Sunbed Wars Reach the Holiday Courts

A German tourist has won more than €900 in compensation after arguing that towel-reserved sun loungers ruined part of his family holiday in Greece. The case followed a 2024 package trip to Kos, where he said poolside beds were regularly claimed before sunrise, leaving his family unable to use facilities that should have been available.

The man told a district court in Hanover that he spent around 20 minutes each day looking for loungers, even after getting up at 6 am to try to secure them. He said his children sometimes had to lie on the floor. The tour operator had already paid €350, but the court ruled that a larger refund was due.

Judges awarded the family €986.70, describing the package holiday as defective. The tourist had paid €7,186 for the trip. Although the tour company did not operate the resort, the court said it should have made sure there was a reasonable ratio of sun loungers to guests and that the hotel’s towel-reservation ban was properly dealt with.

The ruling could matter for anyone booking resort holidays where pool access is a key part of the stay. Better enforcement of sunbed rules may make hotel pools easier to use in places such as Kos, Tenerife and other busy Mediterranean resorts. It may also push operators to check whether advertised facilities can actually be used during peak periods.

The case turns a familiar holiday annoyance into something more serious for tour companies. A pool, beach area or sun terrace is not much use if guests have to join a dawn towel race to enjoy it. The message is plain: if a package holiday sells comfort, the basics need to work in real life, not just in the brochure.