Surprise as tourist hotspot named Spain's worst holiday resort

Travellers have voted which of the Spanish holiday resorts are the worst - and the bottom of the pile may be a surprise to some. Much loved by celebrities, Puerto Banus finished in last spot - with visitors giving it just one star for value for money and only two stars for safety, attractiveness and friendliness.

San Sebastian came top in the survey by consumer group Which?. The consumer champion invited more than 1,280 members to rate their experience of Spanish seaside towns based on 11 criteria from the quality of the beach and seafront to safety, food and drink, accommodation and value for money.

It wasn’t all bad for Puerto Banus however, as it scored three stars for its beach, seafront, food and drink and shopping. Puerto Banus and Marbella – which came 17th out of a total of 28 resorts – were the two most expensive in the survey, with visitors paying an average of £168 for a three or four-star hotel.

San Sebastian was the next most expensive, costing an average of £155 a night, but it scored an 88% satisfaction rating, receiving a full five stars for its beach, attractiveness and food and drink.

It scored four stars for its seafront, safety, friendliness, accommodation, tourist attractions and shopping, but only three stars for value for money. Nerja took second place with a score of 81%.

Cartagena, Javea and Sitges made up the top five, while British favourites Estepona, Alicante and Benidorm also finished in the top half of the table. Other popular resorts that did less well included Torremolinos, which came 18th, and Fuengirola, which was fourth from the bottom.

The survey, carried out last November, asked members to rate their experience of Spanish resorts over the previous year. 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.”

Spain’s worst seaside towns

1. Puerto Banus

2. La Manga

3. Albir

4. Fuengirola

5. Torrevieja

6. Vigo

7. Calahonda

8. Santander

9. Benalmadena

10. Almeria

Spain’s best seaside towns

1. San Sebastian

2. Nerja

3. Cartagena

4. Javea

5. Sitges

6. Altea

7. Estepona

8. Moraira

9. Alicante

10. Cadiz