By Katie Hind Consultant Editor Showbusiness

Published: 06:54 EST, January 25, 2024 | Updated: 07:00 EST, January 25, 2024

A fascinating festive map reveals the cities where people most want to spend Christmas 2023 around the world – and London is number one.

On the map, generated using Google search data for common Christmas travel-related keywords, countries are named followed by the city where their residents most want to spend the festive period.

Searches such as ‘Christmas in London’ and ‘things to do in London for Christmas’ are top in 20 countries including Spain, Netherlands, Canada, and Australia.

Vienna in Austria is the second most-searched city, ranking top in 15 countries including Italy, Germany, and the U.S.

Sharing bronze is New York City and Paris (top in eight countries each) followed by Budapest (fourth, six countries); Madrid and Prague (joint fifth, three); and Brussels and Tokyo (joint sixth, two). Completing the global ranking in joint seventh are three German cities – Berlin, Munich and Nuremberg – plus Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Strasbourg. They are all top in one country each.

The map was created by Cloudwards.net, a website that reviews software and privacy tools, which listed the most popular Christmas destinations according to social media platforms and then analysed Google search volume data for them.

Europeans tend to stay in Europe over Christmas, the findings suggest, plumping for nearby destinations such as Vienna (top in 11 countries) and Budapest (top in five).

For Britons, Prague is the dream Christmas break spot, while for France, it’s Brussels, for Portugal, it’s Paris, and for Austria, its Nuremberg.

In contrast, many Canadian, U.S and Australian holidaymakers are happy to travel far from home for the ideal Christmas getaway, the data shows.

A separate map for the U.S suggests that most states would prefer to jet off to a European destination for their Christmas break, with Vienna taking the crown in 26 states. 

States that like the Austrian capital the most are marked on the map in light blue – from California on the west coast to the central state of Kansas and Florida in the east. Quebec City (seven states), Paris (five) and Barcelona (three) also prove popular.

The states that prefer a Christmas getaway outside Europe include seven Northeastern states, where Quebec City is the most searched, Washington and Oregon, which prefer Vancouver, and Hawaii, where Tokyo is the winner.

Despite topping the world podium, London is only the preferred choice for one state – New York – while Budapest (fourth overall) does not feature on the map at all.

Further search data was plotted on a second U.S map showing where Americans want to go for Christmas within the States.

The majority favour Branson, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois, which are preferred by seven states each.

‘People from some sunny states, like California, dream of a snowy Christmas in Leavenworth, Washington,’ Cloudwards.net commented.

‘Meanwhile, Arizonans are pulled in by the dazzling Las Vegas, Nevada, lights.’

In Latin America, New York City is the overall winner with eight countries, including Mexico and Peru, placing it as their number one destination.

But in Honduras, Colombia and Argentina, Madrid is the preferred choice while in Chile and Brazil, it’s Paris and for Paraguay, it’s London, the search data shows.

In Asia, London proves more popular and takes the crown in countries such as India, Kuwait, South Korea and Indonesia. Paris also garners a few votes here as the most searched Christmas destination in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. 

Thailand, meanwhile, is the only Asian country on the map that prefers to stay closer to home, putting Tokyo as its top choice in search data.

In the southern hemisphere, London is popular again, earning the most searches as a Christmas destination in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa as well as the previously mentioned Indonesia and Paraguay.

Touching on the findings, Cloudwards.net said: ‘London, Vienna, Paris, Budapest and New York City are among the most sought-after Christmas holiday destinations, thanks to their irresistible festive charm.

‘Though European cities take the lead, New York City has its own special festive vibe that attracts people from around the world.

‘While many countries, including Japan, favour spending Christmas in European cities such as Vienna and Paris, others, including Jordan and Thailand, are drawn to the wonderfully quirky Tokyo.’

Laureles in Medellín, Colombia, has been named the Coolest Neighbourhood in the World to visit right now by Time Out.

