Candyce H. Stapen

The latest ranking from U.S. News & World Report also lists the best cruises for couples.

With scores of cruise lines plying the oceans, it’s difficult for a would-be cruiser to know what line to choose and which ship to book. Rankings of cruise lines by knowledgeable sources can provide valuable insight. According to 

U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 analysis

, Celebrity Cruises rates as the best cruise line for the money. Disney Cruise Line tops the list for families. Crystal Cruises floats the best cruise for couples.

Although useful, it’s wise to regard any survey as a guide and not gospel. Crystal might rate best for couples according to U.S. News’ standards, but the line is pricey. For most of us, cost cometh before all.  Also consider the destination, the ports visited, the length of the cruise and the ambiance. We recently ruled out a voyage on Cunard’s Queen Mary because the preferred dining room attire was jackets for men.

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And how do you feel about formal nights? Many lines don’t care whether passengers don gowns and tuxedos for designated formal evenings but other lines require the inappropriately attired to dine in casual eateries only. If traveling with children, be sure that the ship offers appropriate children’s programs for your age kids. If traveling without children, do you want an adult-oriented ship or one that also attracts kids?   

U.S. News evaluated 15 cruise lines on three criteria:

· Reviews by Cruiseline.com’s travelers

· Experts’ ranking of the ships’ cabins, activities, atmosphere

· The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) health ratings

U.S. News praises the line for its combination of large-ship experiences with the service and standards of smaller lines. Cons: Like most all ships, there are add-on charges.

you can surf, go ziplining, ice skate and rock climb. Cons: Crowds on high-capacity ships.

: Choose from a large variety of eateries and enjoy dining where and when you like. Cons: Many specialty restaurants cost extra.

Click to the next page for the best cruise lines for families and couples.

: Disney pioneered larger-than-average family cabins. The line delights kids with thoughtful children’s programs and encounters with Disney characters. Cons: Few adults-only activities.

The ships offer good children and teen programs as well as abundant adult activities. Cons: Crowds.

Carnival provides a “festive atmosphere and versatile entertainment” that includes comedy acts, night clubs and various bars as well as offers engaging children’s activities. Cons: Crowds on larger ships.

The ships’ elegant décor sets the line apart as does the low passenger-to-crew ratio which allows for more personalized service than on other lines. Cons: As on most lines, there are add-on charges.

The ships feature all-suite accommodations and the fare covers specialty dining as well as most drinks and some shore excursions. Cons: Cruise fares reflect the onboard luxury and the ships tend to have limited or non-existent children’s activities.

Azamara provides upscale cabins and offers extended hours in port that include overnights as part of its destination immersion program. Cons: Limited onboard activities compared to larger cruise lines.

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Articles

A cruise is a great vacation, provided you choose the right line and ship for you. Looking for luxury plus value? U.S. News & World Report rates Celebrity Cruises as the best for the money. Traveling with kids? Disney tops the list for family cruises and U.S. News ranks Crystal Cruises as the best for couples. 

Ranking Reveals Best Cruise Lines of 2017

The 10-million-gallon Georgia Aquarium is home to 100,000 animals. Image source: Georgia Aquarium

 century blend of sophistication and southern charm. The bustling city features first-class museums, innovative dining and plenty of urban green spaces. Anchoring the downtown area, Centennial Olympic Park blooms with its Fountain of Rings, the symbol of the 1996 Olympics. Nearby are the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Well-worth visiting is the Sweet Auburn Historic District, home to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

 A good place to unwind, the 21-acre urban oasis frequently hosts free lunchtime concerts at noon. Stay for the 12:30 p.m. (also 3:30, 6:30, and 9:30) fountain light, water and music show. And if you want to cool off, join the kids who romp through the dancing waters.

 The 10-million-gallon facility houses more than 100,000 animals. Penguins periodically waddle through the facility’s atrium — a nice touch. Wall-sized tanks and a walk-through acrylic tunnel make you feel immersed in the sea. If you like animal shows, sea lions perform at Under the Boardwalk, and dolphins and beluga show off at different events.

