Key Point
A recent study sought to find the most complained-about beach destinations in the world—and one popular beach came out on top.
There’s no other thing like a beach day. Ideal is to set up your beach towel on a white stretch of sand, near clear water with the sound of rushing surf as your soundtrack. At some of the most popular beach destinations in the world, a picture-perfect day may not be possible.
Information Technology Magazine releases a new report Cloudwards The 200 most popular beaches around the world were analyzed to determine which ones have received the most complaints. In order to do its analysis, the company combed Tripadvisor reviews for keywords related to four categories, including dirtyness, crowding, long queues, and noise. It then assigned each beach a “Complaint Score” between zero and 100—and one tropical destination took the most heat from travelers.
Cloudwards research has led to the development of this most complained-about beach Waikiki Beach, Hawaii is the best beach in the world. Waikiki received a 100 out of 100 for its overcrowding and, to a lesser extent, noise and cleanliness.
The second most complained about beach on the list was Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California—Venice Beach’s score (89.7), however, was primarily affected by cleanliness concerns.
Playa Manuel Antonio is the third best beach in Costa Rica with a rating of 73.5. Tripadvisor reviews also complain about the overcrowding of this beach and the long lines.
Cloudwards has compiled a list of the 10 most complained about beaches around the world.
1. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
2. Venice Beach, California
3. Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
4. Clearwater Beach in Florida
5. Bournemouth Beach in United Kingdom
6. La Jolla Cove, California
7. Elafonissi Beach, Greece
8. Magens Bay Beach, USVI
9. Bondi Beach, Australia
10. Maho Beach Sint Maarten
There are 10 top ten lists. four American beachesMore than any other country. Overcrowding is the number one complaint of reviewers, no matter where they are located. This is great information to know when you are planning your next beach vacation.
This research highlights the importance of traveling beyond the highlight reel for travelers. Mauricio Preuss, Cloudwards CEO, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. “The most rewarding experiences on the beach may be found at less-known destinations, which have not yet been overtaken by mass tourism. The best places to go are often those that don’t have a TikTok trend.
