Brits call out 'horrendous' hotel behaviour but admit 'we find it funny'
Holidaymakers at a Benidorm hotel have been filmed participating in a frantic "sunbed dash", where every available lounger is claimed within a staggering three minutes.
Frequent Spain holidaymakers Mark and Karen Gregory, both 50, typically opt for apartment accommodations that often overlook major hotel pools, giving them a front-row seat to the morning mayhem.
During their May trip, the couple from Swansea, Wales, captured multiple instances of sun-hungry Brits racing to secure the best sunbeds. Mark, who runs an online sales business, recounted: "We saw people queuing from first thing - the queues were horrendous! People were properly running in.
"One hotel we did stay in, the pool opened at 8.30am and by 8.33am every bed had a towel on. I think it happens everywhere - just because hotels don't have as many beds as they do guests."
Have you witnessed any hotel shenanigans? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Article continues below
The pair prefer to observe the chaos rather than participate. Mark added: "We don't partake at all, we just observe. I know it's a bugbear for a lot of tourists - but we just find it funny."
Making sure you have a good spot by the pool or beach is serious business. And the stakes are high.
Brits who lay out their towels to reserve a sunbed for hours at a time have been warned they could face hefty fines of up to €250 (approximately £210).
The team at travel insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk have warned Brits heading on Spain holidays to think twice before laying out a towel on the beach, as it could actually land you facing some hefty extra charges.
They explained: "In popular areas of Spain like Barcelona and Costa Blanca, tourists can now be fined €250 for reserving sunbeds, meaning waking up early to bag a spot for you and the family is no longer allowed. This rule was introduced following numerous complaints about sunbeds being reserved for hours with no one in sight."
The rules were brought into force last year, in a bid to stop tourists from reserving spots on public beaches with towels and sunbeds, despite then not returning for hours a time - meaning other visitors had to make do with leftover space, causing issues such as fights breaking out, or crowding.
The fines don't always stop poor behaviour, however.
While having a late-night chinwag on their balcony in Magaluf, Spain, Mandy Boyd spotted some lads she thought were having a cheeky swim in the pool. But upon closer inspection, the 34-year-old realised the young men were trying to nab the best beds at 2am, despite the fact that the pool wasn't due to open until 9am the next day.
The quartet of girls watched as the lads dragged out their sunloungers to try and secure prime spots. Mandy and her mates patiently waited on the balcony for the perfect moment to dash down and swipe the towels.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Five off-limit attractions in the UK offering free secret tours – including 10 Downing Street
Plus, other buildings you can explore for the first time I'M DOWN Five off-limit attractions in the UK offering free secret tours – including 10 Downing Street Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THERE is nothing more exciting than getting to explore a place where visitors are usually not allowed. Think: Downing Street, the BBC Broadcasting House and the BT Tower. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 As part of the Open House Festival, the public can explore a number of places they usually can't access for free Credit: Getty Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here And as part of London's Open House Festival, there are over 700 properties, buildings and places where the public will be welcomed to visit between September 13 and 21. Five of these are offering extremely exclusive limited tours, with a public ballet now open until August 18. According to the Open House Festival website, many of the destinations will be a "be once in a lifetime visit". Here are the five places you can enter the ballot for, as well as what dates you will be able to visit. 10 Downing Street The home of British Prime Ministers since 1735 will open its doors to the public for two sessions on September 13. Guests will get to see behind the famous black door, where some of the most important decisions in UK politics are made. Currently, 10 Downing Street is undergoing some upgrades to its facilities to ensure the historic building is preserved. BBC Broadcasting House We all know the BBC and see content from it daily, but for the Open House Festival people can go to the first ever purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK. It was built back in 1932 and features an art-deco design, including a clock tower. More recently the building was refurbished and extended to create a new broadcasting house. Inside multi-million pound upgrade for popular Scots tourist attraction The building is now home to the largest live newsroom in Europe, right at the centre of the complex. Again, to go to this spot you will need to enter the ballot, with 12, one-hour sessions on September 20. BT Tower When in the depths of London's streets, you can often catch glimpses of the BT Tower. The tower's famous revolving floor sits 158 metres above the streets of the capital. Two high speed lights will transport visitors to the revolving floor in just 30 seconds. Bizarrely, the Tower was classified as an 'official secret' until 1993 despite it being evident in the city's skyline. To see this building, you will also need to enter a ballot for one of 16 tours, each lasting 45 minutes across September 20 and 21. 