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We’ve officially reached that time of year when the winter weather starts to drag and spring break still feels a little too far away. If you’re one of those travelers currently dreaming of a beach vacation—complete with warm temperatures, white sand, and clear blue water—you’ll be interested in the latest news from Tripadvisor.
The travel research platform recently announced the winners of its 2025 Travelers’ Choice® Awards Best of the Best Beaches. According to the press release, the rankings are based on a “comprehensive analysis of global beach reviews”—aka real travelers (like you) who left real reviews on their frequented beach destinations around the world.
While Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece, took the No. 1 spot in the global rankings, a Florida favorite wasn’t too far behind. Siesta Beach in Siesta Key earned the fourth overall spot globally, beating out all other beaches in the U.S.
Up from its second-place position in the 2024 awards, the beach—a short drive from Sarasota—boasts more than a handful of reasons to visit. TripAdvisor stated that Siesta Beach is particularly good for “clear waters, powder sand, seashells, [and] beachfront stays,” and reviewers also credit the “enormous amount of space” on Siesta Beach for making it such an incredible vacation spot.
“The beach is quiet (so much beach that everyone feels like they each have a private oasis), and the water is … warm yet refreshing. For my morning walks it’s so flat, easy, and comfortable to walk on,” one reviewer wrote. Another shared how the “quartz-crystal white powdery sand between [their] toes and the warm gulf waters” keeps them returning to Siesta Key year after year, and another traveler said this is the “best place” to watch the sunset.
If that description made you want to book a trip ASAP, start looking at flights for mid to late spring. The TripAdvisor report revealed that the best times to visit Siesta Key are between April and May—or later in the year in September and October. If you avoid July and August, you’ll get to experience this award-winning beach when “the weather is pleasant, crowds are smaller, and temperatures are more moderate compared to the peak summer months.”
