Leah Norman said many of the beds would then lie empty all day with just a towel on them
Leah Norman watched tourists rush for sunbeds after waiting for two hours(Image: SWNS)
A Scottish tourist has confirmed that holidaymakers sprinted to grab a sunbed after queuing for two hours at the pool gates. Leah Norman, 37, was on holiday at the Best Oasis Hotel in Salou, Spain, when she witnessed crowds of tourists flooding through the pool gates on July 4 in what she described as “Hunger Games style”.
The holidaymakers had been waiting since 8am until the doors opened at 10am. Leah, from Ayrshire, Scotland, said she spotted a “big queue” of sunbed-hoggers every morning, all desperate to secure a seat throughout her week-long stay.
She noted that beds with towels draped over them would remain unoccupied for the entire day, leaving families without any poolside shade for their young children.
Leah, from Ayrshire, Scotland, said: “Every morning there was a big queue inside hotel full of people waiting on the doors to open at pool area. The door was locked and would open at 10am.
“People would start queuing up from around 8am and when the doors opened at 10am, everyone would start running to grab sunbeds that were stacked up to place next to the pool, like the Hunger Games had just started.”
“Some families with young children were unable to get sunbeds or parasol shades for their babies as they would be taken. Some days, beds would lie empty all day with towels lying on them.”
Leah’s account echoes that of Glasgow tourist Chris, who witnessed comparable scenes in Salou back in June, filming over 40 tourists taking part in a ‘manic race’ for sunbeds after waiting an hour to secure one.
Watch tourists’ ‘manic race’ for sunbeds after hour-long queue
Having secured a spot with a towel, holidaymakers would then make their way inside for breakfast. Chris said: “It was a manic race and scramble for the sunbeds surrounding the pool at the hotel. I don’t judge but found it funny so had to film it.
“Some people just rolled out their bed, queued up, mad-dashed to secure the bed then they were seen going back to their hotel rooms or off for breakfast.
“It doesn’t leave room for those who don’t queue for an hour.”