Aibu to not understand why France is considered more upmarket than Spain or Portugal?

[Janesygal]

Just that.. It's right across the channel, our nearest neighbours so why is it considered more upmarket than Spain, the Spanish islands or Portugal?

Is it? Who says?

Apparently so🤷

Is it? No one I know thinks this….people tend to think a holiday to ‘just’ France is a bit naff

People go to Portugal for golf, thus not really appreciating the country’s culture. And I always associate Spain with Benidorm. So yes, in my subconscious France is more upmarket.

Isn't it just because it doesn't have mass market resorts like Benidorm, with restaurants there that are very much aimed at UK tourists?

Dh thinks it's because it's not known for it's all inclusives or package deals.. But most of the British who go camp so who knows!

I have never heard anyone say that. All 3 countries have upmarket and downmarket areas like any country.

Why would you associate Spain with just Benidorm? 🤷‍♀️…..So you’ve never been to Valencia, Seville, Granada ….to name but a few beautiful places I’ve visited

Because ill informed people associate Spain with Benidorm, Magaluf and Playa de Las Americas, seemingly unaware of vast cultural, gastronomcal, geographical and historical features of country.

I’ve heard people say canaries are for chavs … we had a lovely holiday there. Maybe we’re chavs 🤷🏻‍♀️

It depends on the kind of holiday you want. I love parts of France - Loire valley is beautiful with all the châteaux and medieval towns, Annecy is lovely by the alps. But with teens, all inclusive hotel with lovely pool and sandy beach with some bars and boat trips was perfect.

Where are considered the downmarket areas in France?

Meh. Parts of France may also be considered as less than posh, as are parts of Spain and Portugal.
Parts of all three can also be much more upmarket. Horses for courses.

Which parts of France?

Never thought that.

Lisbon is a beautiful city, with nothing like the issues parts of Paris has, Seville Barcelona are also fantastic places and there are plenty of places in France that are mind blowingly beautiful.

All countries have their pros and cons.

@Janesygal Take a look at some of the suburbs in large French cities? the health deserts in parts of rural france, the depopulation of many french villages, parts of the Limousin, Loire, eastern france can have large numbers of derelict properties and lack of services/employment for those still there, fantastic to holiday in, less good to live in.

People associate families like the ones in the "On the Beach" ad with Spain, but middle class families staying in Gites with France.

Could be Spain has the stereotypical party time image of sun, sea and sand, whereas France is associated more with wine,chateaus and brie with fresh baquette picnics in sunny fields of sunflowers?

This was my first thought. Both countries have beautiful areas and some not so much.

Yes possibly also you don't get your British bars & all day British fry ups in France

I was thinking about this before we went to France in the summer.

We had to buy a new car for the trip as our old one gave up the ghost.

My conclusion was that France is considered more MC as you have to have the funds to buy and insure a decent car as most people drive down due to the lack of package type holidays

At a guess, one region could be parts of the very long stretch of campsites and holiday villages on the Atlantic coast south of Bordeaux.
But there are also more expensive areas, around Biarritz for example, and parts of this coast are also very popular with surfers.
Some Mediterranean coastal towns (Port Leucate?) also have a more blue-collar vibe compared to St Tropez, Ste Maxime etc.
But the French seem to be less class conscious than we Brits are so it's not always that simple.

I love going on holiday to France, mainly the south, but have also been to the Vendée, Brittany and The Alps.
In all my years of going, I've never seen pissed up Brits, stag night and all inclusives so I think in general it does seem a bit more upmarket.
(I love an all inclusive too by the way!)

I think I know what you mean. France doesn't really have the strips of resorts, bars etc that attract tourists on package holidays. In fact if you browse the Jet2 app for packages, France isn't there. So people that go are often after a different type of holiday.

Cap d'agde...

I have no words!!!

Plenty of places in Spain that don't do fry ups and karaoke.

And where my mum lives there are internationally famous sports stars that were born and bred there and are often seen about town in their Lamborghinis and Aston Martins.

Also no all inclusive hotels here.

Drove through France earlier this year on our way to Spain.

Can categorically say I saw more class as soon as we crossed the border.

Ridiculous!

Personally I find the French rather brusque and rude but I wouldn't tarnish the whole nation based on the places I have visited or the people we met

I'm a Spaniard and think your DH is right. Spain still has the still all inclusive which cheapens the market. Plus Benidorm which has an awful PR in the UK.

Believe it or not, I don't mind Benidorm. Yes, it's full of tourists, but it offers an immense variety of choices to everyone and one of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean.

All-inclusive are slowly being phased away but Spain, for some people, can't still compare with the marketing France has had for so many years. I love France but I love Spain even more (and not just because I'm a Spaniard LOL)