5 You could head up the BT Tower which is soon set to be turned into a hotel Credit: Getty Canada House Canada House is to the Canadian Embassy and was originally designed as two buildings. Just over 10 years ago, the building underwent a large scale revitalisation linking it to the former Sun Life Assurance of Canada building. Inside today, the building houses around 300 pieces of Canadian Art. One tour will run on September 13. 5 Or head to Canada House which is home to the Canadian Embassy Credit: Alamy London Museum Currently under construction, the public can enter a ballot to go on a tour of the Poultry Market, at the new London Museum. The London Museum is set to open in 2026, bringing new life into the historic Smithfield market buildings. And with this tour, lucky visitors will get a sneak peak ahead of its opening. Six tours will be open to the public on September 20. The museum's permanent galleries are set to open in 2026 and the 1960s Poultry Market will open in 2028. The Poultry Market will eventually house the museum's collection stores and temporary exhibition and learning spaces. 5 And you could get the first glimpse of the new London Museum Credit: londonmuseum/Secchi Smith New locations for 2025 There are also a number of new destinations part of the festival this year including Studio AVC's offices - which are located in a 1929 shop which used to be Liberty's printing workshop and part of William Morris' Arts and Crafts legacy. Or you could head to The King's Foundation, in Hackney, which is set in a refurbished factory warehouse. And there is the London Film School as well, in a former banana warehouse. For architecture buffs, you can head inside the RIBA House of the Year from 2024. A new £100million indoor resort is also set to open in the UK with a 'next generation waterpark' and thermal spas. Plus, a much-loved UK theme park reveals new rainy day guarantee – with free return after bad weather.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
Plus, what you need to know about flight compensation rules GROUNDED Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights BRITS heading to Spain this month are being warned of chaos as baggage handlers are to strike at 12 Spanish airports. More than 3,000 workers are set to strike between August 15 and 17 and then will continue to strike every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a number of Spanish airports. 2 Strikes are expected to hit 12 Spanish airport and impact Ryanair Credit: Alamy The strikes are set to continue through to the end of December. Organised by the union UGT, the repeated walk-outs by Azul Handling - Ryanair's handling subsidiary - are expected to impact the airline's operations. Ryanair's bases located in Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Ibiza, Palma, Girona, Tenerife South, Lanzarote and Santiago, are expected to be impacted. The strike will affect all bases and work centres in Spain and will take place between 5am and 9am, noon and 3pm and 9pm to 11.59pm. Read more on travel tips STAY IN Take a family hol EVERY MONTH for under £2k a year… including tip to bag free stays By law, the workers have to provide a "minimum service", however this is yet to be specified. The protests are "against the sanctions imposed on workers and the abuse of hours". The FeSMC-UGT airline sector is requesting mediation before the Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA). According to the union, the strikes are being called for various reasons including a lack of stable job creation, restrictions on medical leave and the consolidation of part-time staff's working hours. "UGT regrets having to go to these extremes and all the damages that may occur, for which the direct responsibility will be solely and exclusively the company and its reckless action with the workforce," the union commented. Jose Manuel Perez Grande, federal secretary of the FeSMC-UGT Air Union, claimed Azul Handling has "a strategy of precariousness and pressure on the workforce that violates basic labour rights and systematically ignores union demands". Flight cancelled or delayed? Top tips for handling travel disruptions The FeSMC-UGT Air Sector is now demanding that the company withdraw the sanctions, comply with the opinions of the Joint Commission and immediately open a real negotiation process. This would improve the working conditions of the more than 3,000 workers affected. A number of baggage handlers also went on strike at several Spanish airports for the same reasons last year. A Ryanair spokesperson told The Sun Travel: "Ryanair does not expect any disruption to our operation as a result of these third-party handling strikes in Spain." Back in June, Ryanair also revealed Europe's worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays. This included 1,642 of the airlines' flights to/from the UK being delayed, impacting nearly 300,000 British passengers. Ryanair commented that the European Commission and European governments "have taken no action to fix their shoddy ATC services and ATC delays will now be even worse in summer 2025". Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, added that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer". Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. A European airport is at risk of closure as Ryanair is set to scrap all flights. Plus, Ryanair warns of record flight delays this summer.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
England's 'most beautiful' village loved by film crews with quaint but grim past
It's often named as one of the best places to live in the UK but this postcard-worthy village - used by Tim Burton for the Jonny Depp horror film Sleepy Hollow - has a chilling secret befitting of one of the movies it's been used in It is a charming, quintessential English village that often gets the nod by experts as being one of the prettiest and best places to live in the country. Hambleden, nestled in a valley in Buckinghamshire, has attracted film crews time and time again thanks to its stunning scenery and Olde English allure. The Telegraph has ranked it among England's 30 most beautiful villages, most recently as 2022. The stunning landscapes at Culden Faw Estate help its character, spanning a vast 3,500 acres of mature beech woods, parkland, and sweeping chalk valleys. The estate incorporates the village within its picturesque panorama, reports Surrey Live. Another place you can step inside is the quirky British village where Liam Gallagher and Tom Cruise have been spotted. For those who appreciate the finer things in life, the Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery awaits, a proud recipient of the Travellers ' Choice Award. Embark on an enchanting tour through the vineyards and seize the opportunity to sample a burgeoning array of wines. Over at nearby Cliveden House, step into a world once inhabited by the elite and influential. Famed for its high-profile guests and notorious for centuries of salacious rumours and lavish celebrations, Cliveden has been a fixture since 1666. What would a quaint country village be without its chic dining establishments frequented by celebrities? Nestled at the core of Hambleden lies The Stag and Huntsman, not your average gastropub but one that prides itself on "killer wallpaper" and also operates as a charming boutique hotel. Hambleden, understandably, has been home to some big names. Deep Purple co-founder Jon Lord lived and died here, while 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery also spent some time as an inhabitant. All that considered, it's no wonder that sometimes visiting feels like stepping into a Midsomer Murders episode. The idyllic village has been used in a number of big productions for both television and cinema. It has featured as the backdrop for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Into the Woods and Nanny McPhee Returns, and in TV series like Agatha Christie's Poirot, and Amazon's mini-series Good Omens with David Tennant. Most recently, Greys Anatomy stars Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams were seen in the village during the shooting of Disney's Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted, which was released in 2022. Among the big-name directors who picked it out as a potential filming location, Tim Burton is arguably the biggest. He chose Hambleden as the place to shoot Johnny Depp horror film Sleepy Hollow. But this tiny village has a dark, dark secret that fits the tone of Burton's creepy classic. Back in 1912, archaeologists discovered the skeletal remains of 97 newborn infants at the historical Yewden Villa. The bones were rediscovered stored in cigarette tins within a storage room at Chiltern Archaeology in 2008, triggering debate over the cause of their deaths. In 2010, a researcher proposed that the ancient Roman villa might have operated as a brothel where residents and workers committed infanticide across a 50-year span. Alternative theories suggest it housed a cult that carried out horrific and brutal operations on the infants. Whatever the truth of this awful discovery, Hambleden remains an ideal place for a day out in the countryside packed with intrigue, history and fairytale charm.
