1. Beaches where water quality ranks high and poor water quality is disclosed.

2. Specifications for why a beach is chosen. If it's popular with surfers, it may not be best for the first-time visitor and non-swimmer.

3. Information on accessibility. Some beaches are great--if you can find parking. And what about bathrooms? There are plenty of beaches that don't have them. It's a bummer for somebody who's gotta go!

4. Hours, fees for parking, cleanliness of the sand, and amenities such as bonfire rings, volleyball nets and kids playgrounds.

Beaches are like personalities. Some seem quiet and shy while others are busy, boisterous and even wild! The most fun exercise for those who know beaches or have written about them for decades is to read up on what others have to say. Often they make lists and declare the BEST BEACHES IN WORLD, the BEST BEACHES IN THE U.S. or the BEST BEACHES IN CALIFORNIA. One of the most famous for this is a guy who calls himself "Dr. Beach". A year or two ago he picked Coronado as the best beach anywhere, then ignored California completely this year. What's up with that?

Some travel publications and news publications have given up on the idea of providing criteria for their "best of" lists, possibly realizing that it's too much work (or perhaps it doesn't fit their advertising schedule.) It's alarming to read these lists and notice that the authors grabbed photos all over the Internet, never having actually visited the places they are raving about. Their descriptions sound like they were lifted from other sources in a mashup.

Tripadvisor and Yelp both have large sums of reviews to draw upon, and for them it's not difficult reporting on what the public prefers, based on the sheer numbers and review ratings. At least when they say a beach is a favorite, they can base it on user experiences, which is probably as good as it gets. Ultimately, only you can decide what the best beach is after you visit many of them and discover those that fit your personality and preferences. Happy hunting!