Puerto de Mogán in Gran Canaria took first place (Image: Laurence Berger via Getty Images)
A Canary Island resort has been slammed as ‘loud, expensive and ugly’ in a poll that placed it worst of the worst.
Playa de las Américas in Tenerife has finished bottom of a Which? reader ranking of the Canary Islands’ 15 largest resorts. Readers criticised its value for money, tourist attractions, shopping and atmosphere. Its accommodation fared better, earning four out of five stars.
At the other end of the table, Puerto de Mogán in Gran Canaria took first place, winning praise for its food, accommodation and scenery.
Like Benidorm, Playa de las Américas attracts visitors looking for lively nightlife and sunshine, while leaving those seeking a quieter escape less impressed. Which? readers are not the first to criticise the Tenerife resort. Recalling a visit, one Mumsnet user said: “One of the overriding memories was the amount of cockroaches – they were EVERYWHERE.”
The resort has been compared to Benidorm (Image: We-Ge via Getty Images)
Travel guide Wikivoyage also warns about crowds: “The beaches are crowded during all hours of the day.”
Last year, a Swedish content creator drew attention in the Spanish press after comparing Tenerife with Benidorm in a TikTok video that attracted more than 1.5 million views.
“I fear that Tenerife is slowly becoming like Benidorm,” she stated. She pointed to the number of mobility scooters around the resort and the many British holidaymakers she encountered.
The island is easily accessible for Brits. EasyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair all fly directly from numerous UK airports to Tenerife, with fares starting from £28 this December.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea (Image: Getty Images)
In a recent article titled ‘the brutal truth behind the Tenerife tourism trap’, journalist Ava Hughes argued that the problems extend beyond Playa de las Américas to other parts of the island’s southern coast.
“For decades, the southern coast of Tenerife-specifically Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas-operated on a simple promise of sun, sand, and cheap beer. That model required constant expansion to remain profitable. Developers took every available inch of coastline, building upward and outward until the natural charm of the volcanic landscape was buried under layers of asphalt and breeze blocks,” Hughes wrote.
Others argue that the resort delivers exactly what it promises. Nomad Traveller describes Playa de las Américas as a purpose-built destination for mass tourism, rather than a peaceful retreat.
“It does that job well, and on its own terms it delivers hard-to-beat value for sun, sea, and nightlife. But it is not trying to be anywhere else, and understanding that is the key to deciding whether it belongs on your itinerary,” the publication notes.
Which? takes a similar view, suggesting visitors should judge the resort with its character in mind.
“At the risk of sounding like a contrarian, can we suggest that the complaints are misplaced? To moan about budget tourism’s excesses in Playa de las Américas is like complaining that Las Vegas is brash. It’s in the place’s DNA. The resort has never pretended to be anything else since it appeared practically overnight in the late 1960s,” it states.
The consumer watchdog also points to quieter places to stay and plenty of activities beyond the bars.
The resort has leaned into mass tourism (Image: Getty Images)
“Avoid Playa de las Américas beach unless you want to watch surfers. There are five other options for a beach towel, including calm Playa del Camisón. Hundreds of rental outfits, tour operators and Siam Park waterpark mean you’re as likely to run out of activities as bar options. It’s not even rowdy if you stay around Camisón beach. The trick to Playa de las Américas is to visit with your eyes open. Who knows, you may have a blast.”
The full ranking of all 15 resorts is available on the Which? website.
“At the risk of sounding like a contrarian, can we suggest that the complaints are misplaced? To moan about budget tourism’s excesses in Playa de las Américas is like complaining that Las Vegas is brash. It’s in the place’s DNA. The resort has never pretended to be anything else since it appeared practically overnight in the late 1960s,” it states.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
