THE UK’s favourite seaside holiday destination has been revealed, with a Spanish tourist hotspot coming out in top place.
Valencia has triumphed over more famous cities and resorts to be named Brits’ favourite European coastal destination in a new survey.
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The figures were put together by consumer champions Which? who asked more than 3,500 members to rate their experiences of coastal towns and cities across Europe.
Locations were marked on 12 separate criteria, including quality of the beaches, seafronts and marinas, attractiveness, food and drink, and value for money.
Spanish port city Valencia topped the charts with an impressive destination score of 91 per cent.
Visitors heaped praise on the city’s beaches, rating them a full five stars out of five, and it was the only Spanish destination in the survey to score full marks for value for money.
It also scored a full five stars for the quality of its tourist attractions, shopping, friendliness and attractiveness, and scored no less than four stars in any of the remaining categories.
A less obvious choice than Barcelona (84%), visitors to Valencia felt the benefit of its comparatively lower tourist numbers, with bustling but not overcrowded streets earning it a 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.”
Tied in second place with destination scores of 88 per cent were Venice and Porto.
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.
It was rated five stars for its attractiveness, and for its tourist attractions, which include the famous St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the opportunity to explore the city’s canals by gondola.
Portugal’s second city meanwhile was described as “picturesque” by respondents, and was rated a full five stars for its marina, friendliness and value for money.
Spain’s Costa Del Sol and Portugal’s Algarve coast accounted for a significant proportion of the most-visited towns, but scores varied significantly.
Among the high-scoring destinations on the Costa del Sol were Nerja (83%), a low-rise town of white-washed buildings perched on the cliffside, and Estepona (82%).
Praised for its “unspoilt old town”, Estepona was awarded five-stars for its palm-fringed promenade and peace and quiet, a characteristic not always associated with the Costa del Sol.
Nonetheless, the town finds itself just a forty-minute drive from one of the lowest rated destinations in the survey, Fuengirola.
Fuengirola was ranked second from last in the survey, with a destination score of just 66 per cent.
It achieved a clutch of mediocre three-star ratings in most of the remaining categories, with its highest score of four stars awarded for safety.
Tavira, in the Algarve, found itself in third place overall with a destination score of 87 per cent.
Described by one traveller as “beautiful and unspoilt”, respondents rated it five stars for its marina, value for money, friendliness, peace and quiet and safety.
It also scored four stars for its attractiveness, quality of its tourist attractions, and food and drink, with multiple respondents praising its “excellent restaurants”.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel 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 like 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.”
Meanwhile, this is the best seaside town in the UK, according to another Which? survey.
And this seaside town in the UK is home to dolphins, whales and puffins, as well as amazing castles.
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