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Created to educate and inspire, the facility details Atlanta’s role in the Civil Rights movement. Artifacts and exhibits tell of the struggle to eliminate segregation and obtain equal freedoms for all.

The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site pays homage to the iconic civil rights leader. Image source: Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

Located in the Sweet Auburn Historic District, the site encompasses the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Dr. King’s crypt in Freedom Plaza, as well as the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s birth home.

Click to the net page for destinations five through eight.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

 New at the museum, “Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease,” details efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease by health professionals and the Carter Center-led team (through October 9, 2017). The facility has exhibits on Carter’s boyhood, the 

 as well as gifts given to the presidential couple.

The High Museum of Art showcases classic and contemporary works. Image source: High Museum of Art

: The museum, one of the leading art museum’s in the Southeast, showcases classic and contemporary art. Permanent galleries feature African art and the plate paintings of Molly Hatch. At “Cross Country: the Power of Place in American Art, 1915-1950,” see how various artists interpreted U.S. cities and landscape (through May 07, 2017).

 Coca-Cola may not be good for teeth, but it’s been good for Atlanta. The beverage was born in the city in 1886. The museum traces the birth of this popular beverage and showcases bottles from around the world.

On the regular newsroom tour, see Studio 7, and learn how weather maps and teleprompters work. The VIP tour takes you inside Studio 7 and a control room.

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The Fountain of Rings' light water and music show in Centennial Olympic Park is just the beginning. Atlanta's spirit comes through in its museums, including the top-rated High Museum of Art, and its only-in-Atlanta exploration of Civil Rights that includes the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and the city's Center for Civil and Human Rights. Check out these sites while you're in town for the Hinman Dental Meeting, March 23-25.

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Going to Alaska? Where you're going, you don't need roads. Especially if you're taking a cruise. The largely roadless state is best seen by boat. But prior to embarking, there's plenty to do on land. Here's an overview of your options.

Alaska presents some of America’s last great wildlands, with expanses of glacial ice fields, fingerlike fjords, pristine lakes, and lush rainforests. Because much of this region is roadless, one of the easiest ways to see this spectacular terrain is to take an Inside Passage or a Gulf of Alaska cruise. Since more 

Americans are concerned about the safety of international travel

, Alaska cruises have increased dramatically in popularity during the last two years.

The ships typically depart from Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, Whittier or Seward, a popular port 127 miles south of Anchorage, home to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Spend time in Anchorage exploring Native culture and the work of Alaskan artists before driving the 127-miles to Seward. Along this scenic route, view snow-capped mountains across the silty water, and with luck, maybe a few beluga whales. Once in Seward, consider spending a day to dog sled and explore

: This museum and outdoor park introduces visitors to the beliefs, culture and crafts of 11 Alaska Native nations. “Stories Give, Stories Shared,” the film showing in the theater, provides background. Native dancers and storytellers perform and wood carvers and other artists demonstrate their crafts. Dwellings outside showcase traditional lodgings of six Native peoples: Athabascans, from the state’s interior; Yup’ik and Cup’ik from the west coast; Inupiaq and St. Lawrence Island Yupik; Aleut and Alutiiq from the north Pacific; and Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian from the southeast.   

: This museum, the largest in Alaska, uses art, history, and science to present 10,000 years of Alaska’s history. Outside the facility, sculptures evoke aspects of Alaskan culture. Figures by Rachelle Dowdy possess human legs but the torso and heads of a moose, a bear, a bird or a wolf. The main exhibit, “Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska,” features 600 objects loaned from the Smithsonian’s collections, including a Tlingit war helmet, an Inupiaq feast bowl, as well as clothing and other items. Kids can get hands-on at the Discovery Center.

The Polar Bear Garden uses archival and contemporary photographs and artifacts to explore the relationship between Alaska and Russia. On view through September 17, 2017. The museum’s $24 million expansion to create four additional art galleries is slated to be completed in September 2017. 

