OREANDA-NEWS. TripAdvisor®, the travel planning and booking site, today announced the winners of its Travelers' Choice® awards for Beaches. This year, Baia do Sancho, in Brazil, was ranked by TripAdvisor reviewers as the global winner and Florida's Siesta Beach is #1 in the U.S. TripAdvisor has honored 343 beaches including the top 25 in the world and local lists for Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, the U.K. and the U.S. Award winners were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor, gathered over a 12-month period.

"To inspire those planning a beach getaway, we've surfaced the world's best beaches from the millions of our traveler reviews," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "Traveling to a popular beach doesn't have to be expensive; 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."

"Winning a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Beaches award is very important for Baia do Sancho and Fernando de Noronha Island, where the beach is located. The award recognition is an opportunity for us to communicate all that this incredible place has to offer to global travelers," said Lu?s Eduardo Antunes, general administrator of Fernando de Noronha.

To help travelers planning their next beach trip, TripAdvisor has also identified the least expensive month for a hotel stay nearby the award-winning beaches and highlighted a variety of top-rated hotels to accommodate a range of budgets that travelers can shop on TripAdvisor.

Top 10 Travelers' Choice Beaches in the U.S.: 

1.      Siesta Beach - Siesta Key, Florida (+2)*

Located about 10 miles south of Sarasota on Florida'sGulf Coast, Siesta Beach is renowned for its fine, white sandy beaches.  " I can't say enough great things about this amazing beach. Perfect white sand, soft on the feet and yet look around and you can also find shells. Sunset was amazing!" added a TripAdvisor reviewer.

2.      Ka'anapali Beach - Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii (+4)

Among the most frequented beach in West Maui, one of Ka'anapali Beach's most famous attractions is the daily cliff diving ceremony off of the beach's northernmost cliffs known as Puu Kekaa or Black Rock.  According to a TripAdvisor reviewer, "Ka'anapali Beach is the nicest beach we have visited in our travels throughout the U.S. Clean and fine sand provides a pleasant experience for walking, catching the surf, or laying on the beach."

3.      Saint Pete Beach - Saint Pete Beach, Florida (+1)

Saint Pete Beach is famous for its golden-white sand and aquatic activities, such as parasailing, stand-up paddle boarding and windsurfing. "You can walk this entire beach from one end to the other in a couple of hours and enjoy the many resorts and restaurants along the way. Great for kids to collect seashells. Amazing sunsets!" commented a TripAdvisor reviewer.

4.      Clearwater Beach - Clearwater, Florida (-3)

Clearwater Beach dazzles with 2.5 miles of sugar-white sand, crystal-clear waters and sits on a barrier island caressed by tranquil Gulf breezes. "Clearwater Beach has one of the best waterfronts you can imagine. The white sand is outstanding, never hot on the feet. Also, there are bath and change rooms located along the beach front and a variety of restaurants to suit all budgets," shared a TripAdvisor traveler.

5.      Beach at Panama City - Panama City Beach, Florida (+5)

Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of silky, white-sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay, where tourists can enjoy nearby restaurants for fresh seafood. "The beach is pristine and the waters calm, being one of the cleanest I've experienced. There you can see dolphins playing in the water and people fishing from the shore," wrote a TripAdvisor reviewer.

6.      Hollywood Beach - Hollywood, Florida (not ranked in 2016)
Hollywood Beach is well known as a family-friendly place due to the calm water, available bathroom facilities, live entertainment and the nearby restaurants across the large Boardwalk. "Simple, friendly, clean, accessible to young and old… Hollywood Beach is a diamond unspoiled by glitz. Go, have fun strolling the Boardwalk, lounging in the sun or beneath the shade of a palm, or skimming over the wave washed sand!" added a TripAdvisor user. 

7.      Pensacola Beach - Pensacola Beach, Florida (no change year-over-year)

Anchored at the western tip of Florida, this narrow strip of white sand features two totally different waterfront experiences; you can easily enjoy the Gulf side or opt for the serenity of the sound side. "Pensacola beach is a perfect place to visit all year round. There is always something for everyone, from beautiful sunrises and sunsets to amazing restaurants and the famous Double Bridge Run that takes place every February," commented a TripAdvisor reviewer.

8.      Saint Augustine Beach - Saint Augustine Beach, Florida (+1)

Saint Augustine Beach gives travelers plenty to enjoy all year long with its long stretch of white sand with uncrowded spots and promenades. A TripAdvisor reviewer noted, "With a splash park, many nearby eateries, and plenty of sunshine, this is the place to spend a day either on the beach, in the surf, swimming in the sea or fishing off the pier."

9.      Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve - Honolulu, Hawaii (+3)

Located on the southeast coast of Oahu, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is one of Hawaii's most popular natural attractions. Travelers note that the beach is good for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and picnicking. According to a TripAdvisor user, "This place is awesome to snorkel with small kids. Reefs are very near to the shore and you don't have to swim far away."    

10.  Ocean City Beach - Ocean City, Maryland (+15)
Ocean City Beach is family-friendly and perfect for aquatic sports. During the summer, there are free family activities six nights a week, including concerts, movies and beach games. "This beach is great for a family vacation. 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 TripAdvisor's reviewer.