The “sunbed battle” is still going strong – What psychology is behind it
It’s 6 am, and the pool area is quiet. Suddenly, the first holidaymakers appear… not for a dip, but to “cover” their sunbed with a towel. These images, which are now flooding social media, evoke a variety of emotions: laughter, irritation, and even… psycho-sociological analysis.
According to a new representative survey by HolidayCheck, almost 60% of Germans admit to having been to hotels where the sunbeds were already “taken” early in the morning. And the most interesting thing? One in four admits to having made a reservation with a towel.
A phenomenon that divides tourists
Although for some, this practice is a holiday routine, for others, it is a pure inconvenience. Three out of five respondents say they are annoyed by this habit, while 71% believe it is mainly a “German phenomenon.”
Travel psychologist Barbara Horvatits-Ebner explains that there are deeper psychological causes behind this behavior: “Fear of exclusion, the need for control and social pressure play a decisive role. Many people are afraid of being left without a sunbed, so they prefer to “secure” their spot early on – even if they disagree with the very logic of this act.”
In addition, according to the psychologist, this practice also has a “possessive” dimension: those who have found a favorite spot “lock” it again the next day – visibly and clearly. At the same time, the towel helps to avoid disagreements with other guests. And when many people reserve a sunbed, the social pressure to all participate in it increases. “The need to conform is a powerful behavioral lever,” says the psychologist. Those who conform despite their own beliefs often experience internal contradictions – the so-called cognitive dissonance – which are resolved through subsequent justification.
Travelers demand solutions
More than half of those surveyed would like to see clear rules in hotels, with one in five suggesting that sunbeds should be closed until a certain time of day. On the other hand, 15% are indifferent to the issue, as they choose the beach.
For example, there are quite a few who take matters into their own hands, with one in seven removing towels from sunbeds themselves – an “antisocial” but decisive solution.
HolidayCheck: How to avoid the problem on holiday
HolidayCheck advises: “If someone really wants a relaxing holiday, it is advisable to choose hotels that do not tolerate such behavior. The comments of other guests are valuable – they often mention whether the staff removes towels or not.”