It offers an ‘authentic balance of laid-back vibes alongside some of the best nightlife in the city’ and tops a 40-strong ranking for 2023 designed to showcase neighbourhoods that ‘have the best mix of cutting-edge culture, affordable great food and drink, street life, nightlife and community’.

Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, says: ‘What stands out with this year’s Time Out Coolest Neighbourhoods is that, while most of them have seen transformation over recent years, they remain resolutely local-at-heart. Exciting new openings across culture, food and drink are bringing in new crowds, but neighbourhood stalwarts – from old pubs to family greengrocers – keep it real. And they’re fun! These are places where the city comes to play, be it an all-night party, a spot of urban fishing or a nighttime bike ride.’

The top-ranked spot in America is Mid-City in New Orleans, while in Australia, the Brunswick East neighbourhood in Melbourne reigns supreme. Meanwhile, the UK number one is the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool. Scroll down to see where each neighbourhood ranks – and for the list in full…

12. Cours Julien, Marseille – France

‘A hotbed for graffiti in the early ‘90s when hip hop took root in Marseille, Cours Julien is as happening as ever three decades later,’ says Time Out.  

It adds: ‘The cobblestone streets are chock-a-block with vintage boutiques, indie designers, live music venues and eclectic cafés that are popular with the city’s booming creative class.’

For a perfect day out, Time Out recommends going people-watching at Black Bird Coffee, shopping for ‘vintage treasures’ along Rue Trois Mages, rummaging for records at Cave à Vinyle and sipping on drinks at Verre à Cruise.

11. Baltic Triangle, Liverpool – England

‘Fifteen years ago, what is now known as the Baltic Triangle was nothing more than a collection of largely abandoned shipping warehouses,’ says Time Out. 

‘But thanks to a huge regeneration project, they’re now populated by some of the best restaurateurs, artists and creatives in the city.’

Affectionately termed ‘the Baltic’, the area is a short walk from Liverpool’s ‘iconic Albert Dock’, the guide reveals. 

And it’s the place to experience the ‘city’s younger side,’ it claims, ‘as lots of 20-and-30-somethings call this corner of Liverpool home’. 

It continues: ‘Skateparks, independent coffee shops and small galleries occupy the space between street art-adorned warehouses. 

‘There’s also a budding food scene in the area, including the newly-opened Manifest, which has already been given the nod from Michelin.’

The perfect day? That would entail waking up in one of The Baltic Hotel’s boutique bedrooms and grabbing a pastry from the nearby Baltic Bakehouse, says Time Out.

10. Tomigaya, Tokyo – Japan

Tokyo’s Tomigaya district ‘seems a world apart from the frenetic pace of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing’ – Shibuya Crossing – despite being less than a 15-minute walk away.

So says Time Out, which describes the district as feeling ‘more relaxed’ with ‘more independent businesses’ and ‘quiet residential streets’.

Despite the area’s ‘unassuming low profile,’ the guide adds, ‘there’s no shortage of trendy cafés and stylish stores here, burrowed in side streets among fantastic restaurants and local grocers’. 

The ‘perfect’ itinerary should include stopping off at Beasty Coffee ‘for fresh roasts and matcha terrine’ followed by lunch at the family-run Katsudonya Zuicho and an evening cocktail at The Bellwood, says Time Out.

9. Amsterdam-West, Amsterdam – Netherlands

‘Amsterdam-West has it all,’ says Time Out, describing the neighbourhood as ‘hip, cosy and creative’ with ‘a unique blend of Dutch heritage and international energy’.

It continues: ‘Bordering the tourist havens of the Jordaan and Museumkwartier, Amsterdam-West remains resolutely local-centric, despite the area being jam-packed with the sort of aesthetic and architectural qualities you regularly associate with Amsterdam.’

Strolling into Westerpark ‘to soak up some nature’ and heading for ‘a delicious brunch’ at Dignita will make for ‘a perfect day’ there, according to the guide.

8. Isola, Milan – Italy

‘Fun fact: the name Isola – island – derives from the fact the district was “cut off” from the rest of Milan from the railway line that runs by it,’ Time Out says.

