PLAYA DE LAS AMERICAS TENERIFE

Love it or hate it, you should see it. Look out for the restaurant signs that boast, 'No Spanish food served here.´ One of the most successful purpose built resorts in the world, Playa de las Americas started construction at the end of the 1960s and has become almost a byword for how not to develop tourism. Unfocused, sprawling, much of it frankly ugly, and attracting low budget packages, it nevertheless rightly remains supremely popular for a fun and sun holiday. Investment in its beaches has greatly improved the quality of the sand, the weather is perfect, and there's no doubt that for those who want to start the day with a full English breakfast at lunchtime, swim and tan all afternoon, and disco dance all night, this is the place.