Boracay Island in the Philippines.

By Jessica Plautz2015-02-18 08:29:04 UTC

If you're in the northeastern United States, a warm beach any beach, really is sounding pretty good right now.

But not all beaches are created equal, and that's where crowdsourcing comes in: On Tuesday, TripAdvisor released a list of the best rated beaches around the world, according to its users.

The top beaches located around the globe are "determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings" over 12 months, according to the site. If their ratings over the past year are any indication, these beaches will be the perfect destination for a 2015 getaway.

Elafonissi, off the southwestern coast of Crete, is designated a nature reserve. The island greets visitors with clear water and pink sand, although if you are looking for a warm winter getaway this is not the beach for you. The best times to visit are from late May to early October.

The Whitsundays are a chain of 74 islands off the northeast coast of Australia's Queensland territory; Whitehaven is on the largest island.

"The crystal clear aqua waters and pristine silica sand of Whitehaven stretch over seven kilometres along Whitsunday Island," according to the local tourism authority which is, of course, required to sing the beach's praises. "As soon as you arrive its easy to see why it is the most photographed beach in Australia."

Read more from the original source:

Best beaches for 2015, according to travelers