How To Tell If a Hotel Is Truly Beachfront (Not Just ‘Near the Beach’) Before You Book
Written by
John Csiszar
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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When it comes to lodging, the simple word “beachfront” really sells. That’s why so many hotels use that descriptor in their names. But the reality is that many places that claim to be beachfront are anything but. Some are across busy highways, others have obstacles blocking any beach views and some are even 1,000 feet down a road.
Since most destinations don’t have any legal restrictions on the use of the term “beachfront,” it’s up to you to confirm what you’re really booking. Otherwise, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment on your vacation.
Here’s how to tell if a property is genuinely beachfront and if it’s actually worth the premium you pay to stay there.
Also see six beach vacations that need to be on every middle-class retiree’s bucket list.
Be Aware That ‘Beachfront’ Might Not Mean What You Think It Should
In a perfect world, there would be an industry-standard list of definitions for types of lodgings:
- Beachfront should literally mean “on the sand,” with immediate access to the beach and nothing but perhaps trees and chaise lounges between the property and the water.
- Oceanfront should mean facing the ocean but not necessarily directly on the sand. For example, there could be green areas or a pool between a lodging and the actual sand.
- Oceanview or beachview should mean that there is line of sight to the ocean or beach, but the view might be only from a balcony, a rooftop or some other line-of-sight.
Major resort brands openly acknowledge these distinctions. For example, Sandals Resorts explains the differences between beachfront, oceanfront and ocean-view accommodations on its website.
As hotel operators understand that “beachfront” is generally the most desirable description available, many may use it even if its rooms don’t fit this standard description. That’s why it’s important for you as a traveler to do a bit of your own legwork.
Leverage the Strengths of Google Maps
Hotel photos on booking sites are designed to sell, not necessarily to inform. To confirm the real proximity to the beach, a good strategy is to open the hotel address in Google Maps and switch to satellite view or street view. This way, you’re looking at actual photographs of the lodging and its location, not relying on sites that are ultimately just marketing.
When you use Google Maps in this way, you can immediately see a few things:
- How close the building actually is to the sand
- Whether a road, boardwalk or promenade separates the hotel from the beach
- Whether reaching the beach requires crossing traffic or walking over public access points.
The only caveat here is that Google Maps does not update in real time. It’s possible that certain characteristics of a lodging have changed since Google was last in the area, so whenever possible, you’ll want to verify what you find with a secondary source.
Read Firsthand Traveler Reviews Critically
Photos taken by actual travelers can be a great source of information regarding what a lodging actually looks like. However, as with the pictures on a hotel or booking website, it pays to “trust but verify.”
For popular lodgings, you can likely find tens or even hundreds of photos online. Overall, there should be considerable overlap in the photos because travelers tend to take pictures of similar, standout features. Those are the ones that you can likely take at face value, as they have been cross-referenced by multiple different reviewers. But if a review claims a hotel is “the best ever” and posts pictures of an idyllic beachfront that others do not, you can likely dismiss it.
Another good tip is to scan reviews for phrases that give real-world information about a lodging, rather than marketing copy. When researching a supposedly “beachfront” location, for example, keep your eyes open for these types of descriptions:
- “Direct beach access”
- “Beach right in front”
- “View of beach from balcony”
- “Road between building and sand.”
These types of descriptions can be worth their weight in gold when it comes to assessing the true nature of a property.
Contact a Property Directly
When in doubt, a quick call or email directly to a hotel can help clarify exactly what you should expect. Here are some of the specific questions you might want to ask:
- Is there anything between the property and the sand, like a road or public walkway?
- Is beach access private or public?
- Which room categories actually touch the sand?
If a hotel is in any way evasive, consider that a red flag.
Consider When ‘Beach-Adjacent’ May Make Sense
True beachfront properties are limited in supply and typically command significantly higher nightly rates. A hotel a block or two away from the water, or even at the back of a large, beachfront lodging, can be considerably less expensive. In some cases, they may even offer better amenities, as beachfront rooms are always in demand and typically fully booked.
If you plan to spend most of your time exploring, dining out or on excursions, “beach-adjacent” can be a smart compromise. For many travelers, it’s enough that the sand and surf are within a pleasant walk.
The Bottom Line
“Beachfront” sells the dream, but it doesn’t always deliver it. By verifying a hotel’s location with maps, reviews and direct questions, you can avoid overpaying for a label that doesn’t match reality.
In many cases, a beach-adjacent hotel offers better value with only a minor trade-off in convenience. The smartest booking isn’t about the word used in the listing. It’s about what’s actually between you and the sand.
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