Spain’s cheapest seaside town likened to 'horrific British estate but sunny'

13 May 2024 , 10:13

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Not everyone is a fan of Torrevieja (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Spain's 'cheapest seaside town' has been condemned by one unhappy holidaymaker as 'the most horrific place I have ever been'.

Torrevieja is a town of 82,000 people that sits on Spain's east coast in Alicante, just down from Benidorm and across from capital Madrid. The Costa Blanca town is known for long waterfront promenades which run along sandy, resort-backed beaches.

During the summer time months on end of near non-stop sunshine and blue skies make it a stunning seaside destination for those who love to catch some rays and enjoy a paddle in the water. If that wasn't enough to tempt holidaymakers, last week Torrevieja was named as the Spanish coastal town with the cheapest hotels by price comparison publication Which?, with the average room coming in at £77 a night - half the price of the likes of upmarket San Sebastian and glitzy Puerto Banus in Marbella, and £50 less than Benidorm.

The Which? survey asked more than 1,200 Brits for their views on Spanish seaside settlements of 350,000 locals or fewer, and found San Sabastian came out on top overall - and Puerto Banus bottom.

Have you been to Torrevieja? Let us know what you thoughts in the comments below or via email to webtravel@reachplc.com

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Spain’s cheapest seaside town likened to 'horrific British estate but sunny'

The Costa Blanca resort splits opinions (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Given a night's stay in both costs more than £150 on average, holidaymakers may choose to opt for somewhere a little cheaper, and Torrevieja fits the bill. A refreshing pint of local beer will set you back just a touch over €2 (£1.72) which is even better value than the famously budget Benidorm. A cheap dinner out costs around €12 (£10.30), while a slap-up three course meal for two will set you back €50 (£43).

Getting there from the UK is easy enough as Torrevieja is a 40 minute ride from Alicante Airport, which links up with airports including Luton, Stansted, Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham.

However, while the price may make a holiday to the seaside town tempting, many people who have visited it had some pretty strong opinions to share.

"I was working in Spain recently and had the misfortune to end up in Torrevieja. In my opinion it is without doubt the most horrific place I have ever been, like a council estate with sun - except it was rainy on the day I had to go there," one very unhappy customer wrote on Tripadvisor.

Another Tripadvisor reviewer joked: "I think everybody should visit Torrevieja, it will increase their appreciation of all other places in Spain."

A third really stuck the boot in, adding: "Go to Torrevieja if you like your English breakfast and pizza's because that is all you will get. I could not find a decent Spanish restaurant anywhere. All the restaurants on the promenade are pizzerias. You don't even have to know a word of Spanish to get by because everyone in Torrevieja is either English or working in the tourism industry.

"In my opinion Torrevieja is not a true reflection of Spain, It's more like Blackpool with sunshine! Go to Barcelona, San Sebastian or even Alicante which is only a 40 minutes away."

Torrevieja did not fare much better in the Which? survey, ranking fifth from bottom and bagging low scores in categories including friendliness, food and drink, and attractiveness.

There were others who defended the town, arguing that longer needed to be spent soaking up the centre before a judgement could be made. "Torrevieja has a lovely promenade, and a marina area with Spanish tapas bars and restaurants. It's really sad that some people judge a place on a quick drive through some back streets without having the foresight to actually get out of the car and have a look around before forming an opinion," one such person wrote.

If you do make it to Torrevieja, then the tiny Museo del Mar y de la Sal which houses exhibits exploring the town’s fishing and salt-mining history is well worth a visit, as is the Lagunas de la Mata-Torrevieja Nature Park where you will find trails and two salt lakes, one pink and the other green.