Playa de las Américas in Tenerife has been ranked the worst resort in the Canary Islands by Which? readers, finishing bottom of a ranking of the archipelago's 15 largest resorts. Puerto de Mogán in Gran Canaria took the top spot.
Readers criticised Playa de las Américas for its value for money, tourist attractions, shopping and atmosphere. Its accommodation fared better, earning four out of five stars. Puerto de Mogán received praise for its food, accommodation and scenery.
Criticism from visitors and guides
Which? readers are not the first to criticise the resort. One Mumsnet user recalled: "One of the overriding memories was the amount of cockroaches - they were EVERYWHERE."
Travel guide Wikivoyage also warns about crowds, stating: "The beaches are crowded during all hours of the day." Last year, Swedish content creator @amberleigh.travels drew attention in the Spanish press after comparing Tenerife with another popular Spanish holiday destination.
"I fear that Tenerife is slowly becoming like Benidorm," she said in a TikTok video that has attracted more than 1.5 million views. She highlighted the number of mobility scooters in the resort and the many British tourists she encountered.
Easy access for British tourists
EasyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair all fly direct from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Tenerife, with fares as low as £30 this December.
In a recent article entitled '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.
Defenders of the resort
However, other travel writers argue that Playa de las Américas delivers exactly what it promises. Nomad Traveller describes it as a purpose-built destination designed for mass tourism, rather than a quiet 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? offers a similar defence, 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 says.
The consumer organisation also points to quieter places to stay and plenty of activities beyond the bars.
"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 the 15 resorts is available on the Which? website.
