Spain’s ‘worst seaside town’ that’s jam-packed with British tourists

Puerto Banus, located in the southwest of popular holiday spot, Marbella, the town has been voted the worst seaside town in Spain, but it still attracts nearly one million Brits a year.

Which? spoke to over 1,200 travellers, asking them to rate their experiences of Spanish coastal towns against 11 factors – including safety, food and drink, value for money and the quality of the beach.

The responses to the survey were then calculated, and the towns were given a score and put onto a league table. Puerto Banus received a score of 55 per cent, stamping it last place out of 30 Spanish seaside towns.

The Costa del Sol town, once known as a playground for the rich and famous, had become “fade” and “a seedy dump”, according to the results from the survey.

Despite it coming last place, Peurto Banus still welcomes some of the world’s most expensive boats into its marina that was labelled “overpriced” – scoring one star on value for its money.

It also scored one point for its tourist attractions and party scene. The safety, attractiveness and friendliness received two stars, with tourists complaining that the town had “deteriorated” and become “tacky.”

The beach and seafront category, probably the most important, saw the town get three stars, the same for its food, drink and shopping, giving the town the chance to redeem itself.

Banking second place on the list was the town of Nerja, also on the Costa del Sol. The gorgeous town dubbed as “a hidden gem” earned an 81 per cent score and was described as “the perfect spot for those looking to fly and flop.”

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “This survey shows that there are plenty of fantastic Spanish beach resorts that will easily beat the best-marketed destinations like Marbella and Torremolinos.

“You don’t even need to look far, with beautiful Nerja and its quaint white-washed streets also to be found on the Costa del Sol.

“For those looking for a city break with a dose of sea and sunshine, San Sebastian can’t be topped – it’s rightly famous for its excellent restaurants and authentic cuisine, and comes complete with a pretty old town and fantastic beaches.”