Click to the next page for activity ideas in Seward.

The 127-mile road connecting Anchorage to Seward is one of America’s great drives, affording views of icy blue glaciers, waterfalls, and slopes green with spruce trees and purple with wildflowers. Along the way, pause to enjoy the views and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

, milepost 84: The nonprofit organization rescues, rehabilitates and, when possible, releases the animals. On the facility’s 200 acres, you might see moose, bald eagles, black bears, muskox and bison as well as Hugo, a female grizzly bear and permanent resident because she’s lost the skills to forage in the wild. Book ahead for special tours that take you behind the scenes to the food preparation and other areas and can get you close to the animals.

: A working dog is a wonder to watch. Sled dogs, often husky and malamute mixes, have a fierce determination to run. In summer, when there’s no snow, several Seward-based companies harness their dog teams to wheeled sleds, pulling visitors through the scenery. The Seavey family, winners of three Iditarod championships, operate 

. Their dogs whisk you through a two-mile patch of wilderness. Back at the kennel, tour the facilities and see the husky puppies. 

Steller sea lions, harbor seals, tufted puffins and other animals are displayed at this research and conservation facility. Want to discover what it feels like when a giant Pacific octopus slides one of her eight arms lined with suckers over yours? Then sign up for the Octopus Experience. During the Puffin Encounter, meet the birds and help feed them. 

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Explore Alaska's wildlands via a cruise. Voyages provide easy access to the state's wild places that lack roads. Before sailing, spend time in Anchorage to learn about Alaska's Native nations and to discover Alaska's artists. Along the scenic highway from Anchorage to Seward, admire the snow-capped mountains and Arctic terns. At the Conservation Center, see eagles, black bear, bison and even a grizzly. In Seward, go dog sledding even if there's no snow.

So far, cruise bookings in 2017 are on par or above this time period in 2016. That means you shouldn't wait to book if you want to take a cruise this year, or even in 2018.

It looks as if 2017 will be a very good year for the cruise industry. Nearly 87 percent of travel agents who are part of the 

 network report that, so far, 2017 cruise bookings are equal to or higher than 2016 bookings for the same period. “Cruise bookings for 2017 have been on the upswing since last year. … In fact, our latest data show a 10 percent increase in year-over-year revenue for luxury cruise bookings, and premium cruise bookings are trending higher by eight percent,” said Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko.

What does that mean for you? Don’t wait any longer to book your summer cruise because you may not find the dates, voyages and cabin categories you want. Consider reserving cabins soon for 2018 cruises, especially for voyages aboard the smaller ships employed by upscale lines Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal and Azamara. We found that in February, the smaller ships — those with fewer than 1,000  passengers — had limited availability, especially on popular itineraries.

Cruise News: The Latest in Cruising Trends

Top 2017 Cruise Itineraries according to Travel Leaders Group

The Travel Leaders Group surveyed 1,062 travel agents who specialize in cruising. Many of the top 10 destinations being booked remain close to the U.S. or sail passengers to U.S. ports, a trend predicted by CLIA based on its assessment of U.S. travelers’ concern about terrorism abroad.  

“The allure of a Caribbean cruise is undeniable for millions of Americans. However, what’s truly impressive is the tremendous growth, over the past 24 months, in Alaska cruises. Consumer demand has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said John Lovell, President of Travel Leaders Network and Leisure Group.

8. Mexican Riviera and Hawaii (tied for 8

Click to the next page for the most popular Mediterranean cruise 

Despite Americans’ uncertainty about traveling in Europe, it’s interesting to note that three of the top 10 cruise destinations booked by Travel Leaders’ agents are in Europe. Some 84.5 percent of the travel agents polled indicated that their 2017 Mediterranean bookings were even or higher than the same period in 2016.

