Sunlounger Hogging: Stereotypes, Survey Findings and Beach Authority Responses

A YouGov poll of European holidaymakers examined who is most likely to reserve a sun-lounger with a towel. Respondents reported that 45 % of Italian and French vacationers had done so, compared with 38 % of Germans and 33 % of Britons. While 51 % of Germans and 46 % of Britons associate the practice with Germans, only 5-17 % of respondents in other countries share that view. Across all nations, 60-82 % consider the habit unacceptable, yet 51-63 % say they have been denied a lounger because all were taken, and 14-28 % admit to removing someone else’s towel to claim a spot.

The Guardian

The stereotype of “German sun-lounger hoggers” appears largely confined to British and German perceptions. In contrast, Italian and French holidaymakers are reported by the poll to engage in the behavior more frequently. Claudia Morani, a teacher interviewed in Rome, said she had never personally hogged a lounger but had witnessed many Italians leaving towels on loungers to reuse them the next morning. She added that the same practice is common on free-access beaches.

The Guardian

Coastal authorities in Italy have begun targeting “umbrella cheats” (furbetti dell’ombrellone) as part of a national beach-and-lake safety campaign. In late July, officials in a Naples suburb seized 40 items—including umbrellas, loungers and deckchairs—during a dawn sweep of a popular free beach. Fines of up to €500 apply, and reclaiming confiscated belongings requires a bureaucratic process. Danilo Ruggiero, an activist with the Mare Libero network, described the behavior as “a bit of a habit” driven by the desire to avoid transporting equipment and to secure the best spot.

The Guardian

Her friend Virginie Pascual blamed Italians, while an anonymous Briton living in France insisted Germans were the biggest culprits, recalling an early-morning incident in Mallorca.

The Guardian

• “I would never do it but I have seen it happen,” — Claudia Morani, teacher

The Guardian

• “This kind of thing happens a lot on beaches here, too – the free ones.” — Claudia Morani, teacher

The Guardian

• “This has become a bit of a habit,” — Danilo Ruggiero, activist, Mare Libero

The Guardian

• “I see it all the time at my local beach club,” — Chantal Henry, resident of Menton

The Guardian