Reserving loungers with a towel: rules, court rulings and fair alternatives
Reserving loungers with a towel is one of the big annoyances of package holidays: at six in the morning there is a towel on every pool lounger, and many of them are only used hours later – or not at all. But is that allowed? What can hotels do about it, what have courts decided, and how do you deal with it fairly yourself? In this guide you will find the rules, two court rulings with case number or key details, the situation on beaches and clear step-by-step instructions in case all loungers are blocked. Important up front: this is not legal advice but a summary of documented sources.
Contents9
- Why reserving loungers with a towel is so common
- Is reserving loungers with a towel allowed?
- What courts have decided on the issue
- Loungers on the beach: municipal rules
- All loungers taken? Here is how to proceed
- Fair instead of a race: alternatives to reserving loungers with a towel
- Your towel on the lounger: holding instead of reserving
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why reserving loungers with a towel is so common
The pattern is the same everywhere: in popular hotel resorts there are often fewer well-placed loungers than guests who want to use them at the same time. Whoever gets up early puts a towel on a lounger in the front row, goes to breakfast and comes back at some point. Other guests follow suit because otherwise they miss out. The result is a race that hardly anyone likes but many take part in. The real problem is not briefly leaving a towel, but blocking a lounger for hours while it stays empty.
Is reserving loungers with a towel allowed?
There is no law that explicitly prohibits reserving loungers with a towel. What matters are the rules of the resort: the hotel has domestic authority and can decide how its loungers are used. Many hotels put up signs saying that loungers may not be left reserved and unused for longer than a certain time, and announce that towels left behind will be removed. In the Rhodes case described below, this limit was 30 minutes, for example.
For you as a guest this means: stick to the resort's pool rules. You have no right to a particular lounger. Conversely, you can expect a hotel to actually enforce its own rules.
What courts have decided on the issue
German courts have repeatedly dealt with package holidays in which reserving loungers with towels became a permanent state of affairs. The following overview summarises two cases from the Hanover Local Court (Amtsgericht Hannover) that ADAC and other media have reported on.
| Case | Facts | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| AG Hannover, judgment of 20.12.2023, case no. 553 C 5141/23 | Family on Rhodes, hotel with six pools and around 500 loungers; signs prohibited reserving for longer than 30 minutes, staff did not intervene | Travel price reduction of €322.77 from the first complaint, about 15 % of the daily travel price |
| AG Hannover, reported in May 2026 (case number not given in the reports) | Family holiday on Kos in August 2024; loungers reserved with towels from 6 a.m., complaints to the tour rep and hotel without success | Tour operator paid €350 in advance, the court awarded a further €636.70 (€986.70 had been claimed) |
The reasoning in the first case according to ADAC: the tour operator does not have to guarantee every guest a lounger. However, there must be enough loungers in relation to occupancy, and the operator must intervene if existing loungers become practically unusable due to permanent reservations. Travellers cannot be expected to remove other people's towels themselves or to reserve against the rules as well, because that would almost inevitably lead to arguments.
You should know two limitations: both cases concern package holidays, where the tour operator is liable for defects. And a court spokesperson described the second ruling as a decision on an individual case. Whether you have claims in your case can only be answered by legal advice, for example from a consumer advice centre or a lawyer.
Loungers on the beach: municipal rules
On public beaches it is not a hotel's domestic authority that applies, but whatever the municipality decides. Some Mediterranean holiday resorts take targeted action against reserving loungers with towels and umbrellas early in the morning. In 2024, for example, media reported on the Spanish resort of Calp on the Costa Blanca: loungers, towels or umbrellas placed on the beach before 9:30 a.m. can be removed, and a fine of €250 may be imposed. There have also been reports from Italy for years about fines for beach reservers.
Such rules change and differ from place to place. So look out for signs at the beach entrance or ask at your accommodation.
All loungers taken? Here is how to proceed
- Do not remove other people's towels: Tempting as it may be, it almost always leads to an argument. The court in the Rhodes case explicitly said that this cannot be expected of you.
