Tourists vow ‘never again’ after major change to holiday hotspot

Booking a summer getaway is a major highlight for many people each year but one popular tourist hotspot has undergone a major change that’s got many people vowing to never return

Tourists have vowed to “never again” visit a popular holiday hotspot after it underwent some unwanted changes this year. Jetting off to a sunnier climate is a highlight of many people’s summers, with guaranteed sunshine, blue skies and the soothing sounds of the ocean a top priority.

Some European countries have established themselves as firm favourites for British tourists, and regularly top the travel wish list for people of all ages. Whether it’s Greece, Spain, France, Italy or Portugal, the continent has an abundance of varied, enticing options to suit all budgets and desires. For some holidaymakers, the destination of choice centres around the availability of bars and clubs, with many keen to take advantage of a thriving nightlife.

This seems to be the case for Albufeira, a popular coastal city based in the southern Algarve region of Portugal. It’s famous for its nightlife, with an abundance of accommodation and activities to indulge in.

Recently, however, its iconic strip has drawn some criticism due to how busy it’s become – one of the downsides to the city’s enduring popularity.

One tourist, who works as a DJ in Albufeira, recently shared a video of the packed strip on TikTok and it’s put many people off from ever returning to the city.

The 11-second clip shows people packed shoulder to shoulder outside the famous bars and nightclubs. Over the top of the footage, the DJ penned the words: “‘iS AlbUFeIrA eVEn BuSy?’ Have you seen the strip.”

The mix of capital letters with lowercase letters is typically used on social media to convey a mocking tone.

In the caption, he simply added: “How busy is too busy?”

The video racked up more than 754K views, with fellow TikTok users keen to share their thoughts. Lots of people pointed out it seems to be much busier this year than it was last year.

One person said: “Oh my that’s some difference from last July,” while another agreed: “Was nowhere near this last year”.

A third shared: “I was there on Saturday and never again!” A fourth said: “Canny be enjoyable that”.

Someone else asked: “is this supposed to make you want to go?”

Another TikTok user said: “Disgusting I can smell the sweat through the screen,” and another simply said: “No thanks.”

However, not everyone had this perspective or experience. One person shared: “It was the perfect amount of busy last week.”

And another wasn’t put off at all: “Ye looks boss that.”

For those keen to avoid the intense crowds, one TikTok user advised: “Best time for Albufeira is mid May to end of May if [you] don’t want to deal with this.”

To which the original poster replied: “Spot on.”

Before it became a major holiday destination, Albufeira used to be a sleepy fishing village. Its golden, sandy beaches are varied with some spots busy and bustling, and others offering secluded coves near dramatic cliffs.

Despite being renowned for its busy nightlife strip, it’s also an ideal destination for families and couples looking for a scenic getaway.