When booking a beach vacation, one of the most common questions I get asked is “I will see the ocean, right??”

It’s a great question—and an important one. Resort room categories can be very confusing and are surrounded by some fabulous marketing language. To help set clear expectations (and avoid surprises once you’re on your vaca), here’s a simple breakdown of the most common ocean-related room views.

Oceanfront

The best view—and typically the most expensive.

An oceanfront (or sometimes called beachfront) room faces directly toward the ocean. When you look out your window or step onto your balcony, the ocean is right in front of you, offering the most direct and unobstructed view possible.

That said, oceanfront does not always mean you are steps from the beach. Depending on the resort’s layout, the room may be elevated or set back slightly—but it will still face the ocean head-on.

The featured image above is an Ocean Front room at Nickelodeon Resort in Cancun.

Ocean View

You will see the ocean—but not necessarily straight ahead.

An ocean view room means the ocean is visible from the room, but the view may be:

• To the left or right of your balcony
• Seen over gardens, foliage, or resort landscaping
• Partially obstructed by buildings or trees or behind the pool

You’ll still enjoy a view of the ocean, but it may not be the main focal point when you walk into the room.

The below image is an Ocean View room at The Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West.

Partial Ocean View

A glimpse of the ocean—sometimes a very very small one.

A partial ocean view means you may see a sliver of the ocean, and in some cases, you might need to lean over your balcony to catch it. These rooms are often positioned at angles where the ocean is visible only from certain spots.

Is there anyway to control this?

In most cases, not really. Hotels and resorts are entirely in control of:

• Room descriptions
• Room locations
• Which specific room is assigned at check-in

I can request room categories (and even request to be on a high floor or near a friend), but I cannot control the exact placement of your room within the resort. This is why setting expectations upfront is so important.

If having a specific type of view is a top priority for your vacation, I’m always happy to talk through the best options to match your budget and expectations.