Book Your Holiday Sun Bed Via Thomas Cook

[malagabob]

Apparently Thomas Cook are offering their customers a way of reserving their sunbed at their hotels for the duration of their holiday. Doubt TUI will do the same.

[theshedman]

If hotels enforced the so called no reserving sunbed rule most say they have then there would be not need for it at all. As I am always up early I often see people up before it gets light properly out putting the towels on beds and some take 10 or more beds and then don't use them until late in the afternoon.

[Samuraisan]

I have never been to one of those hotels, but what would happen if you just remove someone's towel and use the sun bed?

[theshedman]

There isn't anything they can do about it but just look at Arrods post, some people get very nasty and possessive about these things like it is their given right to certain sunbeds for the duration of their holiday.

[Islay]

you don't have to pay it! No one is forcing you.
Its common in Vegas - want a sunbed then pay for it!

[murraymints]

My idea of hell... lying in rows like sardines... nah....if you must go to beach with a towel...

[jno]

TUI are the German company that owns Thomsons, aren't they? So if Cook's customers go for it, Thomsons' may well do the same.

[New Judge]

“TUI are the German company that owns Thomsons…”

Indeed they are. Thomsons holidays have been part of the TUI group (and its predecessor, Preussag AG) since 2000. In October last year the Thomsons brand was formally discontinued and the company now trades only as TUI. Their High Street branches and their aircraft are being rebadged as time permits.

Back to the question, yes it would be nice if hotels enforced their “No Sunbed Reservation” rule. I too have been in hotels and apartments where guests have been getting up in the middle of the night to lay towels out. They then duly disappear into the town for most of the day only taking occupancy of their beds at about 4pm. But I imagine that is asking too much so I no longer stay in European hotels now. This was one of the reasons but another was the incessant loud music that is deemed necessary around pools all day every day. And don’t even start me off on the football when the World Cup or European Championships are on. We have to pay extra and rent a villa instead now but at least we get a sunbed each and some peace & quiet.

[Garaman]

It is quite generous of holidaymakers to arrange the sunbeds for the hotel let alone pay for the privilege :)

[New Judge]

Good grief! What a nightmare!

I couldn't understand where the signal for the "off" came from. The participants were obviously very well conversant with the rules. I noticed the gantry containing the array of speakers towards the left. I could not imagine going through that every morning. The most amusing aspect was that, once the plots had been claimed, everybody cleared off!

This seems to be the place:

https://www.medplaya.com/hotels/hotel-flamingo-oasis-benidorm.html

I'm surprised they don't put that clip on their website! God knows what the Spaniards think of the Brits.

[EcclesCake]

Nobody is holding a gun to Customers heads. Their is still a free choice of other sunbeds.

If you don't like it don't pay up!

[237SJ]

"There is still free choice of other sunbeds" Yes, the ones in a crummy spot because all the good spots are taken by people who have paid

[jno]

not necessarily; it'll depend on how many beds there are and how many have been paid for. And ultimately whether Cooks can actually guarantee that you'll get one without someone else grabbing it when you've gone for a swim - policing this may be the tricky part, but maybe they'll do eyeball scans or DNA checks or something

[EcclesCake]

I've never stayed in a place like Thomson/Thomas Cook etc. So just don't know what to expect 237.

I prefer to choose my sunbed according to the time of day, rather than be stuck in the same place for a week.

[rockyracoon]

I wonder what will happen if someone pinches your sunbeds. I doubt the hotel staff will give two hoots.

[237SJ]

Are T Cook etc hotels exclusive to them?

[New Judge]

I don't know of any that are.

[237SJ]

That could be interesting if T Cook guests have booked the sunbeds and other hotel guests haven't. Still, it's only a trial so maybe there will be so many fisticuffs that the idea will be abandoned.

[Tilly2]

I can think of nothing more mind drainingly boring than sitting on a sunbed all day. I'll give Thomas Cook a miss.

[237SJ]

^ Some people do like it though which is probably why they are being exploited by the travel companies

[New Judge]

I wouldn’t say they are being exploited, 237. It's just an option, not a compulsory charge.

In many hotels there is clearly a problem with this (as is evidenced by the extreme example posted by Garaman). Some people enjoy lying by a pool all day – it’s their idea of a good holiday. Unfortunately others enjoy bagging a bed before dawn and leaving it unused for most of the day. This idea is an attempt to address that. I can’t see anybody shelling out twenty quid for a sunbed they do not intend to use. Those who do spend their hols by the pool may be willing to do so.

It’s only being trialed in a few places and I’m sure Thos Cook has thought it through.