7am daily to dash to the resort’s pool area well ahead of its 10am opening time. At the Holiday Village Hotel, the pool is obstructed by metal gates until opening hour, although guests are permitted to position their towels on the loungers beforehand.
Danielle remarked that by 9.45am, there would already be a queue forming – and as soon as the gates were opened, holidaymakers sprinted towards the sun loungers in hopes of capturing the best spot.
Danielle, who has over 36,000 followers on her ‘mum life’ social media account, said: “This is probably going to be a controversial post, but I just wondered who else does the same?”
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After rising at 7am and getting ready, Danielle shared that she collected her family’s beach towels and headed directly to the waterside. “I try to find the best beds that I can,” she stated. “The reason that I do this is because I have three young children and one of them is only two.”
The brunette beauty explained that her toddler would want to be in the water all day, so being near the poolside was crucial for keeping an eye on him. She continued: “We stay around the pool all day long, probably from around 10am until about 6pm. [I] couldn’t think of anything worse than being so far back, away from that pool.
“And not only that, I would hate to come down in a morning, after breakfast, and there be no beds left for us to sit on.” She also mentioned that her dad, who accompanied the family-of-five on holiday, also rises early to secure a good sunbed spot.
“So, yeah, this is what we do on our holidays so I’m guaranteed a bed as close to that pool as possible,” Danielle added. However, Danielle’s confession sparked mixed reactions.
One person commented: “Absolutely not! I have kids as well and it is a no from me. I would remove [the towels] and hand to the receptionist.”
“If I get there and want those beds, your towels will be moved if you’re not there sorry,” another person said. To which Danielle responded: “No one is touching my towels. Been doing this 10 years and they have never been moved.”
Yet, some conceded that they too engage in the early towel placement. “We all do it,” one person admitted.
Another chimed in with a different perspective and said: “I don’t do it personally but I have no issues with people that do it and spend the day at the pool. The people that do it and then go out all day and come back at like 4pm are the ones I can’t stand.”
Do you rush out early to get a sunbed on holiday? Comment below.