Council leaders have announced police will be empowered to combat those trying to reserve the prized spots.

18:47, Wed, May 28, 2025 | UPDATED: 18:48, Wed, May 28, 2025

Tourists and locals cool off at a crowded El Postiguet Beach...

The measure is aimed at reducing the issue of tourists reserving sunbeds for hours on ends o (Image: Getty)

Brits have been warned of hefty fines if they leave towels on sunbeds for hours at a time to reserve them. Those breaching the rules around reserving sunbeds could be fined up to €250, around £210.

Travel insurance comparison site Tiger.co.uk have warned Brits who may be heading to Spain over the May half term that they might get into trouble if they lay out a towel just to keep other tourists off “their” spot. In fact, it could mean a substantial fee needs to be paid. The team at Tiger explained: “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.”

Introduced last year, the rules aim to stop tourists from reserving sunbeds and not using them, potentially leaving other beachgoers stranded without a lounger.

Spain, as well as other tourist hotspots around the world, has seen issues arising from tourists who try to reserve sunbeds, including fights breaking out or crowding on beaches.

In Calpe, Costa Blanca, council leaders said police could remove unattended sunbeds or towels from the beach before 9.30 a.m.

Belongings seized in this way will need to go to a municipal depot to reclaim their items and pay the fine.

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It’s also not just those laying out towels who could be hit with a fine, as the rule applies to those who try to keep a spot for over three hours while leaving it unattended too.

The move comes as a number of European tourist spots look to take measures aimed at reducing overcrowding and encouraging conservation.

At the Italian seafront locations Tuerredda and La Pelosa, a reservation system will be in place from July requiring visitors to book a spot on the beach before they can travel there.

They will also need to follow rules already in place, such as bans on disposable plastic bags, smoking and removing sand or pebbles from the bay.