Breathtaking beach: Baia do Sancho in Brazil has been named the best stretch of sand in the world by TripAdvisor





Postcard-pretty: Grace Bay, in Turks and Caicos, has been named the second most amazing beach in the world





Third place: With its golden sands and turquoise waters Flamenco Beach has been highly rated by TripAdvisor


While Flamenco Beach, in Culebra, Puerto Rico, which boasts clear waters and cake-mix-soft golden sands, secured third place in the awards, which are based on reviews and ratings over the past 12 months.

And it wasn't just beaches far away from home on the list - the UK also managed a place in the top 10, with Rhossili Bay in the Gower, Wales, named as the ninth most amazing beach in the UK. The vast three-mile expanse of white sand moved up one place from last year's tenth place.

Rhossili Bay’s triumph against beaches in such glamorous destinations as Mexico, Brazil and Australia goes to prove that travellers don’t need to travel half way around the world to find a great beach.




Popular destination: Rabbit Beach, in Lampedusa, Italy, scooped fourth place in the TripAdvisor awards




Fifth place: Whitehaven Beach, in the Whitsunday Islands in Australia, boasts miles of pure white sand and azure waters



Spanish delight: Playa de ses Illetes, in Formentera, has been crowned the sixth best beach in the world

The largest expanse of white sand on the Gower Peninsula, Rhossili Bay, which stretches below towering cliffs, is popular with surfers, paragliders and ramblers alike.

Rhossili Bay was also crowned the UK's best beach, and scooped third place in Europe's top 10.

Rabbit Beach, in Lampedusa, Italy, was named fourth best beach in the world - and first in Europe - followed by Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island, Australia, in fifth place; Playa de ses Illetes, in Formentera, Spain in sixth place; and Anse Lazio, on Praslin Island, Seychelles in seventh place.




Wish you were here?: Anse Lazio, on Praslin Island, in the Seychelles, was crowned with seventh place in the awards




Paradise found: Lanikai Beach, in Kailua, Hawaii, is the eighth most amazing beach in the world, according to TripAdvisor





Taste of home!: Rhossili Bay in Swansea, Wales, is the only UK beach to make it on to the list of the top 10 best in the world





And relax... Chill out on Playa Norte beach in Mexico - the tenth most amazing beach in the world


Lanikai Beach, in Kailua, Hawaii, took eighth place, while Playa Norte, in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, was named the tenth best beach in the world.

Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor said: ‘For those fed up with the long cold winter, there’s really no better cure than an escape to one of these award-winning beaches.

‘Even if you can’t go to one of these stunning beaches soon, just looking at the photos will take you away for a moment, until you can plan a trip.’