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AIBU?

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Original poster

To want to holiday like a normal person

242 replies

Bimgy85 · 21/07/2018 22:35

Popular places in Spain have been ruined and are now so tacky and commercial... Benalmadena, Salou, Benidorm is a no go completely.

Ruined by these typical lager lout holiday makers usually consisting of a large British family who drink cans of San Miguel beside the pool at 1 in the day smoking cigarettes and or drinking beer with their breakfast...

Aibu to want to relax by the pool like a regular person without taking over the entire place, reserving sunbeds, allowing my kids to scream their heads off from 9 am until 9 pm

Parts of Spain have been ruined and taken over by these type of people! Lager lout beer bellies up for a fight most of the time, poor fuckers Grin

Can you recommend a nice spot in Spain that hasn't been ruined? And become tacky central?

OP posts:
Saloubalou · 21/07/2018 23:45

The classism on this thread is not typical of MN, ime.

BuggeringNora · 22/07/2018 00:01

Go to France - for some reason it doesn't appeal in the slightest to the British pissed up lager loving fraternity. Beautiful beaches and scenery, amazing food and drink. Just fabulous.

BonnieF · 22/07/2018 00:12

Agree about France.

If you want a sun, sea & sand holiday but don’t fancy the Costas, head for Brittany, it has everything you could want and none of the negative ‘Brits abroad’ stuff. And you can drive there in a few hours via the ferry or tunnel.

SunShades · 22/07/2018 00:15

I would recommend the city of Malaga itself. Most people bypass it straight for the resorts but it really is very Spanish with plenty of culture and nightlife.

YourWinter · 22/07/2018 00:33

There are some really crummy places in any typical holiday country but usually plenty of lovely places if you do a bit of research. I'm not able to recommend anywhere you might like but bookmarking for future reference. Good luck!

hmcAsWas · 22/07/2018 00:37

Oh bless!

2up2manydown · 22/07/2018 00:40

It’s quite easy to avoid the package holiday crowd. Use TripAdvisor to research hotels, make sure Tui etc don’t use that hotel and, ideally, ensure it’s a majority Spanish clientele. Book your hotel and flight separately.

We’ve had lots of fab Spanish holidays and steered well clear of the Stella and a fag by the pool crowd.

tempester28 · 22/07/2018 00:50

Benidorm? It was like that in the 80's. Although it sounds like some things have changed , British families getting the sunbeds? not drinking lager until 1pm? Kids only screaming until 9pm

Go to Cataluynia it is fabulous

AjasLipstick · 22/07/2018 01:08

OP makes me laugh. She doesn't want a holiday with people who basically want the same things as she does! "Bars, swimming pools and weather"

OP if you want something away from your fellow countrymen you may have to forgo the bars and pools.

Touchmybum · 22/07/2018 01:17

Costa del sol is fabulous if you just go further west! Check out Estepona, San Luis de Sabinillas, Puerto de la Duquesa and all within a short distance of Seville, Tarifa, Gibraltar etc. I promise, I do despise very touristy places, and found the above much more authentically Spanish.

Seville and Madrid are wonderful cities. Can't wait to go back!

Original poster
Bimgy85 · 22/07/2018 01:23

Been to calpe, yes it is lovely. As well as la manga, near cartagena, also Valencia is nice, alcatharez too.

Lol, no you don't 'put up with it' going to Spain, I just need to avoid those places.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bimgy85 · 22/07/2018 01:24

If you ladies read my post properly I never said I booked Benidorm or Salou or anywhere like that. I stated they are one of the many towns that have been almost ruined.

Lol I wouldn't dream of going to the typical package holiday destinations such as these.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bimgy85 · 22/07/2018 01:27

Wanting to know about bars, restaurants and a swimming pool is hardly bog standard. The ideal place would be a quieter, authentic old town style place with seafood/local restaurants and nice bars.

Not happy hour magaluf style Hmm and a swimming pool out the back is hardly bog standard, wow what a surprise someone from Ireland/uk wanting a pool when they go to a hotter country

OP posts:
Original poster
Bimgy85 · 22/07/2018 01:31

And the lager louts hardly want the same thing I do. Pretty sure they only go abroad for the cheap shitty alcohol

OP posts:
1forAll74 · 22/07/2018 01:32

I am a bit of an oldie here, but just read this post about Spanish resorts these days.. When I was younger my then husband and me used to go on Spanish holidays. but this was in the 1970 era, and everything was lovely then. as in places like Benidorm, that then, only had a few hotels, and was very quiet and lovely,, We always used to drive through France,and then down the coast to all the resorts in Spain, and everywhere was so lovely.. But the years have gone by now, and everywhere is built up for the tourism, and the cheapo holidays,and so called fun times,

Spain is a brilliant country, but only if you go inland and explore the old towns and countryside.

SlothSlothSloth · 22/07/2018 01:36

You come across as a bit unimaginative and lacking in initiative, OP.

AjasLipstick · 22/07/2018 02:10

Who said we were "ladies"? Hmm

DurhamBlue · 22/07/2018 02:20

I dunno, how do normal people holiday? Swimming pools, bars and weather are my lowest priority when choosing a holiday destination. So I can't help much.

I'm off to Scotland to climb some Munro's thats my idea of fun. And if there is no sun even better. Grin

In my opinion the best place to visit in Spain is Barcelona because I love the architecture and there's the Picasso museum. It's also not too far from Figueres so you can take in the Dali museum too. If you go in February it's not too hot.

kateandme · 22/07/2018 02:35

france is lovely.their are the beautiful scenes of the loire valley.you can go for trips to paris and the main places.
the Dordogne part is so whispy and wonderful too.
head on over to the swiss side.some amazing places there.the country Is gorgeous.
be it in the south is more people people people popular but still a nicer vibe than spain.
the culture Is wonrful to be around.pool baguettes and croissant for breakie on the veranda.even camping in ffrance is beautiful
you got the lakes of Italy.or umbria stone villars In the middle of wine vineyards.

MrsFezziwig · 22/07/2018 03:02

Racecardriver
Spain is where the rabble go.

I’ve rarely heard such nonsense. You are denigrating a whole country. Although at least I won’t be bumping into you on holiday, which is a bonus. And the OP has listed a number of places she enjoyed in Spain, so she obviously knows nice places exist in which case I’m not really sure what the point of this thread is.

PortSouth · 22/07/2018 03:06

the Spanish Orange Blossom coast

PortSouth · 22/07/2018 03:12

Try the Costa del Luz, Costa Dorada or Costa del Azahar. Or move away from the coasts and go inland and explore the countryside, town, villages and cities in a self catering property.

HerRoyalNotness · 22/07/2018 03:17

Friend has been to Sardinia about 25 times over the years and recommends. I’ve seen pics of it recently and put it on my wish list. It looks amazing

JJS888 · 22/07/2018 03:25

Sorry have to strongly object the the ladies comment too. I work on oil rigs and have spent a lifetime arguing that I can do everything the same as men because I am a women. Lady suggests a fragile Victorian who would swoon at the sound of an f word. Really, that shitty put down needs eradification Grin

Charolais · 22/07/2018 03:37

I love the Olympic Peninsula. We took my parents there camping when they were visiting. So peaceful and natural.

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