The popular Costa Blanca resort was picked as the most embarrassing location to enjoy a summer break in a poll of 4,000 families.

Paris was named as the city Brits were most proud of visiting.

Despite the French having the reputation of being rude and arrogant 3.2 million people visit France every year to sample the romance, breathtaking monuments and fine dining.

The poll by Boots revealed New York as the second top holiday hot spot.

Second place on the top ten list of most embarrassing holiday destinations was Tenerife.

The largest of the seven Canary Islands, renowned for its cheap holidays, enjoys more than three million tourists a year.

Portugal, Australia and Thailand complete the top five list of holidays Brits are most proud to have been on.

One in ten people polled admitted they had pretended to friends they were going on an expensive exotic holiday, only to go somewhere more low key.

Thirteen per cent of workers have changed their mind about a holiday destination after hearing where they work colleagues were going.

And 12 per cent of shame faced folk have copied their friend's exact holiday destination.

A third of people say they think it sounds better if they have to travel a long way for a holiday, and one in 10 would be embarrassed to admit they only spent a couple of hundred quid on their holiday.

More than half of those polled would never admit to going on an 18 to 30's holiday.

But it's not just holiday locations that can leave people looking red faced - some holiday health problems can be just as embarrassing.

The poll of 4,000 Britons showed nearly half (48 per cent) had experienced travellers' diarrhoea whilst on holiday, with a further 25 per cent stating they had been affected whilst holidaying in the UK.

Boots Pharmacist Angela Chalmers said: "Whether its Benidorm or Brighton, people need to remember that wherever they go on holiday it is important they take the necessary health precautions.

"Travellers' diarrhoea is one of the more embarrassing health problems that can affect holidaymakers and as the majority of people only have one main holiday a year, you want to ensure it is memorable for the right reasons".



HOLIDAY HOT SPOTS

1. Paris

2. New York

3. Portugal

4. Australia

5. Thailand

6. New Zealand

7. Mexico

8. Zante

9. Goa

10. Morocco



MOST EMBARRASSING HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS

1. Benidorm

2. Tenerife

3. Ibiza

4. Magaluf

5. Ayia Napa

6. Costa Del Sol

7. Majorca

8. Lanzarote

9. Malaga

10. Turkey