- Talk to staff: Ask the pool attendant or reception to enforce the house rules. There are often fixed times when towels left behind are collected.
- Inform the tour rep: On a package holiday, also report the problem to the tour operator or the local tour rep – in writing if possible, for example by e-mail or via the operator's app.
- Document it: Take photos of reserved but empty loungers with time, date and the notice sign. Note when you complained and to whom.
- After the trip: If nothing has changed, contact the tour operator. In the Rhodes case the reduction was calculated from the day of the first complaint, so it pays to complain early.
Fair instead of a race: alternatives to reserving loungers with a towel
Most guests do not see it as a problem if someone goes for a quick swim or fetches a drink and leaves their towel on the lounger in the meantime. It only becomes annoying when a lounger stays empty for hours. The following table shows what is generally considered fair and what is not.
| Situation | Usual and fair | Better not |
|---|---|---|
| Quickly into the water or to the bar | leave your towel and book on the lounger | turn it into an outing lasting several hours |
| Lunch | follow the house rule, free the lounger if in doubt | block the lounger beyond the permitted time |
| Early in the morning | stay right there if you want to use the lounger | hand out towels before breakfast and leave |
| With family or a group | take loungers for those present | keep a whole row free for people who only come later |
More ideas for avoiding the race:
- Go to the pool at off-peak times: In the late afternoon loungers become free, and the sun is milder anyway.
- Switch to beach or lawn: A large, flat-woven towel is a comfortable base even without a lounger. The Beach Towel Ocean measures 180 × 100 cm, is made from 100 % cotton and easily releases sand thanks to its smooth weave.
- Check when booking: Reviews from other guests often reveal whether a resort has enough loungers and whether staff enforce the rules.
Your towel on the lounger: holding instead of reserving
A towel on the lounger naturally makes sense – for hygiene reasons and because it is more pleasant than bare plastic. The only annoying thing is when it keeps slipping. That is what the Hammam Towel Ocean StayOn is for: 200 × 70 cm, 100 % cotton, with a sewn-in pocket that you pull over the backrest. This way the towel stays in place even when you get up or turn over.
To be honest: a towel that stays put is no free pass for reserving loungers with a towel. It is meant to help you lie comfortably, not to reserve. If you travel light, the Beach Towel MAHINA, approx. 180 × 100 cm without fringes, is another alternative. You will find all models in the beach towels collection.
Related reading: Towel slipping off the lounger? Causes and 6 solutions · Hammam towel on a cruise: pool deck, shore excursions, cabin and onboard rules · Hammam towel for the lounger: how the Ocean StayOn works
Conclusion
Reserving loungers with a towel is not prohibited by law, but hotels may restrict it through their house rules, and many do. In package holiday cases, the Hanover Local Court has ruled that permanently blocked loungers can be a travel defect if the hotel does not intervene despite complaints. On beaches, the rules of the respective municipality apply, sometimes with fines. For you this means: do not remove other people's towels, report problems early and document them – and only occupy a lounger for as long as you actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Can the hotel take my towel off the lounger?
If the house rules provide for it, yes. Many hotels point out that unused loungers will be cleared after a certain time. Ask at reception where collected towels can be picked up.
Can I remove other people's towels myself?
That is not advisable. It easily leads to arguments, and the Hanover Local Court considered it unreasonable for guests to have to do this themselves. Better to speak to staff.
Will I get money back if all loungers are reserved?
On a package holiday this can be a travel defect if there are not enough loungers or the hotel tolerates reserving loungers with towels despite complaints. The circumstances of the individual case are decisive. Report the defect on site and seek legal advice if in doubt.
How long may I leave my lounger?
That is set out in the resort's house rules, often on signs at the pool. In the Rhodes case it was 30 minutes. Going for a quick swim or fetching a drink is generally considered fine.
Are there fines on the beach for reserving?
In some places, yes. For the Spanish resort of Calp, a fine of €250 was reported in 2024 for items placed on the beach before 9:30 a.m. The rules differ from municipality to municipality.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam. As a family, we have run the Meri Sauna at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.