It continues: ‘And before the 2015 Expo [a World Expo hosted by Milan, partially in Isola], many people wouldn’t have had a reason to cross that railway line. Seven years and a whole requalification later, Isola is claiming the title of Milan’s coolest district.’

The ‘perfect day’ in Isola starts with a ‘traditional Milanese brioche with an espresso’ at L’Ile Douce pastry shop followed by lunch at Deus Cafe and an afternoon spent ‘exploring artistic tombs and monuments at Cimetero Monumentale’, it adds.

7. Mid-City, New Orleans – U.S

Mid-City lies close to the French Quarter of New Orleans and sits ‘midway between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain’, Time Out reveals. 

What can you expect from the neighbourhood? The guide says: ‘You’ll find artsy crowds and colourful houses in the Bayou St. John area, historical landmarks along Bayou Road, and centuries-old oaks in City Park.’

Here, the ‘perfect day’ comprises a stroll around City Park, coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde, a visit to the New Orleans Museum of Art, and a shopping trip to jewellery and gift shop Home Malone, according to the guide. ‘Wrap up the night with dancing and bowling at the legendary Rock ‘n Bowl,’ it adds.

6. Brunswick East, Melbourne – Australia 

‘Move over Brunswick, Fitzroy and Carlton,’ says Time Out. ‘This eclectic – and increasingly cool – Northside neighbourhood is ready to emerge from the suburban shadows.’

The guide describes Brunswick East as a ‘fast emerging’ corner of Melbourne, and ‘a vibrant go-to hub for multicultural eateries, live music venues and cosy bars that you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.’

For ‘the perfect day’, according to Time Out, get ‘coffee and carbs’ at Wild Life Bakery followed by shopping at Lygon Street Nursery and ‘the best tacos in the city’ at CDMX.

5. Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

‘Once a neighbourhood known for its coffin shops and funeral-related services, Sheung Wan is now one of Hong Kong’s liveliest districts,’ says Time Out.

‘This is the only place in Hong Kong where you can find a mix of historic temples, antique stores and dried seafood stalls alongside contemporary art galleries, Melbourne-style cafes, stylish boutiques, and contemporary restaurants,’ it adds.

The guide continues: ‘You’ll find hipsters and their pets in chic cafes, while older generations explore bustling wet markets and seafood stalls that stretch all the way to Sai Ying Pun.’

4. Havnen, Copenhagen – Denmark

Time Out says: ‘Copenhagen’s city architect Camilla van Deurs describes Havnen, Copenhagen’s harbour, as the city’s living room – and we can’t disagree. It’s the place where the city comes to play, whether that’s on boats, floating rafts, paddleboards, kayaks or in its swimming pools.’ 

Wondering how to plan a perfect day in the neighbourhood? The guide recommends waking up at Kaj Hotel, a floating houseboat hotel, before walking to Opera Park via the harbour, enjoying lunch at La Banchina and taking an afternoon dip in the harbour. 

3. Carabanchel, Madrid – Spain

‘Once known as a proper working-class area outside Madrid’s ring road, Carabanchel has turned into the city’s latest version of Soho,’ says Time Out.

‘It’s now buzzing with trendy art galleries and cutting-edge creative spaces.’

An ideal day in the area, according to the guide, comprises ‘a banging brekkie’ at Merinas’ cafe and a visit to Sabina Amrani Gallery followed by a cheese board at La Griferia, where you can ‘discuss the art over a glass of wine’.

2. Smithfield, Dublin – Ireland

Heaping praise on silver medal winner Smithfield, Time Out says: ‘This Dublin 7 neighbourhood is a space where tradition and activism meet.’ Giving examples of this, the travel site notes that the neighbourhood is home to establishments such as The Cobblestone, a ‘historic pub known as the home of traditional Irish music in Dublin’, and Third Space, a social enterprise café that ‘serves homemade sausage rolls with bacon jam, all-the-while making the neighbourhood a better place to live’.

