Suche
Mein Konto
Towel war in Lanzarote: Germans and British compete!
In June 2025, tourists in Lanzarote waited over an hour for pool loungers, leading to a viral "towel war."
Towel war in Lanzarote: Germans and British compete!
In Lanzarote, Spain, a viral TikTok video caused a stir, showing a spectacular fight for pool loungers in the renowned Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort documented. A phenomenon that at first glance seems like a funny anecdote shows the reality of one of the most common conflicts on vacation: reserving loungers.
Tourists waited for over an hour to secure their coveted spots at the hotel pool. The first guests were ready at 9 a.m., although the pool didn't open until 9:30 a.m. When the time finally came, everyone present rushed towards the loungers with an impressive synchronization. The chaos culminated when a woman tossed aside a barrier to gain a strategic advantage.
Observation from outside
Dutch professional skier Isabelle Hanssen, who filmed the scene from the balcony, described the spectacle as “ridiculous”. She was one of the bystanders who observed the aggression that is commonplace for many vacationers. While some guests justified their behavior, others urgently explained that there would be enough loungers later.
Many people commented on the scene on social media, which clearly showed the tensions between holidaymakers - especially between Germans and Brits. The term “towel wars” is often used to describe this phenomenon, which is a recurring theme in many vacation destinations. A comment from a TikTok user explained that she and her boyfriend just wanted to get in the water and didn't reserve a spot right away.
Rules against reserving loungers
The incidents at the hotel pool highlight another problem: numerous “placeholders” who block loungers for hours without actually being there. In response to such situations, some hotels in Spain and Italy have already introduced towel bans to curb this reservation phenomenon. Such rules are intended to ensure that the loungers are actually used by the guests who reserve them.
What is happening on Lanzarote has not only attracted the attention of holidaymakers and filmmakers. Hotel managers could not be reached when asked about the incidents. It remains to be seen how the Barceló Lanzarote Active Resort will react to the incidents and what measures will be taken in the future to avoid tensions among guests.