Brit steals towels from sunbed hoggers at 1:30am because 'they deserved it'
A British holidaymaker has been caught on camera shamelessly stealing towels from sunbed hoggers who were reserving loungers in the early morning hours. Sunbed wars annoyed one holidaying Manchester mum so much that she took matters into her own hand - and her daughter said 'they deserved it'.
Mum Samantha Cooper was enjoying a two-week sunshine break with her family in Cyprus when she became fed up with the daily scramble to find a spot by the pool. Despite the hotel's strict rule banning towels being put down before 9am, the mum says every morning was a struggle to bag a lounger – and it wasn't long before she discovered why.
From their hotel balcony, 40-year-old Samantha spotted the culprits sneaking down at 1:30 am to claim sunbeds they wouldn't use until well into the following afternoon - and by day five, the Manchester mum had seen enough. She strode to the pool and stripped the towels, freeing the beds up for swimmers and sunbathers who would actually use them.
'To be fair, they deserved it,' her 25-year-old daughter Ellie Ikin said.
Ellie said: 'They were never down there until at least 3pm. Every morning was a struggle.
'The hotel said they had rules of no one putting towels down until 9am, but no one listened.
'My mum noticed they were putting towels down at 1.30am from her balcony.
'We were annoyed because the people who were doing it didn't sit around the pool until later in the afternoon.
'I was happy she pulled them off so other people actually got a chance to get a bed when they wanted to sit around the pool in the morning.'
Ellie, who was holidaying in Cyprus with her mum, said she was happy the move gave other holidaymakers a chance to grab a bed for a morning swim or some sunbathing. And while there was no drama – the towel owners going back to their old ways the very next day – the bold move made it easier to find a spot by the pool for a while.
She added: 'It's selfish. I completely understand the need of getting a bed early, but 1.30am putting towels out when you have no intentions of being there in the morning is ridiculous.'
It comes as sunbed wars play out in several other holiday spots across Europe, with another British family caught up in the antics declaring 'if you can't beat them, join them'.
And tourists in Spain have also been seen caught up in sunbed craziness way before the crack of dawn, even using torches to secure their sun-lounging spots beside the pool.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
The campervan trip to Spain's least visited region that finally turned me into a grown up
If you're looking for a trip that's a bit off the beaten track, this Spanish region is a winner PINCHOS-ME MOMENT The campervan trip to Spain's least visited region that finally turned me into a grown up I HAVE the palate of a schoolchild. Before embarking on any trip, I often load a supermarket trolley with Monster Munch and a Fray Bentos pie-in-a-tin. So how exactly did I end up sipping silky reds and nibbling padrón pinchos on a charming cobbled street this summer? 6 I had travelled through northern Spain, in a Bailey motorhome, to the Rioja region Credit: Getty 6 Tuck into pinchos tapas on a stick, it is a genius way to enjoy the dessert Credit: Alamy Advertisement I had travelled through northern Spain, in a Bailey motorhome, to the Rioja region which, unbeknown to me, would soon shake up my tastebuds. Parking up at Camping de Haro, a leafy campsite in the heart of La Rioja (Spain's famous wine country), meant I had hearty cuisine right at my fingertips. From here, it's just a ten-minute stroll into Haro, a pretty town surrounded by vineyards and packed with wine bars, restaurants and ancient wineries. A recent report from the Spanish tourist board revealed that Rioja is one of the least-visited regions in the country. Advertisement That meant fewer crowds and therefore more time to scrutinise the menus. And I can say with certainty that the menus here are nothing short of impressive. I had visited the bars on Haro's lively main square with one simple mission: to try proper food. Not pot noodles, not tinned ravioli – real local fare. Advertisement Of course, tapas is well-known across the country, but in northern Spain, they serve pinchos. The name comes from 'pinchar', meaning 'to poke' or 'to skewer', which explains why each of the snacks I devoured at various bars had been neatly stacked on bread and skewered with a toothpick. Inside the Spanish town begging for Brit tourists They're keenly priced and ridiculously tasty. I started my food crawl safely with Spanish tortilla (or omelette, as it's sometimes known), followed by serrano ham, until I got braver. It turns out that Lomo ibérico, a type of ham made from cured pork loin, is a gateway food to another culinary dimension as by the time the night was over I had eaten my way through all manner of bizarre foods, even pig's ear pinchos. Advertisement Not something my under-educated palate had considered before, but it was a surprisingly tasty way to broaden my dietary horizons. Each bar had its own twist on the traditional pincho, making it easy to sample a variety of small tasters. It's