Popular Mediterranean Cruise Itineraries    

Of 1,689 U.S. based Travel Leaders’ agents surveyed, 78.2 percent indicated that their 2017 European river cruise bookings were even or higher than the same period in 2016. Despite the launch of new river ships, cabins for river cruises book fast, especially since river vessels carry 100 to 150+ passengers, far fewer than the passengers on small ocean vessels. Consider booking soon for 2018 sailings on popular river itineraries and lines. 

Cruise vacations are booming, especially premium, luxury and river cruises. As a result, don't wait any longer to search for voyages for this summer. To get the cruise lines, ships, itineraries and cabins, you want, think about booking your 2018 sailings soon.

The Top Cruise Itineraries of 2017

	Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos made TripAdvisor's list, with it's sprawling, white sands and snorkeler-friendly reefs. Image source: Candyce H. Stapen

For sand and sea lovers, it’s always worth it to travel to a great beach. According to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2017, the best beach in the world is Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. If you don’t want to travel that far, you can savor Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida — a strand that the booking and travel site’s users rated as the top beach in the U.S.

Additional best beaches relatively near the U.S. are Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, and Eagle Beach in Aruba. More winners included La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, Spain; Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico; Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India; Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece; and Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. For work-weary urban dwellers, TripAdvisor’s beach list offers drool-worthy travel inspiration.

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 Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Three years in a row, TripAdvisor’s users voted the beaches on Fernando de Noronha, part of a 21-island archipelago off the coast of Brazil, as being among the best beaches in the world. Visitors come for the white sands as well as the good snorkeling and diving. TripAdvisor’s average nightly rate for nearby hotels is $248. In April, the least expensive month to visit, the average hotel rate drops to $190 per night. 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos: Grace Bay features 12 miles of sugar-white sands. Despite development in recent years, Provo offers a slow-paced beach getaway. The Princess Alexandra Marine National Park offshore rewards divers and snorkelers with schools of fish and myriad coral formations. TripAdvisor’s average nightly rate for nearby hotels is $712. In September, the least expensive month to visit, the average hotel rate drops to $492 per night.

Aruba: TripAdvisor’s users admire Eagle Beach’s white sands and turquoise waters. I would never put Eagle Beach on a best beach list because the sands are right next to a main road. Average nightly hotel rate is $399. In October, the least expensive month, rates drop to $301. 

Cayo Largo, Cuba: The apt name translates to Paradise Beach. The stretch of powder-white sands and typically calm waters is about three miles from the hotel zone. Average nightly hotel rate is $199. In June, the least expensive month, rates drop to $106. 

, Siesta Key, Florida: Siesta Beach’s fine, white, quartz sand stays relatively cool under your feet. Lifeguards and concessions make the beach family-friendly.  The average nightly hotel rate is $260. In September, the least expensive month, rates drop to $214.

Discover the top 10 beaches in the world, according to TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards. Only one beach, Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida was in the U.S. TripAdvisor rated Florida's Siesta Beach as the number one beach in the U.S. Brazil's Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, came in as the best beach in the world.

Discover the Best Beaches in the World

The airlines were evaluated across four catagories: price, convenience, headaches and extras.

The Points Guy, a site devoted to smart travel with an emphasis on airlines and frequent flyer programs, rated the 10 largest domestic airlines by analyzing government reports as well as by factoring in data from various organizations that compile airline—related statistics. Alaska Airlines flew to the top of the list as the best domestic airline in the U.S. and Spirit landed at the bottom as the worst airline, according to TPG’s study.

To reflect how most purchase seats — based on price and convenience — Points Guy relied on 10 criteria covering four broad categories: price, convenience, headaches and extras.

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Price covered airfare plus baggage and change fees. Convenience weighed the route network, on-time arrivals and cabin comfort. Headaches evaluated customer satisfaction, the percentage of lost baggage and the number of times passengers were involuntarily bumped. Extras focused on the frequent flyer program and each airline’s lounges.

The study analyzed the 10 largest airlines measured by the number of domestic passengers. The study kept Alaska and Virgin America, separate since they are still in the process of merging.

