German Tourist Wins Payout After Sun Lounger “Towel Wars” Dispute At Greek Hotel

German Tourist Wins Payout After Sun Lounger “Towel Wars” Dispute at Greek Hotel A German tourist has won a court payout after a family holiday was disrupted when he was repeatedly unable to secure a sun lounger due to other guests reserving them with towels. The man, who visited a resort on the Greek island of Kos with his wife and two children in 2024, successfully argued that his package holiday was “defective” because the hotel failed to provide reasonable access to sunbeds despite charging for a full resort experience. According to court findings, the tourist and his family often woke up as early as 6am to join what is locally known as the “dawn dash” a rush by guests to reserve sun loungers before others. Despite this effort, they frequently found all loungers already occupied with towels left behind by other holidaymakers. The family, who paid more than €7,000 for the trip, said they were forced at times to sit on the floor around the pool as no seating was available, while hotel staff reportedly did not intervene to enforce rules against reserving loungers. After lodging complaints, the tour operator initially offered a small refund, but the case was taken to a court in Hanover, Germany. The court ruled in favour of the tourist, ordering compensation of around €986.70, stating that while hotels are not required to guarantee sunbeds at all times, package providers must ensure a “reasonable ratio” of facilities for guests. The judge also noted that holidaymakers should not be forced to resolve disputes themselves by removing other guests’ belongings, reinforcing that responsibility lies with the tour operator to prevent such conflicts. The case has reignited debate across Europe over the controversial practice of reserving sun loungers with towels a long-running holiday frustration often referred to as “sunbed wars.” While some tourists defend the habit as necessary in busy resorts, others argue it leads to unfair competition and poor holiday experiences, especially for families. The ruling adds to growing pressure on resorts and travel operators to introduce stricter enforcement of poolside etiquette rules during peak travel seasons.