customary to order a glass of wine and a pincho or two, then move on to the next bar – and by the third stop, I was a convert. Although savoury pinchos are the most popular, a dessert alternative is available to round off the evening. Pudding on a stick? Genius. The tasting was top-notch, and my host tailored the description of each wine to suit my inexperience The next morning, with a clear head and a mild cheese regret, I took a tour of Gómez Cruzado, one of Haro's oldest wineries. Advertisement Being largely a lager-only lad until this trip, here's where the grown-up wine lessons began for me. I learned about grape varieties, the use of different oak barrels, and how to properly assess a Rioja's aroma and evaluate its legs with a degree of confidence. The tasting was top-notch, and my host tailored the description of each wine to suit my inexperience. 6 Lee was able to treat his taste buds by sampling the local delicacies in Rioja Credit: Supplied 6 Haro is a pretty town surrounded by vineyards and packed with wine bars, restaurants and ancient wineries Credit: Getty 6 It's customary to order a glass of wine and a pincho or two Credit: Getty Advertisement Over a couple of hours, I sampled smooth whites and rich reds with names I couldn't pronounce but wanted more of. I picked up a bottle to take back to the campsite, along with some proper deli treats, and ditched the Fray Bentos for the night. Back at the motorhome, uncorking my new favourite wine and laying out some local cheese and ham, I watched the sun dip behind the stunning scenery that surrounds the campsite. It turns out you can still enjoy the great outdoors, but without the canned custard and tastes of home. If you're looking for a trip that's a bit off the beaten track, Rioja's a winner And if you're looking for a trip that's a bit off the beaten track, Rioja's a winner. Advertisement Gorgeous scenery, friendly locals, and incredible food and wine. I came here to shake up my comfort zone and ended up discovering a whole new side to travel, and to myself. The Fray Bentos? Still tucked in the back of the van. But for once, it stayed unopened. 'Travel broadens the mind' is a well-worn phrase, but I can now confirm it broadens the palate, too. 6 I had travelled through northern Spain in a Bailey motorhome Credit: Alan Bond Advertisement
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Canary Islands issue rare 'black alert' for British tourists at popular holiday beach
Canary Islands issue rare 'black alert' for British tourists at popular holiday beach The European Union holiday hotspot has issued the rare warning for British holidaymakers at one of the most popular beaches on the popular La Graciosa which is just off Lanzarote The Island of La Graciosa is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits heading to Canary Islands (Image: Iñigo Fdz de Pinedo via Getty Images) A Canary Islands destination has issued a rare "black alert" for UK tourists and holidaymakers. The European Union holiday hotspot has issued the uncommon warning for British visitors at one of the most sought-after beaches on the popular La Graciosa. The latest warning comes after Brits were recently warned with a man facing up to a €200,000 fine for breaking a little-known rule about drone use in Spain. However this is not the only warning issued to UK tourists this season. UK tourists have also previously been warned to check their travel insurance policy before travelling as 12 Spanish airports are facing strikes. Graciosa Island, or more commonly La Graciosa, is a volcanic island in the Canary Islands of Spain, situated two kilometres north of Lanzarote across the Strait of El Río. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . The environmental organisation has released its yearly Black Flag list for Spain. Featured on this year's list is the Playa de Caleta de Sebo, the "town beach" of La Graciosa's capital, alongside the Playa de la Francesa, positioned a little further along the coastline. Article continues below Ecologistas en Acción's yearly report, which has been spotlighting environmental mismanagement in Spain since 2005, catalogues the beaches awarded a black flag this year. According to Ecologists in Action, the beach in Caleta de Sebo is in a "poor state of conservation" with rubbish from vessels, beachgoers, and eateries adding to contamination, reports BirminghamLive. At Playa de la Francesa they caution of the issue of catamaran excursions that arrive at the location "holding parties, meals, games, and contests with loud music and leaving waste behind on the sand and in the water". They allege that catamaran passengers toss chicken scraps to birds, primarily seagulls, which can strike the hulls of the boats while attempting to catch them, and discard leftover rice into the sea to feed the fish. Lanzarote, along with other Canary Islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria, is a popular destination for British tourists. However last year Playa Blanca town beach was given a black flag by Ecologists in Action due to incidents of sewage leaks. Article continues below Despite this Playa Blanca remains one of only two Lanzarote beaches to retain its Blue Flag status this year.