Time Out continues that it’s also ‘filled with independent bars, vegan-friendly restaurants, artisanal cafés and sourdough pizza shops – deeming the area a must-visit for anyone swayed by no-frills, post-industrial charm’.

Wondering when to visit? Time Out recommends making it to the Smithfield Fleadh on the last weekend of August, a two-day event that offers ‘live Irish music, local art and hazy, summer evening pints’.

1. Laureles, Medellin – Colombia

The coolest of them all, Laureles ‘is home to the famed nightlife strip known as La 70’ and ‘Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Medellin’s main fútbol stadium and concert venue’, Time Out reveals.

It continues: ‘While you might think all of this would make Laureles a bit noisy and hectic, the neighbourhood actually has a pretty laidback reputation. The area outside of La 70 offers tranquillity in the form of parks, tree-lined streets, yoga studios and countless coffee shops.’

The guide adds that ‘Laureles still has a traditional Colombian neighbourhood feel, despite its growing popularity’, adding: ‘Fruit vendors push their carts through the circular streets like they have for decades.’ It recommends grabbing a morning coffee at Rituales Café, stopping for lunch at Saludpan and dancing salsa at the ‘no-frills’ Tíbiri Bar.

Britannia has been named the UK’s worst large hotel chain by Which? for the 11th year in a row.

The ‘awful’ chain yet again has come bottom of an annual survey by Which? that asked more than 5,000 respondents to assess 28 large and nine small hotel chains across 10 key categories, including bed comfort, breakfast, customer service, ‘description matches reality’ and value for money.

For each hotel, an overall customer score has been calculated combining overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend.

Britannia, which has an average room price of £82, scores a dismal one-star rating for its bedrooms, bathrooms and the quality of the Wi-Fi, and scores no higher than two stars in any of the remaining categories – including cleanliness.

One respondent told the consumer champion that their Britannia hotel was ‘awful… so filthy that we cleaned the whole accommodation ourselves’. Meanwhile, boutique chain Hotel Indigo, owned by IHG, and Premier Inn’s satellite brand, Hub by Premier Inn, tie for first place.

Both have been awarded the coveted Which? Recommended Provider status and earn a customer satisfaction score of 77 per cent.

Hotel Indigo stood out to respondents for its ‘stylish’ boutique offering, with many of its 18 UK hotels housed in historic buildings, Which? reveals.

The watchdog notes that customers praised the chain’s ‘unusual’ and ‘quirky’ décor, noting the unique character and atmosphere of the brand’s accommodation. It scores an impressive clutch of five and four-star ratings – dropping to three stars only on value for money.

Meanwhile, Hub by Premier Inn narrowly eclipses its parent brand Premier Inn, which comes a close second place with a score of 75 per cent.

Currently found only in Edinburgh and London, hotels in the ‘Hub By Premier Inn’ portfolio boast ‘excellent city-centre locations and facilities, but with compact rooms – some completely windowless’, Which? reveals.

Multiple guests praised the Hub hotels for their ‘convenient’ locations, Which? notes. It says that while customers did acknowledge that the rooms were ‘extremely compact’, they nonetheless concluded that they were ‘efficient’ and ‘well designed’, particularly for shorter stays. 

The chain scores a full five stars for cleanliness, bed comfort and the description matching the reality, and scores four stars for its bedrooms, bathrooms, customer service, and communal areas and décor. 

Second-place Premier Inn – which ranked top last year – also secures Which? Recommended Provider status, and is rated five stars for its bed comfort, and four stars for its bedrooms, customer service, cleanliness, value for money and how well descriptions matched the reality.

In third place is the budget pub chain Wetherspoons with a customer score of 73 per cent. Respondents reported that they paid £84 a night on average, making it among the cheaper options in the survey – it scores four stars for value for money.

The chain garners three stars, meanwhile, for bed comfort, cleanliness, customer service and how well the description matched the reality.

In contrast, rival pub chain Old English/Greene King Inns finds itself in the bottom three (joint 14th place) with a score of 60 per cent – despite a higher reported room cost, at £103 a night on average. 

