TikTok erupts over pool wars after hotels tries to stop sunbed reservations

A Melbourne woman holidaying in Queensland has been baffled by a “selfish” hotel act commonly seen in Europe.

Guests have engaged in “sunbed wars”, reserving pool lounges for later in the day by leaving their belongings at the crack of dawn.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: ‘Selfish’ hotel pool act slammed.

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Emily Cooper had to decide between sleeping in or getting a spot by the pool on her holiday at Fortitude Valley’s Calile Hotel.

But she found every sunbed reserved by 6.52am.

Cooper shared footage of the guests claiming their pool lounges on TikTok and said: “We learned the hard way the day before that if you don’t do this crazy s*** to get a sunbed, you won’t be anywhere near the pool.”

It showed the hotel pool remaining largely empty throughout the morning as guests filtered in and out of the area without staying to swim or relax.

The “#poolwars” or “#sunbedwars” are not local to Queensland, with hashtagged videos of the behaviour shared from resorts internationally on the platform garnering 3.7 million views collectively.

“I’m Australian but Travelled through Europe a fair few times in the summer it’s so COMMON THERE we were so confused,” one user commented.

It’s a behaviour that is increasingly being criticised.

“I can’t stand that type of hogging behaviour. Use the sunbeds while you’re down at the pool but no calling dibs all day, when you’re not even there,” one user said.

“I’ve watched people leave their towels in the middle of the day for three hours ... someone could have used it in that time, come back and sat somewhere else. It’s so selfish,” another said.

Cooper said that the hotel is attempting to mitigate the unofficial reservations, but others argue they do not go as far as they claim.

“Hotel staff remove towels/belongings if unattended for 15 minutes. They time it,” Cooper said.

Other keeping close watch begged to differ: “No they don’t. I watched from the restaurant, towels (are unattended) for at least 1.5 hours. People leave towels then go and have breakfast.”

Day beds are available from 6am until 9pm and cannot be pre-booked, according to The Calile Hotel website. “If day beds are left unoccupied for longer than 15 minutes, they will be reallocated by our pool service team to any guests waiting for day beds,” it said.

Some have chalked up the first-in-best-dressed mentality as inevitable.

“The Calile is only good (during) off-peak season! The January crowds are wild,” one user said.

“I feel like battle of the sunbeds happens anywhere there is a prime position and limited spots!” another said.

The Calile has been approached for comment.