Aussie tourist spots make the list of most disappointing beaches in the world
While Bondi Beach is the most well-known beach in Australia, being the most popular also comes with its fair share of pitfalls, including overcrowding, rubbish and high noise levels.
A new study has ranked the top 100 most complained about beaches in the world, with some of the biggest tourist destinations named as the most disappointing.
Bondi Beach was Australia's only entrant in the top 10, coming in at number 9 with a complaint score of 57.1 out of 100. Of the negative reviews, 75.9 per cent were due to overcrowding, while 13 per cent found it 'dirty'.
Manly Beach also made an appearance at number 20, with a score of 47.4. Again, the biggest issue for visitors was overcrowding.
The research, by Cloudwards, analysed thousands of reviews from TripAdvisor to find out which destinations were ultimately not living up to tourist expectations. The study focused on four main areas of criticism – cleanliness, overcrowding, long queues and noise disruption. The more negative reviews, the higher the overall complaint score.
Four American beaches featured in the top 10, taking 39 spots in total in the top 100.
Here are the top 10 most complained about beaches worldwide:
Waikiki Beach, USA: 100/100
Venice Beach, USA: 89.7/100
Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: 73.5
Clearwater Beach, USA: 65.5/100
Bournemouth Beach, UK: 65.1/100
La Jolla Cove, USA: 64.3/100
Elafonissi Beach, Greece:: 60.3/100
Magens Bay Beach, US Virgin Islands: 58.1/100
Bondi Beach, Australia: 57.1/100
Maho Beach, Sint Maarten: 57/100
Find the full list here.
Cloudwards CEO Mauricio Preuss said the study shows how important it is to look beyond the 'highlight reel' of a destination.
'The most rewarding beach experiences might be found at lesser-known destinations that haven't yet been overwhelmed by mass tourism. Sometimes the best paradise is the one that isn't trending on TikTok,' he said.
Earlier this year, Tourism Australia crowned a beach in Tasmania as the country's beach for 2025.
A pristine, 10km stretch of coastline in the Bay of Fires Conservation Reserve took out the top spot, which was the first time a Tasmanian beach had been awarded the honour.
It beat over 12,000 other entrants.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
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Yahoo
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They lost their son in the Reagan National Airport midair collision. Now, they're fighting for aviation safety in his honor
January 29 started with such promise. Sheri Lilley visited a wedding venue in Savannah, Georgia, where her stepson Sam and his fiancee Lydia Coles were looking to get married. The date was already set: October 4, 2025. Sheri thought to herself, 'This is so fortunate. This place is perfect. It's going to work out great.' Sam was a commercial airline pilot on a trip, so Sheri asked Lydia to talk with him about the venue when he got back to their home in Charlotte. But several hours later their lives were shattered when a passenger plane collided with a Black Hawk helicopter flying over the Potomac River. Texts and calls went unanswered. No word from Sam. Sam's father, Tim, who is also a pilot, joined Sheri and Lydia on a group phone call. Everyone was in tears. They knew, even without official confirmation, something horrible had happened. 'I uttered the words to (Lydia), 'A plane has crashed in DC. We think it was Sam,'' Sheri said, still haunted by that night. Twenty-eight-year-old Sam Lilley died in January's midair collision, the deadliest plane crash in the US in 24 years. He was the first officer flying the CRJ-700 for PSA Airways, a regional carrier for American Airlines. Sixty-four people were onboard, including Sam and Captain Jonathan Campos. Three soldiers onboard the Army helicopter were also killed. That cold, devastating night would change the Lilley's lives forever. Telling the story of Sam When Tim and Sheri share their story, there are no longer many tears. They've shed so many in the six months since January 29 and dealt with the trauma as parents and a couple. It's an unthinkable situation that would test any marriage. The couple agrees they were able to get through it because of their faith. 'It takes some of the sting of death away for me, because I know when I move on, I'm going to have a chance to interact with Sam and other family members that I've lost on the way,' Tim said. The night of the crash Tim and his family went straight to Washington. He was no stranger to aviation or crash investigations. A former active-duty Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot himself, he flew in combat on four tours, conducted accident investigations while on active duty, and worked for almost 16 years as an emergency medical pilot. Now, he understood more about the investigation when it was his family involved. The first time Tim walked into a conference room where victim's families were meeting with the National Transportation Safety Board, the agency responsible for investigating his son's crash, he brought an iPad loaded with helicopter routes and airplane flight paths. Tim had a lot of questions. He wanted to know what happened to his son and why. The quest for answers was a coping mechanism, but it didn't stop the traumatizing breakdowns and cries. Tim didn't sleep for the first few nights after the accident. 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'The NTSB - they are so professional,' Sheri, who spent 15 years working at Gulfstream Aerospace, said. 'They're outstanding at what they do. We have so much respect for them, but I think they probably could have briefed some of those other parties a little bit better about the fact that you are not talking to law enforcement, first responders. This is an audience of grieving and shocked family members.' People left the room in horror when officials described 'body parts spread all over the ice.' Families passed notes to the front of the conference room telling officials that night to not refer to their loved ones as 'remains.' Shocked and trying to grieve, the Lilley's still pressed for answers. The couple wanted to make sure this never happened again. Without answers, the questions would keep them awake at night. But it was a different kind of answer that woke Tim up early one morning in February. About a week after the accident, he knew Sam wanted him to get a tattoo. 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It's those little moments that let them know whether on Capitol Hill, at home in Savanah or deep in Ireland, Sam will be with them forever. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A surprise commuter on a New York City subway has captured the internet's heart after hopping aboard like she had somewhere to be. New Yorker @pocahontae8 shared a now-viral TikTok video showing a tiny gray tabby kitten casually jumping onto the train. The video has since garnered 1.2 million likes and 8 million views. "Y'all a kitten just hopped on the train like she was headed to work. Only in NYC," reads the text overlay on the clip. The footage shows the kitten joining morning commuters, clearly unfazed by the hustle of the city. One passenger scoops up the confused feline, seemingly unsure what to do next. Another eventually takes her off the train, likely to help find her a home or reunite her with an owner. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it's important to approach carefully. You should check if the cat is truly stray or simply lost, according to PetMD. Look for signs of ownership like a collar or friendliness. Bringing the cat to a vet to scan for a microchip is the best next step. If there's no ID, consider contacting a local shelter or rescue group—or, if you're able, providing temporary foster care. TikTok users were quick to share their reactions to the unexpected moment. "You don't understand how bad I just panicked cuz I thought the kitten will fall through the crack," said Moneka. "Great they kidnapped the kitten while it was on its way to a job interview," joked Mahir. A stock image showing a subway train. A stock image showing a subway train. tifonimages/iStock / Getty Images Plus "Kitten was like 'excuse me I'm part of the distribution system and I was told my person would be here,'" another user commented. "I'm so glad that woman took her!!" said Amber. "THANK YOU TO THE GIRL WHO TOOK THE KITTEN! May she bring you joy for the rest of her life! I hope you keep her!" wrote Lula. "I'd of taken that baby immediately no hesitation," said Abigail. "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put this to the song 9-5," added Mia, referencing the classic Dolly Parton hit. "I have never seen the cat distribution system deliver on the train," another user added. A stock image showing a kitten walking. A stock image showing a kitten walking. Valentin Zlydennyy/iStock / Getty Images Plus "Kitten is just trying to apply for bodega jobs," quipped another user. "God bless that girl who took that precious kitten," added Anne. Newsweek reached out to @pocahontae8 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
