British holidaymakers heading to Spain over the summer could risk hefty fines if they are caught violating strict new sunbed rules.
Tourists who lay out their towels for extended periods of time face potential fines of up to €250 (£210), as a number of popular holiday hotspots begin implementing the so-called ‘sunbed tax.’
These rules, aimed at preventing sunbed reserving and overcrowding, vary by location but generally prohibit placing personal belongings on sunbeds before a certain time or leaving them unattended for prolonged periods.
It comes as ‘sunbed wars’ at European resorts and hotels continue to hot up over the summer, with guests arriving hours before the pool opens to claim multiple loungers by placing towels, bags and other items on them and returning hours later.
The rush to claim limited loungers has resulted in ‘stampedes’, heated arguments and even physical fights between frustrated guests.
Hotels have since had to implement measures such as time limits for unattended towels or a parking ticket-style system to help manage numbers.
Some guests have even taken legal action against hotels for failing to enforce sunbed policies, such as a German family who won a £280 payout after losing a sunbed battle at a Greek hotel in January.
Popular holidays hotspots such as Costa Blanca and Barcelona are now fighting back by enforcing a sunbed tax, which can result in fines if a sunbed is reserved before a designated time, such as 9.30am.
Tourists who lay out their towels for extended periods of time in parts of Spain, such as Costa Blanca (pictured) face potential fines of up to €250 (£210), as a number of popular holiday hotspots begin implementing the so-called ‘sunbed tax’
These rules, aimed at preventing sunbed reserving and overcrowding, vary by location but generally prohibit placing personal belongings on sunbeds before a certain time or leaving them unattended for prolonged periods
Brits heading to these areas have also been urged by travel insurance comparison site, Tiger, to think twice before laying out towels on beaches as it can incur some hefty charges.
As reported by the Mirror, they said: ‘In popular areas of Spain like Barcelona and Costa Blanca, tourists can now be fined €250 for reserving sunbeds, meaning waking up early to bag a spot for you and the family is no longer allowed.
‘This rule was introduced following numerous complaints about sunbeds being reserved for hours with no one in sight.’
In addition, council leaders in Calpe, Costa Blanca, have warned visitors that local police have been given authority to remove unattended sunbeds or towels left on beaches before 9.30am.
Those caught flouting the rules will be forced to retrieve their belongings at a municipal depot – and collect a £210 fine while doing so.
Holidaymakers who fail to return to a sunbed for over three hours could also face the same fate.
It comes after a holidaying British couple were left furious by their hotel’s alleged unfair sunlounger ‘policing’.
Jo and Martin travelled to the resort town of Salou, near Barcelona, Spain, hoping to spend a week relaxing in the sun.
The rush to claim limited loungers has resulted in ‘stampedes,’ heated arguments and even physical fights between frustrated guests – now hotels are fighting back
But, while staying at the four-star, £140-per-night H10 Salauris Palace, the couple ran into a spot of bother.
After leaving their sunbeds for 30 minutes, they came back to find a stern warning card left on their towels.
The holidaymakers were outraged as they claimed other hotel guests had left their spots unattended for several hours with no consequence.
Expressing her frustration in a video clip posted on social media, Jo wrote: ‘When you leave your sunbed for 30 minutes, yet others leave theirs for two plus hours and nothing gets done to them.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .