Trying to decide which hotel room to book for your upcoming vacation can be overwhelming. With so many options available, it’s hard to know where to start. And on top of that, each hotel has its own unique way of describing the views from its rooms. How do you figure out how to decode hotel view descriptions?
Ocean view? Oceanfront? Mountain view? Tropical View? What exactly are you going to be getting?
In this blog post, we will decode some of the most common hotel view descriptions so you can make an informed decision when booking accommodations. After all, a beautiful view is one of the best parts of any vacation!
Ocean View vs. Oceanfront
One of the most common questions is: what’s the difference between an ocean view and an oceanfront room? It’s a valid question, and one that we are asked often.
An oceanfront room is on the beach side of the property with an unobstructed or limited obstruction view of the ocean. An ocean view room has a view of the ocean but may be located across a busy street or you may have to go outside onto your balcony to actually see it. It basically just means that you will have sight of the ocean at some place in your room or on your balcony.
Then what is a partial ocean view room? Another great question. This room type has sight of the ocean, but usually in an angled way. Meaning, you may see a tiny sliver of the ocean from your room, or there may be a lot of palm trees in the way as well. Either way, you will be able to see some blue from the ocean at some point from your room, but you won’t have a full ocean view.
If you’re looking for a room with a direct line of sight to the water, you’re going to want to book an oceanfront room. Otherwise, if you just want to be able to see the ocean from some point of your room, an ocean view room will do just fine. You could even luck out and book the ocean view room and have a perfect view of the ocean.
Decoding Hotel View Descriptions
Another common question is about rooms with mountain views, pool views, tropical views, garden views and city views. Which one is better?
As with most things in life, the answer is – it depends. Are you looking for a room with a relaxing view that you can enjoy while sipping your morning coffee? Or are you hoping to be within walking distance of the resorts amenities or nearby attractions? Or are you just looking for the lowest room category to save a little money?
Here’s a quick rundown of each type of view:
Mountain Views
Mountain views are great if you’re looking for a view of the local scenery. Many mountain resorts are located in remote areas away from the hustle and bustle of city life, so you can expect your mornings to be filled with breathtaking scenery and wildlife sightings.
However, you can find yourself with a wonderful mountain view in many Hawaii resorts as well. These rooms are often more affordable than the desirable ocean views.
Tropical & Garden Views
Tropical and Garden view rooms are usually offered as lower tiered rooms that tend to be more affordable. These rooms have a view of the greenery and vegetation around the resort. These room types are perfect for those that don’t plan to be in their room much except to sleep and shower. For those that like to venture outside of their resort and explore, this might be the best option for you to save a little money to spend on your adventures.
Pool Views
A pool view room is just that – a room with a view of the pool. If you like to people watch from your balcony and want to be close to the pool, this might be the best option for you. However, if you don’t like a lot of noise, you may not want this room type because you will most likely hear the noise from the pool. Especially if the resort has a lot of kids.
City Views
City views are perfect if you want to be close to all the action and you want to see a beautiful skyline lit up at night. Hotels in downtown areas often have these views at their hotels. Remember that city views in some cities often come at a premium price—so be prepared to pay a little extra for those panoramic skyline views.
What is Your Favorite Room Type?
No matter what type of view you’re hoping for on your next vacation, we hope this guide has helped demystify some of the hotel descriptions that can be kind of confusing. If you’d like even more inspiration, we found a great article by Forbes with 24 hotels that have the best views that you should check out.
Whether you want an unobstructed ocean view or a unique city view with easy access to attractions, Wanderland Escapes can help you find your perfect room with the view you desire. Contact us today to start planning!
