You wake up on holiday expecting peace. Instead, you find yourself watching hundreds of adults sprint across pool decks like Olympic athletes just to secure a plastic lounger.
The viral footage of holidaymakers queuing for upwards of ninety minutes before a resort pool opens isn't just funny. It highlights a massive flaw in modern mass tourism. Every summer, spots like Benidorm turn into high-stakes tactical zones where the main event isn't relaxation—it's the morning sunbed war. Recently making news in related news: Why Blaming Snow Cannons For Wildfire Protection Is Pure Nonsense.
If you have ever stood on a hotel balcony watching people throw towels onto twenty different loungers "for the family," you know the exact brand of chaos I mean. Let's look at why this happens and how you can completely avoid the madness.
The Economics Behind The Mad Dash
Why do hotels let this happen? Simple math. A resort might host five hundred guests, but space around the pool usually accommodates barely a third of that number. Further insights into this topic are explored by Condé Nast Traveler.
Scarcity breeds desperation. When hotel management refuses to police the towel-hogging culture, guests take matters into their own hands. People set alarms for 7:00 AM on their hard-earned break. They stand in long lines. The moment the pool gates unlock, every single lounger vanishes in under three minutes.
It turns a vacation into an unpaid part-time job. You're waking up early, stressing over property, and getting stressed before breakfast even starts.
The Psychological Toll Of Holiday FOMO
Nobody wants to pay thousands for a package trip only to spend the entire week staring at a concrete wall because every poolside spot is taken. That fear of missing out drives otherwise rational adults to behave like hooligans.
I have watched parents dispatch their young children ahead of the pack because kids can squeeze through narrow gaps faster. I have seen full-grown adults glare daggers at anyone who accidentally drops a towel on "their" preferred spot.
Hotels largely turn a blind eye because keeping everyone happy is hard. If they enforce strict anti-towel rules, staff have to confront angry tourists. It is easier to let guests fight it out.
How To Win The Game Without Playing It
You don't need to join the 90-minute queue. You shouldn't have to set an alarm on holiday just to lie horizontal in the sunshine.
Skip the main hotel pool entirely. Benidorm has miles of pristine public beaches where space is rarely at such a premium. Rent a proper sun lounger and an umbrella directly from the local beach authorities for a few euros. You get the sound of actual waves, real sea air, and zero morning stress.
If you prefer staying on hotel grounds, choose accommodation featuring adult-only zones or rooftop pools. These areas attract fewer families and typically feature a much more relaxed ratio of guests to loungers.
Alternatively, sleep in. Go down for breakfast at 9:30 AM while everyone else is sweating by the pool. By lunchtime, many of those early morning spots sit completely empty anyway because the towel-hoggers wandered off to the pub or got sunburned and retreated indoors.
Stop stressing over the morning rush. Leave the sprinting to the tourists who treat relaxation like a competitive sport.
