World’s Best Beaches Named by Travel Channel

Looking for beach inspiration, but don’t want to wait until May for Dr. Beach’s yearly picks? You’re in luck: TravelChannel.com just came out with its list of the world’s best beaches.

Instead of a list of beaches ranked one through 10, the list is made up of bests by categories, including best family beach and best beach boardwalks. Here’s the list:

Best Party Beach: South Beach, Miami

More Miami: 10 Best Places to Go in Florida, 10 Best Destinations for Girlfriend Getaways

Best Family Beach: Destin, Florida

More Gulf Coast: 10 Places You Should Go While They’re Still Cheap

Best Romantic Beach: Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti

More Tahiti: 12 Amazing Exotic Vacations, 10 Amazing Overwater Bungalows You Can Sleep In

Sexiest Beach: Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

More Brazil: 10 Natural Places You Won’t Believe Are Real, 10 Amazing New World Heritage Sites

Best Beach Bars: Rick’s Cafe, Negril, Jamaica

More Jamaica: 10 Caribbean Desinations You Can Afford to Visit, 10 Authentic Ways to Travel Like a Local

Beach Beach You Haven’t Heard of … Yet: Nevis, Caribbean

More Caribbean: Nine Secret Caribbean Attractions

Best Beach for Adventure: Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, Oahu

More Hawaii: 10 Facebook-Free Vacations, 20 Amazing American Beaches, Stunning Places to See Sunsets Around the World

Best Exotic Beach: Mustique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

More Caribbean: Best Adults-Only Resorts

Best Beach Boardwalks: Venice Beach, California

More Venice Beach: 10 Great Urban Beaches

Best Overall Beach: Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti

Matira Beach tops both the most romantic beach and best overall beach categories, so naturally we were curious. According to our sister-site TripAdvisor, Matira Beach is noteworthy as Bora Bora’s only public beach, and offers soft white sand and easy water access (no rocks to scramble around on). It’s also known for its fantastic sunsets.

Which beaches do you think earn a spot in these categories? Leave your opinions below!

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(Photo: Lifeguard Tower in South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida via Shutterstock)