 Alaska placed in the top four of the airlines ranked for airfare, on-time arrivals, lost baggage, involuntary bumps, customer satisfaction and its frequent flyer program. Alaska’s small route network will no longer be a problem once the airline completes its merger with Virgin America.

 Even though United didn’t take the top spot in any of the survey’s categories, the survey reported United’s performance to be solid in many areas, including route network, cabin comfort, baggage, change fees and lounges.

 This airline ranked well for airfare, cabin comfort, lost baggage and involuntary bumps.

 JetBlue received good scores on baggage and change fees, cabin comfort and customer satisfaction, but received low marks for on-time arrivals and involuntary bumps.

 The survey ranked American in the middle. The airline had the largest route network but had poor scores for customer satisfaction, lost baggage and involuntary bumps.

Click to the next page to see domestic airlines six through 10.

 Despite having low baggage and change fees, Southwest’s sixth place ranking resulted from having “higher fares than most people realize,” as well as no premium class seats.

 Delta’s comparatively expensive tickets and “significant fees” weighed the airline down, pushing it into seventh place despite finishing in the top three for on-time arrivals, customer satisfaction, involuntary bumps, lounges and airline size.

 Despite being the most on-time airline in the study, Hawaiian came in with the smallest route network, relatively high fares, lounges only in Hawaii and a “middling” frequent flyer program.

 Although Frontier ranked second from the top for low-cost airfares, Frontier also came in second from the bottom in many of the same categories in which Spirit ranked last.

The low-cost carrier came in last for on-time arrivals, customer satisfaction, cabin comfort and its frequent flyer program and next to last for baggage and change fees. Spirit, however, ranked first for cheap airfare. 

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Find out which domestic airlines took off as winners and which ones were grounded as losers. The study compared airlines based on factors that included price, comfort, route size, involuntary bumping as well as baggage and change fees. Do low-cost carriers rate high and do airlines with pricier airfare rate low? 

The Best and Worst Domestic Airlines

Charleston, South Carolina, tops Travel & Leisure's reader poll of best cities to visit in the United States.

Travel & Leisure’s readers always put New York City and San Francisco on the magazine’s annual 

 for U.S. cities. In 2016, the latest awards, several Southern cities ranked high. The list of winners, the result of a vote by the magazine’s online readers, provides ample travel inspiration for spring or summer getaways. If you have  favorite getaway spots or best-loved hotels, vote for them through March 6, 2017, and maybe your special places will make 

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The combination of gracious, historic homes, trendy hotels, and award-winning Lowcountry cuisine make Charleston a popular destination. The city is within an hour or so of several popular beach locales.

Stroll the French Quarter, listen to New Orleans-style jazz, indulge in cuisine that ranges from Cajun and to fancy molecular meals.

Live oak trees draped with Spanish moss lace the streets that open to a series of green squares with benches and sometimes fountains. Visit historic houses and art museums and enjoy the city’s fine restaurants.

 Situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Santa Fe combines a scenic location, more than 200 art galleries, interesting museums as well as food that reflects a mix of Hispanic, Native American and other influences.

: Come for the city’s renowned country music, but stay to explore art museums and sample food from the ubiquitous barbeque, to hot (spicy hot) fried chicken and trendy fusion cuisine.

Click to the next page to see cities six through 10.

	San Francisco has traditionally been a favorite among Travel & Leisure readers.

Take kids to the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Science, tackle the steep hills with teens on a guided bike tour and relax in Golden Gate Park.

: Explore the city’s noted museums such as the Field, Museum of Science and Industry and the Shedd Aquarium. Take advantage of the warm weather by going on a street art hunt from Millennium Park.

Begin where you left off on your last trip to the Big Apple. That could mean visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the American Museum of Natural History as well as exploring the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the newest winery in Williamsburg.

: Choose from Austin’s eclectic mix of draws — the LBJ Presidential Library, tickets to the Long Center for the Performing Arts, cooling off at local swimming holes and visiting Texas Hill Country wineries.

: Explore the lavish Biltmore Estate, browse the River Arts District, and drive the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway to hiking spots.

