Overview
- A district court in Hanover ruled a German family’s package holiday to the Grecotel Kos Imperial in Greece was defective because towel-reserved loungers blocked normal use of the pool.
- Judges held TUI Deutschland responsible for ensuring a workable system and a reasonable ratio of sunbeds to guests, requiring the operator to step in when hotel rules are not enforced.
- Video played in court showed rows of unattended loungers covered with towels, backing the family’s account of early reservations that left their children sitting on the ground.
- The award adds about €986.70, calculated as a 15% price reduction for the affected days, on top of a prior €350 refund reported before the trial.
- The case spotlights Europe’s recurring “towel wars” and could trigger more claims unless operators and hotels adopt clear, enforced time limits and fair allocation for pool chairs.