Corralejo, Spain

Forget the tourism brochures - Corralejo is a sprawling building site dominated by concrete mixers and falling rubble, as one early visitor lamented. With a population of just 18,704, this former fishing village on the northern tip of Fuerteventura has seen explosive growth since the 1970s as a beach resort for British and Irish tourists. The lack of wind is a persistent headache, leaving the island's vital windmills still and forcing fishermen to work harder to make a living. While the town's main street is now pedestrianized, vandalism has also risen, with a replica galleon in an abandoned theme park recently burned down. Corralejo may appeal to those seeking sun, sand, and a growing expat community, but the realities of rapid, haphazard development are hard to ignore.