Get travel inspiration for spring and summer getaways in the U.S. from Travel & Leisure's list of the World's Best Awards. Charleston, South Carolina, ended up among the top-ranked cities, as did several other Southern destinations. Find out where your favorite destinations landed on the list. 

Fly to Ireland for $65 one-way, or cruise the Mediterranean for a week, starting at $549. These are just two of the many spring and summer deals available if you book right away. Norwegian Air, a low-cost carrier celebrates 10 new trans-Atlantic routes from three U.S. airports with fares starting at $65 one-way. For cruises, the deep discounts come as part of Wave Season—a push to spur shipboard travel that goes on through February. 

Be sure to check out the deals and be aware of booking deadlines. As always with any reservation, especially deeply discounted fares, read the fine print, learn about any extra fees, and understand the cancellation policies. That said, February’s deals enable you to enjoy more travel for less money.

You can’t beat a one-way airline ticket to Europe for $65, including taxes. Flights take off starting June 15, 2017 from Hartford, Connecticut; Providence, Rhode Island; and Stewart International Airport, New York, located in Newburgh/New Windsor, about 60 miles north of Manhattan. The planes land in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. Booking availability started February 23, 2017. When the $65 seats are gone, the next batch of seats will sell for $99. Fares may increase after those tickets are reserved.

Explore the Mediterranean for a week, sailing roundtrip from either Barcelona or Rome on the 

 on select dates June through October. The 

 stops in Spain, Italy and France while the 

 visits Greece and Italy. Depending on the departure, rates start at $549, $749, or $849 per person. Taxes and fees are extra. Added bonus: unlimited drinks for two plus $75 to $150 onboard credit depending on the itinerary and dates. 

With Norwegian’s Summer Splash sale, choose up to five free offers plus receive up to $500 in onboard spending. More freebies come with longer cruises and more costly cabins. Choose unlimited open bar, three or four free specialty meals per person, free 250-minutes of Wi-Fi, a $50 shore excursion credit in each port and/or free sailing for your stateroom’s third and fourth guests (the latter is available on select sailings). 

Two weeks in Hawaii should make even the grumpiest grouch happy. Princess Cruises’s 15-day voyage aboard the 

, roundtrip from San Francisco to four ports in Hawaii—Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui--plus Ensenada Mexico, sails April 8, 2017 with fares from $1369 per person, and April 21, 2017, with fares from $1689 per person. Taxes, fees, and port expenses are extra. 

Princess also floats out sales on more destinations as part of its Anniversary sale. The line sweetens the voyages by offering up to $600 onboard spending credit plus free specialty dining. Read the fine print. Restrictions apply. Among the discounted voyages: the Norwegian fjords for 7 days aboard the 

, roundtrip from London, departing July 1, 2017, for fares from $1079 per person. 

Stretch your travel budget by taking advantage of airline and cruise deals. The deep discounts apply to spring and summer travel. The caveat: You must book almost immediately. The reward: a flight to Europe for $65 or a 7-day Mediterranean cruise for $549.

TripAdvisor users selected Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida, as the best beach in the United States.

Going to the beach is the classic American vacation. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida, rates as the top beach in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor, the travel planning and booking site.  The top strands win their places on the Travelers’ Choice Awards based on an analysis of the site’s user reviews. Florida dominates the list with seven out of the top 10 beaches.

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The list offers inspiration for those looking to book spring and summer trips. Be thoughtful, though. Some of the winners draw huge crowds of college students during spring break. TripAdvisor also lists the least expensive months to visit the top strands. Remember too that “least expensive” rarely translates to the best time to visit, often because of cool temperatures or rainy weather. To find your great beach, consider the Travelers’ Choice top picks.

Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Beaches in the U.S.

: Siesta Key gains fame for its fine white sand that is 99 percent quartz, resulting in sand that stays relatively cool under your feet. Least expensive month to visit: September. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging in September is $214.