Bottom-ranked Britannia (16th) has over 60 hotels across the UK and many of its properties actually have illustrious histories – the 19th-century Adelphi in Liverpool, for example, counts Prime Minister Winston Churchill among its former patrons, as does the famous Grand Hotel Scarborough.

However, Which? says that many Britannia hotels now offer ‘but a faint glimpse of what one guest described as their “faded elegance”‘.

Another lamented their stay was ‘like something out of the sixties’, while another guest concluded they’d ‘never stay in a Britannia again’, the watchdog reveals.

Overall, the hotel chain scores an ‘abysmal’ overall customer satisfaction score of just 48 per cent, Which? notes. Last year, MailOnline Travel compared the popular Premier Inn chain with bottom-ranking Britannia – and found that its own experiences echoed the Which? survey’s findings.

Just ahead of Britannia, with mediocre joint scores of 56 per cent, are Travelodge and Mercure (joint 15th place).

Though some customers praised Mercure for their conveniently located hotels and ‘excellent service’, it nonetheless secures a run of two and three-star ratings, including two stars for the quality of its bedrooms, bathrooms, and communal areas, with customers criticising the chain’s ‘dingy’, and ‘tired’ feel, Which? reveals. 

With respondents reporting they paid £106 a night on average, Mercure scores just two stars for value for money.

Travelodge similarly falls down on its value for money offer, scoring just two stars despite being among the cheapest brands in the survey, at £79 a night on average, Which? says. 

Across the remaining categories, it receives a mixed bag of one, two and three-star ratings – including two stars for its bedrooms, bathrooms, and breakfast, and just one star for Wi-Fi. One guest described their room as having ‘an NHS hospital aesthetic’ while another described the hotel as ‘dated and tired’, the watchdog notes. Others were more positive though, reporting they had a ‘good overall experience’.

Travelodge’s ratings come in sharp contrast to budget competitor Days Inn, which despite also having an average price per night of £79, finds itself higher up the charts with a middling customer score of 65 per cent – and an impressive four stars for value for money, Which? reveals. Customers described it as ‘cheap and cheerful’ with ‘clean and quiet’ rooms.

SMALL CHAINS

In the small chains category, the top prize goes to Brend Collection, a family-run hospitality business in the West Country, which earns a customer score of 80 per cent. It gets five stars for cleanliness and four stars in a variety of categories, including bedrooms and bed comfort.

Brend Collection, Coaching Inn Group (second, 79 per cent) and Inn Collection Group (third, 78 per cent) all achieve Which? Recommended Provider Status.

The lowest-ranking small chain is Village Hotels, which has more than 30 locations throughout the UK. It has an overall satisfaction score of just 55 per cent, with two stars for its breakfast, communal areas and décor, Wi-Fi and value for money.

Generally, Which? has found that hotel prices have risen by an inflation-busting 13 per cent on average this year, according to ONS figures, meaning even budget stays are not as cheap as they once were.

The majority of hotel chains (78 per cent) in the consumer champion’s survey were reported as costing well over £100 a night for a room on average – including some of the most poorly rated. 

Which? notes that no chain managed a full five stars for value for money. With prices spiralling, finding the right hotel for your money is increasingly important, the watchdog says.

Commenting on the survey’s findings, Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, says: ‘With prices at many hotels rising further this year, finding good value, budget accommodation is increasingly difficult. For those looking for a reasonably priced stay, there are big differences between the best and worst chains, with the likes of Premier Inn and Wetherspoons distinguishing themselves from the pack.

‘When you’re booking your next trip, make sure to take time to research your options carefully, and read reviews from a range of sources to see what other guests thought of their stay.’

A spokesperson for Travelodge says: ‘Last year we welcomed over 21 million business and leisure guests to our hotels. Ninety per cent of our Travelodge UK hotels are rated four stars or above on Tripadvisor and our new breakfast menu at our onsite Bar Cafes has been rated excellent value for money by over 70 per cent of our customers. 

