Are You a Sunbed Hogger?
Posted by Sue Anderson, 9th Jun 2015
When you're on holiday, there's nothing worse than going down to the pool to relax only to realise there's no sunbeds left.
It's a well-known fact that Germans are renowned for getting up early and putting towels on sunbeds in order to reserve themselves some for the day ahead, but we wanted to see if they were still considered the worst. We polled 2,150 Britons who have holidayed abroad in the past 12 months to get their opinion.
Is it common for Britons to get up early and hog sunbeds, or are we just not bothered? Here is what we found.
Firstly we asked everyone taking part 'Were you guilty of unfairly reserving poolside or beach sun loungers when you were on your last holiday abroad?' Almost three quarters, 71%, admitted that they were in fact guilty of doing this by leaving items on the sunbed even though they knew they weren't actually going to be using it for a long while. Unsurprisingly, just over half of those, 52%, did admit that they'd received a warning from hotel staff - no doubt because others staying in the hotel had complained.
Next we asked all those taking part to think about others around them, and if they'd ever witnessed other holidaymakers putting items on a sunbed in order to reserve it, even though it was obvious they wouldn't be using it straight away. Almost everyone taking part, 98%, admitted that they had indeed witnessed this.
When asked to state the nationalities of those they'd seen doing this, the worst culprits were as follows:
1. Britons - 21%
2. Germans - 19%
3. Dutch - 14%
4. French - 12%
5. Russian - 9%
Holidaymakers hogging sunbeds at silly hours of the morning, for use later in the day, is something that annoys all of us. It's not fair - why should they get to reserve a sunbed if they won't be using it, when you need one there and then? But, admit it, you've either done it yourself or have considered setting the alarms a few hours early in order to do it.
We see it time and time again, and it's something that hotel staff are cottoning on to - some staff even remove items from the sunbeds if they see this taking place as it's not fair to reserve something you don't plan to use. That being said, we all need to learn to practise what we preach. If it annoys us, why should we moan at others doing it but then turn around and do it ourselves?
Having a sunbed isn't the be-all and end-all of your holiday. If you don't manage to get one, you can always go and do something with your day instead of just sitting by the pool. Holidays are great for immersing yourself in the local culture, taking part in fun activities that you wouldn't normally get to do at home, and trying something new. Don't waste it staying by the pool all day.
It's a well-known fact that Germans are renowned for getting up early and putting towels on sunbeds in order to reserve themselves some for the day ahead, but we wanted to see if they were still considered the worst. We polled 2,150 Britons who have holidayed abroad in the past 12 months to get their opinion.
Is it common for Britons to get up early and hog sunbeds, or are we just not bothered? Here is what we found.
Majority of Britons admit to reserving sunbeds
Firstly we asked everyone taking part 'Were you guilty of unfairly reserving poolside or beach sun loungers when you were on your last holiday abroad?' Almost three quarters, 71%, admitted that they were in fact guilty of doing this by leaving items on the sunbed even though they knew they weren't actually going to be using it for a long while. Unsurprisingly, just over half of those, 52%, did admit that they'd received a warning from hotel staff - no doubt because others staying in the hotel had complained.
Britons overtake Germans as the worst for hogging sunbeds
Next we asked all those taking part to think about others around them, and if they'd ever witnessed other holidaymakers putting items on a sunbed in order to reserve it, even though it was obvious they wouldn't be using it straight away. Almost everyone taking part, 98%, admitted that they had indeed witnessed this.
When asked to state the nationalities of those they'd seen doing this, the worst culprits were as follows:
1. Britons - 21%
2. Germans - 19%
3. Dutch - 14%
4. French - 12%
5. Russian - 9%
One rule for you and another for others
Holidaymakers hogging sunbeds at silly hours of the morning, for use later in the day, is something that annoys all of us. It's not fair - why should they get to reserve a sunbed if they won't be using it, when you need one there and then? But, admit it, you've either done it yourself or have considered setting the alarms a few hours early in order to do it.
We see it time and time again, and it's something that hotel staff are cottoning on to - some staff even remove items from the sunbeds if they see this taking place as it's not fair to reserve something you don't plan to use. That being said, we all need to learn to practise what we preach. If it annoys us, why should we moan at others doing it but then turn around and do it ourselves?
Having a sunbed isn't the be-all and end-all of your holiday. If you don't manage to get one, you can always go and do something with your day instead of just sitting by the pool. Holidays are great for immersing yourself in the local culture, taking part in fun activities that you wouldn't normally get to do at home, and trying something new. Don't waste it staying by the pool all day.
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