Overcrowded, noisy, and dirty. That’s not exactly the words you want to hear when you’re about to go on a beach vacation. However, despite the postcard-perfect looks of many beaches showcased on Instagram and beyond, some just don’t live up to the hype, with the reality far from idyllic.
According to Cloudwards, an online security software company that compiled a list of beaches receiving the most complaints, some of the world’s most famous beaches have received major gripes when it comes to overwhelming crowds, garbage, high levels of noise, and long lines.
And, the Most Complained-About Beach?
While no region is immune, TripAdvisor reviewers had a lot to say about United States beaches, particularly regarding crowds and cleanliness, but there was no beach that people whined about more than Waikiki Beach. If you’ve envisioned it as a quintessential tropical paradise that should be at the top of your beach getaway bucket list, you might want to think again.
To come up with its list, Cloudwards’ research team determined the 200 most popular beach destinations across the globe based on tourism rankings, travel publications, and social media. They analyzed poor TripAdvisor reviews for each one, specifically looking at words like crowded, unclean, garbage, and long lines. Each received a score ranging from 0 to 100 based on the number of complaints it received, and Waikiki Beach got a perfect 100. In this case, that’s not a good thing, rather a reality check that it may not be all that it seems.
The biggest complaint about Hawaii’s most famous stretch is that it’s jam-packed with people, with nearly seven out of 10 negative reviews mentioning it. Others complained about the noise and litter.
Other U.S. Beaches Making the Most-Complained About Ranking
Waikiki wasn’t the only beach in the U.S. on the high-complaint list—four others were ranked among the top 10. Venice Beach in Los Angeles got the most complaints for its lack of cleanliness, as the second most complained about, scoring 89.7. More than 60 percent of TripAdvisor reviewers complained about funky smells and trash on the sand, although they loved the vibrance of the boardwalk and the murals.
Clearwater Beach in Florida and La Jolla Cove in Southern California were also among the top 10, with the biggest complaints about the crowds, pollution, and garbage. That’s not to say beaches outside the U.S. don’t have problems. Playa Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica, Bournemouth Beach in the U.K., Elafonnisi Beach in Greece, Bondi Beach in Australia, and Maho Beach in Sint Maarten also made the top 10 list.
Where to Go Instead
The lesson? Perhaps you’ll want to seek out some of the lesser-known spots the next time you plan your beach getaway. Talk to your beach-loving friends and search articles for more underrated spots in the U.S. and other places that haven’t been discovered by the masses. Those you haven’t heard about can often be more appealing, while some of the most popular may not be the paradisiacal places you envision, despite those captivating photos you’ve seen on social media.