‘Travelodge is investing significantly in our UK portfolio to deliver a high-quality, premium look and feel hotel design and a great value for money proposition to our customers. This hotel refit programme is Travelodge’s most significant brand transformation to date and is well underway across the country, with approximately £45million being invested this year to update our hotels. We take our guest feedback very seriously and are sorry to hear that the Which? reviewers did not receive our normal high-quality service.’

A spokesperson for Mercure said: ‘Our position in this survey doesn’t reflect the standard of guest experience we strive for, and we will of course look into the feedback and make any improvements we can to ensure the experience, safety, and wellbeing of our guests at each property is of the high standard they deserve. However, the results of this survey, which are based on 129 guests who had visited a Mercure, do not reflect either the 93 per cent of mentions that are positive about our service friendliness from TrustYou data based on over 14,000 independent reviews on Tripadvisor and other platforms; or our guest feedback, based on nearly 100,000 annual reviews, which scores Mercure at 85.6 per cent for its staff, while also exceeding the overall Which? customer score by a significant amount.

‘Regardless of this, we take all feedback constructively. We are aware that there are improvements to be made and we will always endeavour to deliver an outstanding experience for our guests.’

Britannia did not respond to a request for comment.

The European coastal destinations that Britons love the most – and the least – in 2023 have been revealed by Which? – and it’s Valencia in Spain that comes top, and Mykonos in Greece that’s ranked bottom.

The consumer champion recently asked more than 3,500 members to rate their experiences of 44 coastal towns and cities across Europe.

Locations were marked on 12 criteria – the town’s beach; seafront or marina; food and drink; accommodation; tourist attractions; attractiveness; shopping; entertainment; peace and quiet; safety; friendliness; and value for money.

Spanish port city Valencia tops the charts with an impressive destination score of 91 per cent.

Visitors heaped praise on the city’s beaches, said Which?, rating them a full five stars out of five, and it was the only Spanish destination in the survey to score full marks for value for money.

It also scores a full five stars for the quality of its tourist attractions, shopping, friendliness, and attractiveness, and scores no less than four stars in any of the remaining categories.

‘A less obvious choice than Barcelona (sixth, 84 per cent), visitors to Valencia felt the benefit of its comparatively lower tourist numbers, with bustling but not overcrowded streets evidenced in its five-star rating for peace and quiet,’ Which? said.

‘It also offers a renowned gastronomic scene and an intriguing mix of historic and futuristic architecture, which one respondent praised as “amazing, even away from the town centre”.’

Tied in second place with destination scores of 88 per cent are Venice and Porto.

Which? said: ‘While the former drew criticism for its hefty prices and crowds, with scores of two stars for value for money and peace and quiet, visitors were nonetheless captivated by the “magical” views and unique architecture.’

It is rated five stars for its attractiveness, and for its tourist attractions, which include the famous St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the opportunity to meander through the city’s canals by gondola.

Portugal’s second city, meanwhile, was described as ‘picturesque’ by respondents, and is rated a full five stars for its marina, friendliness and value for money.

Which? said: ‘Often overlooked in favour of the country’s coastal capital Lisbon (joint sixth, 84 per cent), visitors nonetheless felt the town punched well above its weight, and appreciated the city’s “laid-back” energy, with a chic selection of restaurants and bars, as well as its world-renowned bookshop Livraria Lello.’

Tavira, in the Algarve, finds itself in third place overall with a destination score of 87 per cent.

Which? said: ‘One of the Algarve’s most historic towns, it boasts quaint seafood restaurants, independent boutiques and pretty cobbled streets.’

Described by one traveller as ‘beautiful and unspoilt’, respondents rated it five stars for its marina, value for money, friendliness, peace and quiet and safety.

It scores four stars for its attractiveness, quality of its tourist attractions, and food and drink, with multiple respondents praising its ‘excellent restaurants’.

Spain’s Costa Del Sol and Portugal’s Algarve coast accounted for a significant proportion of the most-visited towns, but scores vary significantly.

