Travel expert reveals the magic hour to grab an empty sun lounger at a busy hotel – and you’ll still get your lie in

A TRAVEL expert has unveiled the magical moment when holidaymakers can go out, grab a sun lounger and lie in it at the same time.

Every summer, people get up as early as possible to compete against others for their spot at the pool.

2

As early as this summer, people could be seen sprinting, queuing and hoarding loungers in popular holiday resorts.

However, according to travel journalist Jacob Passy, ​​this is not necessary. Instead, he urges people to wait for a “transitional moment” when people begin to leave.

He advises holidaymakers to rest rather than get up early, ditch their towel and then wait for them to leave for lunch.

He wrote in the Wall Street Journal: “If you can’t be the first at the pool, look for transitional moments, like just before lunch or dinner to grab a lounge chair.”

Jacob’s advice came from a cruise he took on recently, where sunbeds seem to be just as popular as they are at resorts.

However, he used the morning to enjoy activities or get in shape before sunbathing, which is easy to do at all-inclusive resorts.

He added, “Keep busy with other activities like the daily bingo games or hit the gym when the crowds are sunning.”

There are some rules that everyone who wants to reserve sun loungers must follow.

Etiquette expert Katarina, who shares her expert take on manners on TikTok at @katarina.etiquette, says people should be less selfish and more considerate of other hotel guests.

In a videoShe said: “If you’re staying in a hotel, don’t block the sunbeds if you don’t want to stay there. This is disrespectful to other guests.”

“Unless the hotel has a reservation system, only use the sunbeds if you’re staying by the pool.”

Katarina isn’t the only one commenting on this topic. Renowned etiquette expert William Hanson believes there is a 30-minute grace period for poolside reservations.

Here hotel guests can reserve a seat for a maximum of half an hour with a towel or a book.

William told Sun Online Travel: “In the morning, early in the day, and you’re at the pool after breakfast, then it’s okay to put your towel on the bed at 8.30am to reserve your spot.”

“But later in the day, after you’ve used the lounger and go, for example, to a massage that will last an hour, you can’t reserve the sun lounger with a towel.”

Meanwhile, staff at a Tenerife hotel were caught removing towels after cheeky tourists threw them away and left.

And a mother was left furious while on holiday in France by “ignorant and selfish” Brits who reserved sunbeds at the campsite where she was staying.

2