August 11, 2026, 2:55 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
As soon as the vacation day begins, the race for the most coveted spots by the pool starts in many hotels. For years, a certain stereotype persisted stubbornly—that Germans were the worst offenders when it came to reserving lounge chairs. However, a recent survey shows that reality now looks different from the widespread cliché.
When it comes to reserving sun loungers, it appears that Germans are not at the top of the list. This is according to a YouGov survey of European vacationers. According to the survey, 38 percent of German travelers admitted to having reserved a lounger with a towel at least once.
The figures were even higher in Italy and France, where 45 percent of respondents in each country said they had claimed a sun lounger in this way. The British were at the bottom with 33 percent. This was reported by “The Guardian.”
Reputation Still Persists
Although other nations more frequently use the towel method, the image of the German lounger reserver persists. More than half of Germans, specifically 51 percent, associate the practice with their compatriots. This view is also widespread in the United Kingdom, with 46 percent holding this belief.
In other European countries, however, this stereotype plays a significantly lesser role. There, only between five and 17 percent of respondents primarily associate reserving loungers with German vacationers.
Many Vacationers Reject the Practice
The practice is not popular overall. Depending on the country, between 60 and 82 percent of respondents rated the blocking of loungers as unacceptable.
Despite this critical stance, the frustration is part of the vacation routine for many travelers. More than half reported having once found no available spot because all loungers were already taken. Early morning reservation actions continue to regularly cause frustration at hotel pools.