| A recent poll has revealed that many British | | | | southern part of the island, the north is catching |
| holiday-goers are ashamed to admit where they | | | | up, especially in the town Puerto de la Cruz. |
| are going on vacation. Many popular destinations | | | | Somehow this town manages to be highly |
| are deemed to be too low-class by British | | | | developed, yet retains much of its old, harbor |
| society, including many popular areas of Spain. In | | | | town charm. |
| fact, vacationers often lie about going on an | | | | Other destinations that are looked down upon are |
| expensive, classy trip when they actually go | | | | party island Ibiza, holiday island Magaluf and |
| somewhere less expensive and common. What's | | | | Cyprus resort area Ayia Napa. These areas are |
| strange about all of this is that most of these | | | | shunned because of their associations with |
| locations are actually quite elegant and luxurious. | | | | party-goers and the electronic music scene. |
| Topping the list of shameful holiday spots is | | | | Though they may not have the high-end features |
| Benidorm, a coastal town in the Alicante province | | | | of Benidorm and Tenerife, they are still full of |
| of Spain. Far unlike many of Spain's coastal areas, | | | | great places to visit and fabulous vistas to see. |
| Benidorm is lined with skyscrapers. It's often called | | | | Oceanic views greet vacationers at every turn, |
| the Manhattan of Spain. For this same reason, it's | | | | and many of the finest clubs and restaurants of |
| also referred to as the 11th Belgian province. | | | | Spain and Cyprus are located in these destinations. |
| Before tourism became a large industry in the | | | | Ayia Napa, in fact, has some of the most |
| town, it was a tiny coastal village. It began to | | | | beautiful beaches in the world, great for water |
| cater to tourists, especially the British, in the | | | | skiing and scuba diving. |
| 1960's. Today it contains four-star hotels, several | | | | All of these destinations offer world-class facilities, |
| family theme parks and three major beaches | | | | yet they are viewed in a negative light by British |
| which were granted the highest award for quality | | | | vacationers. The top places to visit in the poll |
| by the European Union. Benidorm also hosts the | | | | include Paris, New York, Portugal, Australia and |
| Benidorm International Song Festival, a renowned | | | | Thailand. |
| songwriting contest. Julio Iglesias became famous | | | | For some reason, Benidorm and Tenerife, which |
| because of this festival. | | | | originally catered to the British, don't match up to |
| Second on the list of shameful destinations is | | | | these destinations in modern British eyes. But hot |
| Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. | | | | spots are cyclical, and some day soon these |
| Tourism is concentrated on the southern part of | | | | areas will be on the top of the British holiday |
| the island, as it features highly-developed resort | | | | destination charts. Until then, when your family |
| areas and a drier climate. A moratoria act passed | | | | asks where you're going on holiday, proudly |
| by the Canarian Parliament keeps resort | | | | proclaim 'I'm going to the coastal paradise of |
| standards high by forbidding any new construction | | | | Benidorm!' |
| unless the hotel will be five-star quality. The Costa | | | | But there again, you might want to keep it quiet |
| Adeje contains world-class entertainment centers, | | | | if you want to keep on good terms with the |
| nine golf courses and high-end shopping centers. | | | | neighbours! |
| Though tourism is mainly an industry of the | | | | |