Benidorm 'has poor reputation but is not a bad place'

While Spain is a popular destination for expatriates considering relocating abroad, parts of the country are stuck with a poor reputation, the nation's tourism agency has admitted.

Carmen Hernandez Gomez, market analyst at the Spanish Tourism Office, said the resort of Benidorm has a reputation and fame that few other expatriate hotspots have in the world.

"There [are] all the people that see Benidorm but have never been there and they think that they know what it is like" she explained.

"It's not a bad place if that's the holiday that you want."

Ms Hernandez Gomez pointed out that people who want to eat food they can eat at home but with added sun will enjoy Benidorm, while travellers wishing to find out about Spanish culture might be better off visiting other parts of the country.

The Lonely Planet Awards polled a selection of travellers and found that one in four British people would not go to Benidorm in the middle of August even if they were paid.