SouthernWorldwide.com – In a scene that has gone viral, dozens of vacationers were captured in a stampede for poolside lounge chairs at a Spanish resort after waiting in line for an hour before the gates even opened.
The chaotic event was witnessed by Chris, a 34-year-old from Glasgow, Scotland, who was vacationing in Salou, Spain, last week, according to news agency SWNS.
Video footage taken on June 24 shows over 40 hotel guests gathered outside the pool entrance before it officially opened at 9 a.m.
CHAIR-HOGGING WARS HEAT UP AS CRUISE TRAVELERS USE SNEAKY TACTICS AMID CRACKDOWNS
The moment the doors were unlocked, the crowd surged forward, racing to claim the most sought-after loungers by placing their towels and bags on them.
Chris shared that this wasn’t an isolated incident; the early-morning rush was a daily occurrence throughout his week-long stay.
Many guests adopted a strategy of reserving a lounge chair before returning to their hotel rooms or heading for breakfast, effectively occupying rows of loungers long before anyone actually used them.
“It was a manic race and scramble for the sunbeds surrounding the pool at the hotel,” Chris described.
He added, “I don’t judge, but found it funny, so had to film it.”
This practice quickly became a part of the morning routine, with many guests seemingly employing the same tactic each day.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
“Some people just rolled out of their bed, queued up, mad-dashed to secure the bed — then they were seen going back to their hotel rooms or off for breakfast,” Chris explained.
While he found the spectacle amusing, he admitted to feeling sympathetic towards guests who opted not to join the queue.
“It doesn’t leave room for those who don’t queue for an hour,” he commented.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The scramble for poolside loungers has become a common sight at many resorts, particularly during the busy summer travel season.
In response to such issues, Norwegian Cruise Line recently began enforcing its no-reserving policy.
They started by placing time-stamped stickers on unattended loungers and removing personal items if guests failed to return within approximately an hour.
This crackdown was met with approval from many travelers, who felt the policy helped to free up poolside seating and discourage “chair hogs” from monopolizing the prime spots.
