A father from Germany who took legal action following a dispute over sunbeds at a luxury hotel criticized tourists who claimed loungers early in the morning and then disappeared for hours after he pursued legal measures.
David Eggert, 48, filed a lawsuit against his holiday operator, alleging that his children were left on the poolside concrete as all 400 sunbeds at a high-end Greek resort on the island of Kos were already reserved with towels by hotel guests. Having spent over £6,200 for a vacation with his family in 2024, he recently secured a £770 reimbursement after successfully suing the travel provider.
Hailing from Dusseldorf, David recounted how guests at the Grecotel Kos Imperial resort would lay out towels on loungers in the early hours, only to return to their rooms or head into town, despite warnings against this practice. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he described his unsuccessful attempts to secure a spot by the pool each morning during their ten-night stay, leading to his children having to lie on the ground due to the reserved but unused sunbeds.
Describing the situation at the hotel, David explained the frustration of all sunbeds being taken with towels by guests who were often absent for long periods, ignoring rules against reserving loungers. His legal action highlighted the ongoing issue of ‘towel-wars’ at resorts in Europe, where guests rush to claim prime spots early in the day.
Judges in Hanover ruled in David’s favor, ordering the tour operator to refund him £851.75. Despite his participation in the controversial towel-reserving practice on prior vacations, he emphasized the limited options for parents with children who need to be near the pool for safety reasons.
David clarified that the problem extends beyond nationality differences, noting that families across Europe face similar challenges. He likened the situation to friendly football rivalry and warned that without intervention, the escalating ‘dawn dash’ trend could lead to significant financial losses for travel companies.
The court emphasized the responsibility of tour operators to ensure fairness in sunbed allocation and prevent conflicts among guests. David’s case shed light on the need for clearer policies and enforcement to avoid disputes over sunbed reservations at hotels.