At Unique Boutique Travel we always do our research before making a booking. Our leisure travel is precious and we want to make sure we enjoy every aspect. That’s not to say we have never made a bad selection, there have been plenty. Those are the bookings you will never see on the Unique Boutique Travel website. We only ever recommend experiences that we would use ourselves. When it comes to booking a boutique hotel, we all have various factors that we consider important. It may be a gourmet restaurant, an infinity pool, a massive bath or an extensive pillow menu. Every boutique traveller will have a different thing that they classify as essential.
Note: the terms oceanview/front is interchangeable with waterview/front or beachview/front.
Oceanview
However, one thing that is sure to be on every boutique traveller’s checklist is an ocean view when you are on a beach holiday. We all want to be waking up to the sound of the waves and throwing open the curtains to see the glistening blue water and the white sands. But what if you cannot see the ocean? If you have ever booked a room that promises ‘ocean views’ and you arrive only to find that your ‘ocean view’ is a sliver of blue through the bathroom window you will understand the disappointment. It’s an unscrupulous marketing ploy commonly seen in the real estate industry, where a play on words promises something that is delivered in the barest sense. An example of an oceanview room was when we stayed at Jonah’s Restaurant & Accommodation, Sydney.
Oceanfront
An ‘ocean view’ simply means that you get at least a glimpse of a sea view from somewhere in the room. It means your view might be partially blocked by other buildings or perhaps you might need to lean out from your balcony to catch the faintest glimpse of sand or sea. An ‘ocean front’ room means that you will have the best possible ocean views from your windows and, if available, a balcony. Your room will be directly facing the oceanfront and as a result, expect to pay a premium for the view. If a hotel lists both an ‘ocean front’ room and an ‘ocean view’ room, you can be certain that the ‘ocean view’ will not be looking directly at the ocean. An example of a beachfront room was the suite we stayed in at the Domes Miramare, Corfu.
This is very important information to keep in mind next time you’re making a hotel booking. If it’s important to have a balcony facing the ocean head-on? You are more than likely going to have to a pay premium for the front of the hotel, as opposed to simply a view. If in doubt, call the hotel and explain your requirements to avoid disappointment on arrival.