Let’s talk about room categories and the ocean, because this is one of the biggest sources of vacation disappointment I see, and it’s almost always avoidable if you know what to ask before you book.
The three main categories to know
Partial ocean view
You may catch a sliver of the ocean, sometimes you’ll even need to lean over the balcony just to see it. This is the most limited of the ocean categories, and the name can be a little generous depending on the resort.
Ocean view
A more direct view of the ocean than partial, though it can still be partially blocked by foliage, landscaping, or a building in front of you. Better than partial, but still not guaranteed to be a clean, unobstructed view.
Oceanfront
Fully facing the ocean, with the most direct and unobstructed view of the three. Here’s the catch though: oceanfront does not automatically mean the room is right in front of the beach. You can have a fully unobstructed ocean view from a room that’s still a walk from the sand.
Why this trips people up
Here’s the important part: hotels are in full control of how they categorize and describe their own rooms, and unfortunately, that’s not something I can control either. Two resorts can use the exact same category name and mean two very different things by it.
This is exactly why it matters to have someone who has actually seen these rooms, or who knows which resorts categorize generously versus which ones are dead accurate, before you book based on the category name alone.
Have you ever booked a room with a specific view and ended up with something totally different than what you pictured? You are far from the only one. It happens more than people realize, and it’s one of the easiest things to avoid with the right guidance going in.
Want to make sure your view actually matches what you’re picturing? Grab 30 minutes with me and let’s pick the right room, not just the right sounding one: https://meliatravelco.com/calendar
Want to learn more about all-inclusives and finding the right resort? Check out my blog post for more info.