Soft white sand, impossibly blue bath-warm waters, a smattering of palm fronds for shade and an ice cold cocktail in hand the perfect beach experience. Its about as close as we get to the picture postcard image of a relaxing vacation, and luckily for us, the world is overflowing with them.

Anse Source D'Argent Beach in the Seychelles also known as paradise.

But where to go? Which to visit? Are you looking to zone out with a good book and only the sound of lapping waves for company? Or are you all about the action and want to swim, surf or parasail?

Looking at a range of factors from visitor ratings, average air and water temperatures and average number of sunny days to proximity to restaurants, hotels, bars and nightlife, Alpha Travel Insurance has ranked a comprehensive top ten of the worlds best beaches.

Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos what more could you ask of a beach?

The top two ranking beaches can both be found around the Caribbean, with Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands taking the top spot, scoring 96 out of 100, closely followed by Pink Sands Beach on Harbor Island in the Bahamas with 91. While both scored full marks in visitor ratings, Pink Sands can only muster an average 223 days of sunshine a year compared to Grace Bays 319.

Third spot went to Anse Source DArgent on La Digue Island in the gorgeous Seychelles (and my personal favorite), which scored well for weather, restaurants and activities.

With more sunshine and warmer waters than any other beach, Maya Bay is undoubtedly one of the world's best.

Sunshine and high temperatures obviously play a big factor in any beachs appeal. Topping the hot list with an average temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) was Playa Norte on Mexicos Isla Mujeres. Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi in Thailand came out number one for sunshine with an average 352 days of sunbathing on offer annually. That extended sunshine also gives it an almost unbelievable average water temperature of 28.9C (84.02F).

So perfect it's almost unreal, Railay Beach in Thailand.

If action is more your bag, theres plenty to cater to every taste. Staying in Thailand, Railay Beach rated best for activities with 11 different options to choose from at an average 4.9 rating from 5. If 11 just isnt enough for you, back at Maya Bay youll find a mind-boggling 61 different things to do. Highest rated beaches for visitor activities include Varadero Beach, Cuba; Anse Source DArgent, La Digue Island, Seychelles and Hidden Beach, El Nido, Philippines all top rating with 5 out of 5.

For some, the best beach is the one nearest the bar. Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic has plenty to choose from.

Once the sun sets and the party starts, nightlife kicks in as a contributing factor. Overall winner Grace Bay takes top spot with full marks for its nightlife visitor ratings. For sheer choice, head to Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic which has a riotous 19 major bars and nightclubs nearby. For proximity to great restaurants but fewer crowds, Malmok Beach in Noord, Aruba scored highly.

Heres the full top ten:

The Top Ten Best Beaches by index ranking.

Want to see how the rankings were worked out? You can read the methodology here

And because it would be rude not to, heres one more perfect slice of sand to sign off with

Hidden beach, a popular hideaway that's hard to find but not too hard.

Visit link:

Ranked: The Top Ten Best Beaches In The World - Forbes