Britons have been polled on the best and worst coastal getaway spots in Europe and the results are in, with the consumer watchdog Which? revealing the favourite destination.
In polling UK consumers, Which? asked more than 3,500 people to rate a total of 44 seaside towns and cities across Europe on a number of factors.
These included offering scores on value for money, accommodation, food and drink, friendlessness and so on.
Visitors ranked their experiences for each destination across the criteria and with the scores tallied up, Spain can now boast of holding the Briton’s highest-rated seafront holiday spot.
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Valencia on the country’s stunning eastern Mediterranean coast took first place with an impressive score of 91 percent.
The port city scored five-star ratings across a number of criteria including shopping, friendliness and attractiveness.
Reacting to Valencia’s impressive score, Which? said: “A less obvious choice than Barcelona (sixth, 84 percent), visitors to Valencia felt the benefit of its comparatively lower tourist numbers, with bustling but not overcrowded streets evidenced in its five-star rating for peace and quiet.
“It also offers a renowned gastronomic scene and an intriguing mix of historic and futuristic architecture, which one respondent praised as ‘amazing, even away from the town centre’.”
Venice and Porta tied in second place with a score of 88 percent with the consumer champion noting that despite a reputation for crowds and high prices the latter still managed to wow visitors.
Which? said: “While the former drew criticism for its hefty prices and crowds, with scores of two stars for value for money and peace and quiet, visitors were nonetheless captivated by the ‘magical’ views and unique architecture.”
While Portugal’s second city of Porto won praise for its “picturesque” vista and “laid back” atmosphere.
Which? noted: “Often overlooked in favour of the country’s coastal capital Lisbon (joint sixth, 84 percent), visitors nonetheless felt the town punched well above its weight, and appreciated the city’s ‘laid-back’ energy, with a chic selection of restaurants and bars, as well as its world-renowned bookshop Livraria Lello.”
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At the foot of the rankings board lay the Greek resort of Mykonos, despite being a favoured vacation spot for British tourists who visit its beaches each summer.
The pretty island received a lacklustre overall score of 58 percent and only manages to earn three stars for its seafront, marina, and friendliness.
However, it does fare better in terms of attractiveness, scoring a more respectable four stars.
Fuengirola, located on the Costa del Sol, ranks second to last in the survey conducted by the consumer champion. It receives a destination score of only 66 percent.
According to Which?, the town is plagued by numerous high-rise developments along its beachfront, resulting in a low attractiveness rating of just two stars as reported by respondents.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “If you’re planning your next getaway and looking for a slice of sea and sun, our survey results show that it’s well worth looking beyond the biggest name destinations.
“The Costa Del Sol, for example, has much more to offer beyond its most infamous resorts, with some of the highest-rated spots, such as Nerja and Estepona, having a more laid-back atmosphere compared to the likes of Fuengirola.
“Meanwhile, it might be worth switching a city break in Barcelona or Lisbon for one in Valencia or Porto, both of which were top rated by visitors.”
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