A British tourist has sparked widespread debate after admitting he sprinkled itching powder onto towels left on reserved hotel sunbeds in Mallorca, reigniting the annual argument over so-called "sunbed wars" in Spain's holiday resorts.
The incident quickly went viral after videos of the prank attracted hundreds of thousands of views online. While some social media users praised the stunt as payback against guests who reserve loungers for hours without using them, others criticised it as irresponsible and potentially unsafe.
According to the report, 31-year-old Tom Caunce, from Southport, said he became increasingly frustrated after watching the same hotel guests place towels on prime poolside loungers early each morning before leaving for several hours.
Instead of reporting the problem to hotel staff, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He said many holidaymakers accept early morning alarms just to secure a sunbed and felt "enough was enough" after seeing the same behaviour repeated throughout his stay.
His first attempt reportedly failed when one guest noticed something was wrong and immediately removed the towel. The following day, he tried again on another reserved sunbed and claimed the guest soon began scratching before jumping into the pool and using the affected towel to dry off.
The footage has divided opinion online. Some viewers described it as amusing revenge against people who ignore hotel rules, while others argued the prank went too far and that disputes over sunbeds should be left to hotel management.
The debate will be familiar to many holidaymakers visiting Spain. Every summer, hotels across destinations including the Canary Islands experience arguments over guests reserving sunbeds early in the morning before leaving them unused for long periods.
Many hotels have introduced policies allowing staff to remove unattended towels after a set time or banning the practice altogether. Despite these measures, disagreements continue to be a common feature of the peak holiday season.
For tourists heading to Spain this summer, the incident is another reminder to follow hotel rules and respect fellow guests, helping to avoid unnecessary conflict around the pool.
