This Is The Ideal Time To Grab A Sun Lounger On Holiday And No, It’s Not 5am

While a beach holiday offers all the R&R you could need, there is one part of it that can still bring you the pain and frustration of commuting: the rush to secure a sun lounger in time.

One TikTok user shared her experience, gaining over 3.8 million views after arriving at the hotel pool only to find nearly every sun lounger “reserved” with towels, despite no one being in sight.

Another user videoed a timeline of the hotel pool, where beds were already being reserved with towels at 5.45 am. No holiday lie-in’s for these hustlers!

Thankfully, as this holiday annoyance continues to cause tension at hotels and resorts worldwide, the hotel experts at Club Med have given their top tips on getting the best spot before anybody else can, and it doesn’t involve racing outside at 5am.

With the sun rising between 6 and 8am in popular holiday spots and breakfast being served from 7.30am, the hotel experts have named 8am as the prime time to head to the pool for lounger reservations.

“This is the ultimate time: It’s early enough to beat the crowds but not so early that you miss out on sleep or breakfast.

“You’ll also be staying in line with poolside etiquette, avoiding the ‘sun lounger hogger’ status that the infamous 6 am reservers have established on TikTok.”

To secure a prime sun lounger for the day, the experts urge that timing is everything.

Monitor sunrise, taking note of where and when it occurs in your destination and use this to plan accordingly. Whilst early risers might get the best spots before crowds, understanding where the sun moves throughout the day can help you get the ideal space to soak up the rays.

Rather than setting an alarm and racing down to secure a lounger before anyone else, Club Med recommends that you marry the task up with your morning routine. For example, if you want a lie-in one day or a late breakfast, try the ‘buddy system’, where one person/half of the group stays with the loungers while the others have breakfast, then swap before relaxing together.

While loungers at the main pool are likely to be snapped up quickly, they say, there are often hidden gems in the quieter areas of the hotel.

Whether it’s a rooftop terrace, a tucked-away garden or a second pool area that’s less busy, it’s clever to scope out the entire hotel on your first day and take note of all the spots where you can sit and relax.

If you haven’t struck gold and secured a lounger in the morning, don’t panic! This is your opportunity to go and explore, take an excursion or enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around the area.

When you return in the afternoon, people will likely be heading inside for a break from the sun, meaning prime spots open up later in the day. This is a great time to get an ideal lounging spot for the afternoon without the scramble.