24-07-2025
Holidaymakers RUN to bag poolside sun beds in scenes 'like something out of The Hunger Games'
Holidaymakers desperate to bag the best spot by a Mallorcan resort's pool have been caught on camera sprinting to the sun loungers in scenes described by an onlooker as 'like something out of the Hunger Games'.
The morning dash took place at Protur Playa Cala Millor Hotel in Mallorca, and was filmed by British holidaymaker Clare Wright, who was enjoying a stay at the four-star adults-only property.
The 44-year-old, from Nottingham, filmed tourists running across the deck the second the gates to the pool area were opened, having queued for half-an-hour to ensure they were ready for the race.
Wright, who had been enjoying a five-day break when she filmed the clip, was staggered to witness the lengths people would go to to bag the best spot.
She explained: 'People gathered in the cafe area from about 8:30am waiting for a little chain that the staff had put around a small section of the pool to be removed.'
Clare, who shared the clip on her TikTok account Wright_Wanders, added: 'As the staff finished the cleaning and walked towards the chain, everybody stood. And as it was lifted, the games began. There were about 50 people.'
The tourist explained the unapologetic sprinting to secure the loungers was all the more surprising because guests had been given a warning the evening before about such dawn dashes.
She said: 'The night before, the entertainment manager said: "No leaving towels down, the staff clean the pool area in the morning, and no running as the floor will be wet and slippy. We are all adults here."
Clare expressed surprise that a four-star hotel for grown ups would see such antics, saying: 'I thought, What? People won't be running to get a sun bed here.'
The warning though led her to reach for her smartphone and film what happened next - and the short clip doesn't disappoint.
'I decided to watch and film it. I watched from my balcony, having a little giggle, went to breakfast and then to the pool at about 10am to find a sun bed without any problem at all.'
Clare said the race was pointless as there were enough sun loungers for everyone.
She added: 'There really was no need. It was such a lovely hotel and we had an amazing time there. It wasn't the hotel's fault - they had enough beds for everyone.'
The footage has so far racked up more than 60,000 views, with those watching it not impressed by how competitive the guests were over the loungers.
One wrote: 'God, how sad if that's what holidays are about.'
Another person added: 'I hate this. I love hotels that remove stuff after 30 minutes if not in use.'
One previous guest said: 'Just come back from Majorca and in the hotel I was in, the pool opened at 10, no stress for a sun bed.'
Over in the Canaries this week, a mother revealed she gets up early every day while on holiday to reserve eight sun loungers for her family - before heading off for breakfast and a shopping trip.
Stephanie, 29, from Wales, who's currently on holiday in Fuerteventura in Las Palmas, Spain, with her partner and six children says she'll happily wake up at the crack of dawn to place towels on the beds, before going about her morning as normal.
Posting a clip of her strategy on TikTok, Stephanie argued she has a 'big family' and so needs to take drastic measures to ensure they're all comfortable during the day.
The video - which racked up 120,000 views - was met with criticism from viewers who questioned why she had taken up spaces at the pool during the height of summer.
Sunbed snatchers: Which area is guilty of breaking poolside rules?
Region % of those of admit to waking upearly to reserve a lounger
West Midlands 15
Wales 13
North East England 13
North West England 13
Northern Ireland 13
East of England 12
London 12
South East England 12
East Midlands 10
Scotland 10
Yorkshire and the Humber 8
South West England 8
Stephanie told her followers: 'First things first, we have to claim our sunbeds at the pool area. We have come as a big family so we have to be there early.'
However, instead of spending the first hours of daylight soaking up the Spanish rays, took her brood out for breakfast and a shopping trip - while their towels remained on the empty sunbeds.
The family travelled into the town where they tucked into a traditional English breakfast at a cafe they had visited 'every single day' of the trip so far.
She said the baked beans, sausages, black pudding, bacon, hash browns, tomato, toast and eggs were 'amazing', while her children opted to tuck into a frittata and pancakes.
After tucking into their cooked breakfasts, the family set off on a shopping trip in the area, searching for holiday souvenirs in tourist shops.
But it wasn't until they'd finished purchasing clothes that they returned to their hotel, where they then enjoyed the pool and the loungers, after seemingly spending a couple of hours sightseeing.
This angered some viewers who commented their thoughts on the clip, with one writing: 'I can't believe you claim the sunbeds and then leave.'
Another penned: 'Why claim sun beds if you're going out for the day?'
A third said: 'All hotels should do the same thing. After 30 minutes of not being on sun lounger, towels are removed and other people get them.'