Among the high-scoring destinations on the Costa del Sol are Nerja (seventh, 83 per cent), described by Which? as ‘a low-rise town of white-washed buildings perched on the cliffside’, and Estepona (joint eighth, 82 per cent).

‘Praised for its “unspoilt old town”, Estepona was awarded five stars for its palm-fringed promenade and for the opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet, a characteristic not always associated with resorts on the bustling Costa del Sol,’ Which? added.

It also scores four stars for its beach, the quality of the food and drink, accommodation, attractiveness, safety, friendliness and value for money.

Visitors admired the town’s ‘narrow pedestrianised streets, lined with flower displays bursting with colour, and its numerous murals’.

At the opposite end of the table, Mykonos – despite remaining a popular destination among Brits who flock to its beaches every summer – has an unimpressive overall score of 58 per cent, and manages just three stars for its seafront and marina, and just three stars for friendliness. Although, on the positive side, it scores a more respectable four stars for attractiveness.

Previous reports suggest customer service is not a selling point on the island, which has gained a reputation for rip-off restaurants.

Multiple warnings have been sent out about one venue in particular, DK Oyster Bar, where customers have been charged hundreds of pounds for snacks.

Ranked second from last in the consumer champion’s survey is Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, with a destination score of just 66 per cent.

‘Beleaguered by high-rise developments right down the beachfront, respondents scored it just two stars for attractiveness,’ Which? said.

The town, which is just a 40-minute drive from one of the highest-rated destinations in the survey, Estepona, achieves a clutch of mediocre three-star ratings in most of the remaining categories, with its highest score of four stars awarded for safety.

Nonetheless, respondents praised its ‘fun, lively atmosphere’ and the feeling that it was ‘a real living town, not just a holiday resort’.

Third from last is Portimao on the Algarve, with a score of just 68 per cent.

‘Historically an industrial port town known for shipbuilding and sardine fishing, its commercial roots are still largely visible, and it scored just two stars for attractiveness, and three stars for its seafront,’ Which? commented.

Nonetheless, visitors praised its friendly feel, giving it five stars, and scored it four stars for the quality of the food and drink, as well as for value for money.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘If you’re planning your next getaway and looking for a slice of sea and sun, our survey results show that it’s well worth looking beyond the biggest name destinations.

‘The Costa Del Sol, for example, has much more to offer beyond its most infamous resorts, with some of the highest-rated spots, such as Nerja and Estepona, having a more laid-back atmosphere compared to the likes of Fuengirola.

‘Meanwhile, it might be worth switching a city break in Barcelona or Lisbon for one in Valencia or Porto, both of which were top rated by visitors.’

The survey was carried out between March and April 2023.

Destination scores are based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the town as a holiday destination.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2023 have been named – and it’s an eatery in Peru that claims the top spot.

‘Central’ restaurant in Lima has earned the title of the World’s Best Restaurant 2023, rising from second place in last year’s ranking. The flagship restaurant of chefs Virgilio Martinez and Pia Leon, its dishes are crafted using 180 ingredients, with around half of them unknown outside Peru. How much will dinner at the eatery, set you back? Tasting menus are priced from £226 ($288/1045 Peruvian Soles).

One previous dish to appear on the restaurant’s menu was named ‘Mil Centro’ and was comprised of native potato, chaco – a type of edible clay – and ‘high altitude’ leaves. Another dish, named ‘sea brain algae’, featured octopus, sea lettuce and codium – a type of algae. 

The gold-medal-winning eatery is followed by Disfrutar in Barcelona in second place and Madrid restaurant Diverxo in third. Britain’s top entry, meanwhile, is Kol, a Mexican restaurant in London that ranks 23rd. Two more London restaurants make it into the top 50 – the two-Michelin-starred West African restaurant Ikoyi (35th) and modern British eatery The Clove Club (38th).

The U.S claims a top 10 spot with New York restaurant Atomix (eighth), an intimate 14-seat restaurant serving ‘distinctive Korean food’ that’s run by husband-and-wife team Junghyun’ JP’ and Ellia Park. Climbing 25 places from its position in last year’s ranking, the restaurant also wins the Villa Massa Highest Climber Award. Manhattan’s fish-focused Le Bernardin restaurant also makes it on the list, ranking 44th.