TripAdvisor users like the beach for its daily cliff diving off of Black Rock. That may be fine for watching, but for actually sitting on the beach, I’ve always found Ka’anapali crowded and noisy.  Least expensive month to visit: May. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $376.

Golden sands combined with the availability of parasailing, stand-up paddle boarding and windsurfing make this beach a top choice. Least expensive month to visit: November. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $211.

 Situated on a barrier island, white sand Clearwater Beach extends for 2.5 miles. Least expensive month to visit: November. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $186.

Click to the next page to see beaches 5-10.

 There are 27-miles of beach that border the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. Least expensive month to visit: January. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $103.

 Along with white sand, the Hollywood Beach features a wide boardwalk, perfect for strolling.  Least expensive month to visit: September. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $172.

 Enjoy two beach experiences at one destination by visiting the sands along the Gulf and also along the Sound. Least expensive month to visit: January. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $140.

: TripAdvisor users like the beach’s variety of activities from fishing off the pier to playing in the splash park. Least expensive month to visit: January. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $138.

The nature reserve, a popular Honolulu destination, is known for its snorkeling.  Least expensive month to visit: April. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $307.

Popular Ocean City Beach features 10-miles of sands, a boardwalk and offers free concerts, movies, beach games or other activities several nights a week in summer. Least expensive month to visit: November. Average TripAdvisor nightly lodging then is $109. 

Discover the top 10 beaches in the U.S. according to TripAdvisor. The booking site recently released its Travelers' Choice Awards for beaches. Florida features seven of the winners, Hawaii has two, and Maryland has one. 

The 10 Best Beaches in the U.S.

Linconln Center in New York City. A spring trip to the Big Apple just got a bit more affordable with Expedia's latest travel deals. Image source: Joe Buglewicz

Don’t let spring break catch you with your plans down. There’s still time to find deals on great vacations. 

, the online travel booking site, reports that San Francisco, Dubai, and San Juan, each show a 10 percent reduction in costs for last-minute spring break vacations this year compared to 2016.

The most popular spring break destinations for American travelers in 2017, according to Expedia.com, are, in order of popularity: Cancun, Orlando, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, London, Punta Cana, Phoenix and Paris. 

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Like many sites, Expedia.com, offers deals on spring break travel. The following sample packages give you an idea of the deals available now. The rates listed below are for lodging for six nights of lodging, April 10-16 at four-star or higher rated hotels. These rates were still available when this article was posted. Similar packages are likely to be available for the April 10-16 dates, as well as for other dates.

If you sign up to become an Expedia member, you may receive an additional 10 percent off many hotel rates. This may not apply to special deals. As always, with any deal, before booking: Read the fine print to learn about the conditions, the inclusions and exclusions, and the cancellation policies.

Families can find fun in Orlando at upmarket resorts near Walt Disney World. The following Expedia deals show per-person rates for six nights of lodging, hotel fees and taxes, plus economy roundtrip airfare from New York City for two adults and two children sharing a room:

· Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, from $1,447 per person.

· Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, from $746 per person.

Whether you gamble or not, Las Vegas delivers great entertainment, food and fine hotels. The following Expedia deals show per-person rates for six nights of lodging, hotel fees and taxes, plus roundtrip airfare from Chicago for two adults:

· Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, from $755 per person.

· The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, from $716 per person.

Explore the Big Apple’s museums, shops and neighborhoods. The following Expedia deals show per-person rates for six nights of lodging, hotel fees and taxes, plus roundtrip airfare from Dallas for two adults:

· Hilton Garden Inn Times Square, $887 per person.

Paris is especially alluring in the spring. The following Expedia deals show per-person rates for six nights of lodging, hotel fees and taxes, plus roundtrip airfare from New York City for two adults:

· Saint James Albany Paris Hotel Spa, $1,055 per person.

· L’Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe, $1,010 per person.

It's not too late to take advantage of great deals for spring travel. This spring, Cancun, Orlando, Las Vegas, New York and Paris are among the most popular destinations for Americans, according to Expedia. The travel booking site offers an array of spring travel package deals.