San Sebastian came top in a Which? survey of the best Spanish coastal resorts, while celebrity honeypot Puerto Banus finished bottom.
The consumer champion invited more than 1,280 members to rate their experience of Spanish seaside towns based on 11 criteria from the quality of the beach and seafront to safety, food and drink, accommodation and value for money.
Playground of the rich and famous, Puerto Banus in Marbella on the Costa del Sol scored a satisfaction rating of just 55%, with visitors giving it just one star for value for money and only two stars for safety, attractiveness and friendliness.
However, it scored three stars for its beach, seafront, food and drink and shopping.
Puerto Banus and Marbella – which came 17th out of a total of 28 resorts – were the two most expensive in the survey, with visitors paying an average of £168 for a three or four-star hotel.
San Sebastian was the next most expensive, costing an average of £155 a night, but it scored an 88% satisfaction rating, receiving a full five stars for its beach, attractiveness and food and drink.
It scored four stars for its seafront, safety, friendliness, accommodation, tourist attractions and shopping, but only three stars for value for money.
Nerja took second place with a score of 81%.
Cartagena, Javea and Sitges made up the top five, while British favourites Estepona, Alicante and Benidorm also finished in the top half of the table.
Other popular resorts that did less well included Torremolinos, which came 18th, and Fuengirola, which was fourth from the bottom.
The survey, carried out last November, asked members to rate their experience of Spanish resorts over the previous year.
