The Spanish seaside town of Puerto Banus has been named the worst in the country, according to a new survey – but it still attracts nearly one million Brits a year
Puerto Banus has been voted the worst seaside town in Spain, yet it continues to draw nearly a million Brits annually.
Which? surveyed over 1,200 travellers, asking them to evaluate their experiences of Spanish coastal towns against 11 criteria including safety, food and drink, value for money, and beach quality. The survey responses were then tallied, and the towns were scored and ranked in a league table. Puerto Banus received a score of 55 per cent, placing it at the bottom of the list of 30 Spanish seaside towns.
The Costa del Sol town, situated near Marbella and a once renowned hotspot for the wealthy and famous, had become “fade” and “a seedy dump”, according to the survey results, reports the Express. Despite its last-place ranking, Puerto Banus still hosts some of the world’s priciest boats in its marina, which was labelled “overpriced” earning a one-star rating for value for money.
It also scored a single point for its tourist attractions and party scene. The safety, attractiveness, and friendliness categories each received two stars, with tourists lamenting that the town had “deteriorated” and become “tacky.” The beach and seafront category, arguably the most crucial, saw the town earn three stars, the same score it received for its food, drink, and shopping, offering the town a chance at redemption.
Securing the runner-up spot on the list is the charming town of Nerja, nestled along the Costa del Sol. Lauded as “a hidden gem” Nerja received an impressive 81 per cent satisfaction rating and was hailed as “the perfect spot for those looking to fly and flop.”
Which? Travel’s editor Rory Boland commented: “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.”
Lucia Polla, a travel expert specializing in Southern Spain who founded the Viva La Vita travel blog, felt as if there was something a little hollow and inauthentic about Puerto Banús.
“Puerto Banús is a fancy marina with huge yachts, expensive stores, and lots of nightclubs. It’s meant for rich people who want to show off their money and party. One side of Puerto Banús is fun – you can get drinks at the trendy bars and see awesome boats. But the other side feels fake and not very Spanish. There’s nothing authentic about the culture there,” she said.
“One night, I was walking through Puerto Banús surrounded by sports cars and people dressed in designer clothes. It looked cool, but it was like a big act without any real Spanish feeling behind it. As someone who writes about travel, I like places that let me learn about the locals and their traditions.”