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Sunbed Wars: Holidaymaker Wins Payout Over Towel Tyranny
11 May
Summary
- A father won €986.70 after his hotel sunbeds were reserved by towels.
- Loungers were unavailable even at 6am, forcing children to lie on floors.
- Judges ruled operators must ensure a reasonable sunbed-to-guest ratio.
A court has awarded a holidaymaker €986.70 in damages due to unavailable sunbeds at a hotel in Kos, Greece. The father, who paid over £6,000 for the family package holiday, argued that his tour operator failed to manage the issue of sunbeds being reserved with towels. He stated that even at 6 am, loungers were occupied by towels, leaving his children to lie on the floor.
Judges acknowledged the tour operator did not manage the hotel directly but ruled they had a duty to ensure an organizational structure for a reasonable sunbed-to-guest ratio. This ruling is anticipated to encourage other holidaymakers facing similar problems to take legal action against travel companies, potentially costing the industry millions.
The case highlights ongoing issues with holidaymakers resorting to 'sunbed wars' to secure prime spots, with many reporting similar experiences.
