The most complained about beaches in the world

Crowded, trashy and long wait times: These beaches may look like paradise, but TripAdvisor reviewers say otherwise.

With summer upon us, many people are looking for the perfect vacation spot. Sandy beaches are great places to relax with a beach book, splash around in the water, or just enjoy the weather. However, crowds and unsanitary conditions can ruin a fun day at the beach in no time. If that's not your thing, you might want to steer clear of some of these beaches.

The most complained about beaches in the world

Online security software company Cloudwards compiled a list of the beaches that receive the most complaints. The company's research team first identified the 200 most popular beach destinations around the world based on travel publications, travel rankings, and social media. They then analyzed each location's poor TripAdvisor reviews , focusing on negative keywords like uncleanliness, trash, and crowding. The complaints were broken down into four categories: dirty, overcrowded, long lines, and noise. The team of researchers then assigned each beach a 'Complaint Score' from 0 to 100, based on the number of complaints.

People have a lot to say about beaches in the United States, especially when it comes to cleanliness and large crowds. Hawaii's Waikiki Beach takes the number one spot as the most criticized destination by visitors. Sixty-seven percent of complaints mention overcrowding.

California's Venice Beach came in second. The destination was considered the dirtiest of all the beaches surveyed, with nearly 61% of unhappy TripAdvisor reviewers noting the beach's lack of cleanliness. The first beach on the list outside the United States was Playa Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. Cloudwards even reported that some visitors spent more time waiting in line than enjoying the beach.

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Lesley Montoya

Update 06 June 2025