Think Waikiki Beach is a tropical dream? Think again. According to a new study from the software and security experts at Cloudwards, the iconic Hawaiian stretch isn’t just busy—it’s the single most complained-about beach on the entire planet.
Cloudwards analyzed TripAdvisor reviews for 200 of the world’s most popular beaches, hunting for gripes about dirt, crowds, lines and noise. Using those keywords, they created a "Complaint Score" out of 100. Waikiki Beach earned a flawless 100—but not in a good way.
The bulk of the complaints are about overcrowding. Nearly seven in ten negative reviews slam Waikiki for being jam-packed, while others mention litter and the occasional headache-inducing noise. Turns out paradise is tough to enjoy when everyone else has the same idea.
Waikiki isn't the only U.S. entry on the list. Four American beaches make an appearance in the top ten. Venice Beach in Los Angeles took second place worldwide with a complaint score of 89.7. While people still love its murals and boardwalk energy, over 60-percent of the complaints zeroed in on cleanliness issues—trash-strewn sands, funky smells and murky water.
Two more U.S. favorites also cracked the global top ten: Clearwater Beach in Florida (65.5) and La Jolla Cove in California (64.3). Both beaches see their share of moans about crowds but also get slammed for garbage and pollution. And when Cloudwards focused on the “dirtiest” beaches based on review keywords, U.S. beaches snagged half of the top ten spots. Venice Beach led that list too, followed closely by La Jolla Cove and Padre Island National Seashore in Texas.
It’s a reality check that pretty much every region faces. Even the world’s postcard-perfect beaches get messy, noisy and impossibly crowded. And in America, that’s especially true. Of the 200 beaches Cloudwards analyzed, U.S. states took 39 spots in the overall rankings. Bad beach etiquette is unfortunately commonplace at these coastal destinations.
If you’re after peace and pristine sand, you might want to look beyond the big-name beaches. Waikiki still has its sunsets, Venice Beach its vibe—but behind the Instagram posts, plenty of visitors are left feeling salty.
The most complained-about beaches in the world, according to Cloudwards
- Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
- Venice Beach, California
- Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
- Clearwater Beach, Florida
- Bournemouth Beach, United Kingdom
- La Jolla Cove, California
- Elafonissi Beach, Greece
- Magens Bay Beach, USVI
- Bondi Beach, Australia
- Maho Beach, Sint Maarten