See the best beaches in the U.S., world, according to TripAdvisor

As millions of Americans plan beach getaways this spring, travel website TripAdvisor has released its ranking of the best beaches in the U.S. and the world.

"Soft sand, clear waters and balmy temperatures" are common threads among the winners of its Travelers' Choice Awards for Beaches, TripAdvisor said.

TripAdvisor said the winners were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews for beaches gathered over the last 12 months.

VIDEO: Top 5 beaches in the world


VIDEO: Top 5 beaches in the U.S.