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
The foreign phrases you keep using on holiday – but really shouldn't
Some British tourists have a propensity to eschew attempts at the local language in favour of simply speaking English more loudly, with frantic hand gestures to match. So it seems churlish to mock those who at least make an effort to parler français on their holidays. But we're doing it nonetheless. Here, four of our overseas experts reveal the most common linguistic cock-ups made by tourists trying to speak the lingo in France, Spain, Germany and Italy. Skip to: France Spain Germany Italy France Sacré bleu! If you'd normally cry 'gadzooks' in English, then certainly express surprise or annoyance with a sacré bleu. The French will be charmed by your apparent arrival from the 19th century (when, incidentally, they said 'bleu' to avoid blaspheming by saying 'dieu'). Much the same goes for zut alors, which is rarely heard these days by anyone under the age of 97, and then only ironically. Ooh-la-la For English speakers, this denotes a reaction to French flirtiness, generally involving ostrich feathers, winks and relatively few clothes. For the French, it's oh-la-la (knock off one 'o'), and rarely a good sign, indeed, almost invariably negative. If you hear 'oh-la-la' from the mouth of, say, a mechanic or a surgeon as they survey your car or heart monitor, tough times lie ahead. Je ne sais quoi Used by English speakers to suggest an undefinably appealing quality, 'there's a certain je-ne-sais-quoi about that fellow', but especially to imply that the speaker is more cultivated than you. In French, by contrast, it generally just means 'whatever', and indicates no particular sophistication, since all French people, of course, speak French. Je suis chaud This could mean that one is warm, because of the sun or indoor heating, (chaud meaning warm or hot). But it doesn't. It means 'I am horny'. To indicate non-horny hotness, you need to use avoir, as in j'ai chaud. Je suis plein Tempting to say at the end of a meal when refusing seconds, since plein means 'full', it seems to mean 'I'm full.' In truth, it means 'I'm pregnant,' but in the crudest possible way, used almost exclusively for animals. J'ai assez mangé, merci ('I've eaten enough, thank you') works much better. Garçon! Despite what you've heard, this is no way to address a waiter, unless you enjoy being summoned as 'Boy!' or 'Girl!' Try Monsieur for a waiter and Mademoiselle for a waitress, whatever her age. Embarrassment will also be avoided by knowing that: Preservatif means 'condom'. Asking for food without preservatives will confound. Say sans conservateurs. Slip refers to underpants ('un slip'), not to a tumble on an icy pavement (glissade). Liquide – as in payer en liquide means paying in cash rather than by card, cheque – or water. Les waters refer to the WC, not to the spas, as in Vichy. It's the French mangling of 'water closet'. They just hack off the second word – as they do with le smoking, a 'smoking jacket'. Un car is a bus; voiture is a car. Chips are crisps; frites are chips and important can mean 'important' but also 'big'. (Une foule importante usually means a big crowd, not one comprising ambassadors.) Parfum means 'perfume' but also 'flavour' as in 'what flavour would you like?' asked by the ice-cream man. (Quel parfum voulez-vous?). Assister means to attend or be present at something, not to help; blessé is wounded, not blessed; actuellement means currently or now, not actually; passer un examen means to take an exam, not to pass it; affaires are business, not illicit relationships; rester is to stay or remain, not rest. Anthony Peregrine Spain Any attempt to speak Spanish is usually well received, and people are not out to make fun of you. No one will be molestado (bothered). But there are certain words you might slip up with now and again, particularly if you're a bit nervous. Here are just a few things to watch out for: As well as churros, you might see people eating a bigger, thicker version of the batter strips for breakfast. These are usually called porras, but I have often heard people ask for porros instead, which means cannabis