10 best beaches in the US and world according to Tripadvisor – Today – Today.com

Do you find yourself daydreaming about warmer weather and the sand between your toes lately? Youre not alone. Thinking about the summer months and ocean is sometimes the only way to get through these dark and dreary months.

Luckily, TripAdvisor made that fantasizing a bit easier by announcing the winners of its Travelers Choice awards for the best beaches in the world.

Siesta Beach in Florida is the best beach in the U.S. according to TripAdvisor.

The travel planning and booking site revealed the best sandy spots in the U.S and around the world today, honoring a total of 343 beaches. The winners were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered over a 12-month period. And according to a recent TripAdvisor survey, 49 percent of U.S. travelers say hotel prices are the most important factor when choosing a beach destination. So, TripAdvisor also identified the least expensive month for a hotel stay near each beach, meaning you can really start planning that much-needed holiday.

Traveling to a popular beach doesnt have to be expensive," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, in a statement. "TripAdvisor can help find the best prices for highly rated hotels and has a variety of value options for those looking to get the most out of their money while visiting one of these amazing beach destinations.

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So, which spot came in first place? Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida, took the No. 1 spot on the top 10 list of best beaches in the U.S., and No. 5 in the world. Its conveniently located about 10 miles south of Sarasota on the Gulf Coast and is known for its white sandy beaches that look more like the Caribbean than Florida.

I can't say enough great things about this amazing beach, wrote one TripAdvisor reviewer. Perfect white sand, soft on the feet and yet look around and you can also find shells. Sunset was amazing! The best time to visit the stunning stretch of sand is actually in the fall as the least expensive month is September, with rooms costing an average of $214 per night.

Florida's Hollywood Beach landed in the top 10 as one of the best beaches in the U.S.

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Floridas beaches dominate the top 10 list. Seven out of 10 beaches are located in the Sunshine State, with St. Pete Beach coming in at No. 3, Clearwater Beach taking the No. 4 spot, Panama City Beach at No. 5, Hollywood Beach at No. 6, Pensacola Beach at No. 7, and Saint Augustine Beach at No. 8. In fact, the only other state to boast more than one beach on the list is Hawaii, with Ka'anapali Beach at No. 2, and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve coming in at No. 9.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is one of two Hawaiian beaches to make the top 10 list.

The only outlier is Ocean City Beach in Ocean City, Maryland, which moved up 15 spots to No. 10 this year. The reason? Its a family-friend location with lots of free activities and is perfect for aquatic sports. It has a beautiful deep sandy beach with lots on the boardwalk like shops, games, amusements parks, restaurants, and ice cream, to name a few things, noted a TripAdvisors reviewer. If youre looking to go, search for hotels in November as its the least expensive time to travel, with rooms averaging $109 a night.

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Baia do Sancho in Brazil was ranked the best beach in the world.

In terms of the best beach in the world, Brazils Baia do Sancho came in at No. 1. While it can be a bit tricky to access the beach, which is located on Fernando de Noronha Island 220 miles off the northeast coast of Brazil visitors have raved about its beauty and incredible snorkeling opportunities. The award recognition is an opportunity for us to communicate all that this incredible place has to offer to global travelers, said Lus Eduardo Antunes, general administrator of Fernando de Noronha.

Check out the top 10 lists for Travelers Choice Beaches in the U.S. and the world below!

1. Siesta Beach, Florida

2. Ka'anapali Beach Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

3. St. Pete Beach St. Pete Beach, Florida

4. Clearwater Beach Clearwater, Florida

5. Beach at Panama City Panama City Beach, Florida

6. Hollywood Beach Hollywood, Florida

7. Pensacola Beach Pensacola Beach, Florida

8. Saint Augustine Beach Saint Augustine Beach, Florida

9. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Honolulu, Hawaii

10. Ocean City Beach Ocean City, Maryland

1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

2. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

3. Eagle Beach, Palm - Eagle Beach, Aruba

4. Playa Paraiso, Cayo Largo, Cuba

5. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, United States

6. La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain

7. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

8. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India

9. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece

10. Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador