A German tourist has been awarded nearly €1,000 in compensation after he and his family were unable to secure a sunlounger during their vacation, as other guests had already occupied them.
The unnamed individual traveled to the island of Kos in Greece with his family in 2024. He reported that, despite making an effort to rise early each day to search for available loungers, he was unsuccessful in claiming one for himself and his family.
Having spent over €7,000 for the trip with his wife and two children, the man received a partial refund from the hotel following his complaint. However, a ruling by the Hanover district court last month determined that the family was entitled to a larger compensation of €986.70, assigning responsibility to the tour operator based in Germany.
This court decision represents a notable involvement in the ongoing dilemma often referred to as the “towel wars,” a phenomenon many associate with European package holidays, alongside features like buffet meals and sunburn.
In his testimony, the man explained that neither the hotel nor the tour operator took action to enforce the resort’s regulations regarding “towel blocking.” Despite his appeals to the staff, he noted that the guests engaging in this practice were not addressed or discouraged.
He described his attempt to secure a lounger as a “dawn dash,” a term that captures the early morning rush to claim desirable spots. Unfortunately, he reported that his efforts were in vain, forcing his children to lie on the hard concrete instead.
The court acknowledged that while vacationers must accept that they may not always obtain a sunbed, it is the responsibility of the tour operator, in coordination with the hotel, to implement a reasonable system that balances the number of loungers with the number of guests.
The judge indicated that the ruling was made based on the specific circumstances of the case.
According to the legal news outlet Legal Tribune Online, the tour operator’s liability for the events in Greece stems from stringent laws governing package travel. The hotel, regarded as a service provider, is considered an agent of the tour operator.
While there are no formal regulations governing the practice of reserving loungers with towels, a general etiquette exists and is often outlined on signage provided by various resorts or pools. Such reservations are typically deemed unacceptable.
Many hotels claim they will remove towels left unattended for 30 to 60 minutes, but this ambiguity often results in disputes among guests. The Hanover judge emphasized that it is widely accepted that holidaymakers should not need to take matters into their own hands, such as by removing others’ towels, and that it is the tour operator’s duty to mitigate such conflicts.