joints. Pollo, meaning chicken, is all too easy to mix up with polla – a slang word for penis. While we're on the subject, pene is the standard word for penis, not to be confused with peine, which is a comb. Want another cushion? Need to get something out of a drawer? Don't confuse cojines and cajones with cojones (testicles). Feeling embarrassed? Then you are vergonzado/a rather than embarazada (pregnant). Got a cold? You are constipado/a. If you are actually constipated, tell the pharmacist you are estreñido/a. Want to check if there are preservatives in your food? Stick to aditivos, otherwise you might be asking for condoms – preservativos. Feeling hot in that blazing sun? Remember to say tengo calor, rather than estoy caliente (horny). Excited about your holiday? You are ilusionado/a and not excitado/a (sexually aroused). If all this is making you afraid to even open your mouth, just quietly chant ' sopa is soup, jabón is soap, jamón is ham, mermelada is jam' to calm yourself down. Annie Bennett Germany Achtung! Thanks to Second World War movies, English speakers think Germans yell this all day. In fact, Germans save it for warning signs and those rare moments when their toddler tries to climb a chandelier. Chef Nope, not someone in a tall white hat whipping up a risotto, but boss in German. Hence asking your 'chef' to cook dinner is an excellent way to switch jobs. Gift Another false friend, gift means poison in German, ie almost the opposite meaning to English. If a German offers you a 'gift', it's best to smile politely and back slowly away. Schwül This means muggy, humid weather. But mess up that tricky 'ü' sound and you might accidentally say schwul, which means homosexual. Stein At Oktoberfest, it's a beer mug but everywhere else, it's a rock. Order a stein in Berlin or elsewhere outside Bavaria, and you're likely to get a confused stare and perhaps a handful of pebbles. Fräulein It might sound charming in old black and white movies, but in 2025, calling a woman Fräulein is like asking if her dowry includes goats. Just use Frau if you don't want to be wearing your drink. Vorsprung durch Technik A phrase made famous by a decades-old Audi advert that has somehow lasted until today. It means something like 'advancement through technology' – and absolutely nobody says it, unless in relation to said ad. Wanderlust Despite being adopted by global Instagrammers with a 'yoga pants and mountain' aesthetic, it's actually considered quite old-fashioned by Germans, who prefer to say something like Reisefieber ('travelling fever'). Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz True, you were unlikely to use this one anyway, but it was a real word that meant 'beef labelling supervision duties delegation law.' It was retired in 2013, presumably due to an abundance of mouth injuries. Italy Italians are generally much more forgiving than the French (or at least the Parisians) towards any straniero who makes an attempt to speak their native tongue. But there are a few common errors that can be relied on to amuse or annoy them: Relentlessly ciao -ing everyone from small children to the carabiniere that has just stopped you for speeding (with adult strangers, always use buongiorno or buonasera. Believing that Italians actually say Mamma Mia! Assuming that Italian is just Spanish with a Super Mario accent – a habit of some American visitors in particular. Even worse, assuming it's enough to stick an 'o' on the end of an English word, like a friend of mine who once asked a grocer for 'milko'. Talking of milko, asking for a latte in a bar and expecting a caffe latte – whereas what you will actually get, unless the barista is used to odd foreign ways, is a glass of milk. Taking prosecco to mean sparkling wine in general. Prosecco is a single variety from a specific region and other (sometimes better) Italian bubblies are available – ask instead for un vino frizzante. Pronouncing grazie as 'GRAAT-see' instead of 'GRAAT-see-ay'. Pronouncing Capri like it's a car with furry dice (the island is 'CAP-ree', not 'cap-REE'). Not being able to pronounce double consonants, so buon anno ('happy new year') comes across as buon ano ('good anus'). Lee Marshall