The competition, which is in its 21st year, revealed this year’s ranking in a ceremony hosted in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday evening.

Commenting on the awards, William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, says: ‘It gives me great pleasure to share the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 and celebrate the fantastic achievement of Central as the new No.1. Virgilio Martinez, Pia Leon and the whole Central team have truly paved the way in celebrating indigenous ingredients through their innovative dishes and warm hospitality.

‘Their commitment to research, respect for their country’s heritage and promotion of Peru’s unique biodiversity is unmatched… this year’s list continues to show the breadth of culinary talent across the globe, and we look forward to seeing how it evolves even further in 2024 and beyond.’

In general, South America has won big this year, with the continent boasting nine restaurants overall in the top 50, including two new entries: Pia Leon’s Kjolle (28th) in Lima and El Chato (33rd) in Bogota, Colombia.

Asia follows with seven restaurants on the list, including Singapore’s Odette (14th) – also named The Best Restaurant in Asia – along with new entries Le Du (15th) and Gaggan Anand (17th) in Bangkok, Thailand, and Sezanne in Tokyo (37th).

Two Dubai restaurants make the list for the very first time, with Tresind Studio (11th globally) named The Best Restaurant in the Middle East and Africa, ahead of Orfali Bros Bistro (46th).

Looking at how restaurants manage environmental and social responsibility, the Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award is this year bestowed on Cape Town’s Fyn (75th), where founding chef Peter Tempelhoff’s mission is to ‘blur boundaries by interpreting South Africa through techniques largely rooted in Japanese cooking’.

The winner of the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles, is Table by Bruno Verjus (10th) in the French capital. ‘The self-taught French chef serves simple, seasonal, no-fuss cuisine at this Paris restaurant, which has developed a loyal following among the city’s gourmands and is rapidly becoming an international dining destination,’ a statement reveals.

The Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award goes to Copenhagen’s Alchemist (fifth), which is said to offer an ‘almost mystical dining experience in a remote, industrial corner of the city’. 

The awards reveal: ‘An evening here is divided into several ‘acts’ where guests of head chef Rasmus Munk and his team are led through different locations, types of art and storytelling moments, alongside exquisite food born from Munk’s obsessive search for the finest ingredients.’

Julien Royer of Odette in Singapore wins the Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award. Voted for by the world’s leading chefs, this special prize is awarded to a chef who has had a significant positive influence on the culinary community.

Pia Salazar of Nuema, Quito, Ecuador, is the recipient of The World’s Best Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Sosa. 

Already crowned Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef 2022, the Cuenca-born chef is ‘helping put Ecuador on the culinary map with her experimental creations, turning fruit and vegetables into sweet masterpieces, like coconut with umami-rich yeast and black garlic, or leek and vanilla with cedron, a herb resembling lemon verbena’, the awards reveals.

In its second year, the Beronia World’s Best Sommelier Award goes to Miguel Angel Millan, sommelier of Madrid’s Diverxo. A statement says that he ‘expertly curates pairings to match [Diverxo] chef Dabiz Munoz’s ever-changing menu and takes the restaurant’s beverage programme to an exceptionally high level, establishing himself as one of the most important sommeliers on the international restaurant scene’.

The evening also celebrated those honoured with pre-announced special awards, including the Champions of Change winners Nora Fitzgerald Belahcen, founder of Moroccan social enterprise Amal, and Othon Nolasco and Damian Diaz, the duo behind food-security project No Us Without You LA.

Central takes the number one spot from the 2022 winner, Geranium, Copenhagen, which has now been elevated to the ‘Best of the Best’ hall of fame – a category of number-one ranked restaurants that have ‘more than proved their worth’ and are therefore not eligible for voting.

The award winners have been determined based on votes cast by 1,080 international restaurant industry experts and ‘well-travelled gourmets’ who make up The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. For more information go to theworlds50best.com.