Germans hogging the sunloungers? Poll finds Italians and French are worse

The long-held stereotype of Germans hogging sun loungers at holiday resorts appears to be largely a misconception, according to surprising new data. A poll conducted by YouGov reveals that Italian and French holidaymakers are, in fact, more likely to use towels to claim loungers before others can.

“

I would never do it but I have seen it happen.

The stereotype is most prevalent among British and German perceptions, with 51% of Germans and 46% of Britons associating Germans with the early morning ritual of reserving loungers. However, this perception is minimal in other European countries, with only 5-17% of respondents sharing the stereotype. Furthermore, the poll found that 38% of German holidaymakers admitted to reserving loungers with a towel, compared to 45% of Italians and 45% of French individuals. Britons were the least likely to admit to this practice, with only 33%.

Across all surveyed countries, the majority of people (60-82%) deemed the practice of reserving loungers unacceptable. Despite this widespread disapproval, the behavior seems common. Between 51% and 63% of respondents reported finding themselves unable to secure a lounger because they were all taken, and 14% to 28% admitted to resolving the issue by removing someone else's towel.

“

This kind of thing happens a lot on beaches here, too – the free ones.

In Italy, the issue extends beyond sun loungers to "furbetti dell’ombrellone," or umbrella cheats, who leave their umbrellas on free-access beaches overnight to reserve prime spots. Coastal authorities across Italy actively target this practice, with recent sweeps in Naples, Puglia, and Sardinia resulting in the seizure of items like umbrellas and loungers. Fines can reach up to €500, and reclaiming confiscated belongings involves a lengthy bureaucratic process. Danilo Ruggiero, an activist with Mare Libero, described the situation as "a bit of a habit."

“

This has become a bit of a habit.