British holidaymakers at a hotel on the Costa del Sol, where the daily release of sun loungers is announced to guests by a whistle, have told how the system creates a ‘crazy battle’ that can turn violent.
The whistle announcing system was introduced at the Spanish hotel by the sea to reduce fierce competition for a prized pool spot.
But instead, the moment when staff blow the whistle to announce that the lounge chairs are unlocked and available has led to even more chaotic scenes – as captured in hilarious video footage published by MailOnline.
Now holidaymakers at the Parasol Garden in Malaga have expressed concerns about the system, complaining that it detracted from an otherwise enjoyable and sun-filled holiday.
Sarah Wood, 46, a project coordinator from Wakefield, said: ‘As soon as they opened the gates, took the chains off the beds and blew the whistle, there was a frenzied battle.
The whistle announcement system was introduced at Spain’s seaside hotel in an effort to lessen fierce competition to secure a prized spot by the pool
Natasha Hawley, 44, from Kent, said the sunbed scrum was a ‘free for all’
Health worker Janet Fleming, 66, from Manchester said she woke up at 7.30am on the first full day of her holiday with her husband, David, a retired upholsterer
My daughter Meghan and I were pushed aside by people running past us. It’s such an unsatisfying way to spend your vacation.’
Health worker Janet Fleming, 66, from Manchester said she woke up at 7:30am on the first full day of her holiday with her husband, David, a retired upholsterer.
She managed to secure two poolside sunbeds on a patch of grass and Anderson palms by placing her Ralph Lauren towels on top.
But she said: ‘I’ve never seen sunbeds locked up on any holiday I’ve been on before. It’s shocking.
‘They have to do something about this. It just makes everyone nervous and everyone gets involved in this hustle and bustle because no one wants to be left out.
“But I do find it entertaining to see everyone running around like a comedy skit.
Mr Fleming, 69, added: ‘It’s a terrible fight for the sun loungers. It shouldn’t be and none of us want to act weird by pushing and pulling.
“But now that the sun is shining and music is playing, it’s starting to feel like vacation.”
Holidaymakers queue at the Parasol Garden Hotel on the Costa del Sol as they wait for the whistle to sound to announce the daily battle for sunbeds
And we have left! Crowds head to a rack of lounge chairs to grab them before they run out
Aerial footage of chaotic scenes at the hotel during a morning rush hour for chairs
Natasha Hawley, 44, from Kent, was on holiday with her husband John and her child Aiden, 20, who has special educational needs.
She said: ‘We showed up and asked for ground floor access as my son has a motorized wheelchair and they gave us one with stair access.
“They then said they could make it right and put us on the ninth floor, it was really ridiculous.
“But the scrum for the sunbeds is something else, it’s like a free for all, you can’t be polite here, you just have to work your way through and get what you want, and that’s not how I really want to be on holiday .
“I don’t like that, I always encourage Aiden to be polite, but it’s not a good impression to come here and have to be rude to others to get a tan, it’s so disappointing.”
Train driver Ryan Deacon from Norwich was with his wife and children.
The lucky ones: holidaymakers enjoy the sun at the Parasol Garden Hotel
Due to the international exposure that MailOnline’s story caused, the hotel management has now reconsidered their policies and we can reveal that today was the last day for the whistle system
‘It’s a little crazy. People lined up there about 30 minutes in advance and everyone got closer and closer before the allotted time and got yelled at to go back.
“I feel like we’re being treated like animals and that doesn’t feel good.
“This holiday has cost me a few thousand pounds and all I want to do is enjoy it with my family in the sun and not worry about how I’m going to get a spot by the pool.”
Due to the international exposure that MailOnline’s story caused, the hotel management has now reconsidered their policies and we can reveal that today was the last day for the whistle system – which will be dropped from tomorrow morning.
Hotel receptionist Gregorio Lara told Mail Online: ‘We don’t like people having to run to get sunbeds.
‘We are going to introduce a new system that is fair for everyone. Once I get their son seats, they can stay on them.
“But if they leave the towels here for more than 30 minutes, we will photograph them, remove their belongings and show them the photos and explain why they lost the sunbeds.”
Earlier this week, Mail Online reported how other tourists at the same hotel waited up to two hours for top spots to get a lounger.
Tourists stroll around the swimming pool of the Parasol Garden Hotel
A very British scene in southern Spain depicted men and women forming an orderly line long before the beach and pools opened to make sure they got the best spot – and most brought a chair and a good book to kill time.
But one witness said that as soon as the gate opened each morning, “madness” ensued, with “people literally rushing in.” Some parents pushed their kids forward to sprint in and grab a tanning bed because they’re fitter and faster.
Charlotte Chartell told MailOnline that people lined up on chairs reading “because they’ve been there so long.”
But she also concluded ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’, after her initial shock that there were people queuing up every day to get a sun lounger.
Ms Chartell said: ‘There are two pools but only one for children so everyone wants to get as close to the slides as possible too. There are definitely not enough sun loungers for the number of guests in the hotel.
“But as soon as the lifeguard opens the gate, people literally run in, someone made their kids run ahead of the adults. It’s madness. I was there the week before the holidays started, so God knows what it’s like now.’
Similarly, Spanish locals were sent out before dawn last week to lay out their towels at a prime spot on a Costa Blanca beach.
Even before the sun came up, the early risers in Torrevieja proudly planted their flags in the sand.
They started setting up at 5.30am just after council cleaners finished their night shift – as similar scenes also played out just over an hour away in the popular holiday destination of Benidorm.
Signs at the hotel prohibit people from reserving sunbeds by leaving their belongings on them
A resident dug his parasol – the red and yellow of Spain’s national flag – into the sand and set up his lounger next to it before disappearing.
Another even planted a mini Spanish flag in the top of his parasol – and stood next to it with his arms folded as if defending his territory from foreign marauders.
Monica Gomez, Benidorm’s councilor for beaches and the environment, said last month: ‘There are also people who put their things out at this early hour of the morning and go home, and that is not allowed.
Under the bylaws the local police have the authority to act when items are left on the beach in this manner and it leads to conflict between beach goers and they always act when necessary to mediate and try to resolve disputes to make sure to ensure both parties can enjoy a good day out on the sand.
“If it is proven that someone has left behind their parasol or sun lounger, the police have the authority to remove it.
‘Usually the items are left on the beach itself, at one of the access points or at the lifeguard tower.
“That means when the person goes to pick them up, they can be advised not to do this so they can be urged not to repeat it.
“We always appeal to people’s personal responsibility so that we all use and enjoy our beaches properly.
“However, if people persist in this kind of behavior where they leave sunbeds and umbrellas behind and cause conflicts with other beach users, the police can penalize them for repeating a practice that is not allowed.”