There are many categories of rooms and they can be very misleading.  Here are a few descriptions.
1.“Oceanfront” means that the room  is fronting the ocean while “ocean view” means that the room has a view of the ocean whether a clear one or not.
2.Oceanfront rooms are usually more expensive and offer a better view while ocean view rooms are less expensive and usually only a small view of the ocean.
3.Both “oceanfront” and “ocean view” are terms used to market the establishment and, while they may be true to their words, sometimes the rooms might just show a limited view of the ocean.
4.Oceanfront and ocean view do not necessarily mean that you have direct access to the sea or the beach; only that you can see the ocean from your room.
5. Ocean Access means that you have direct access to the beach.
6. Swim-Up Suites. The pool is connected to your patio
7. Club Level Suites with private check-in, personalized concierges services, spa discounts and access to the exclusive Club Level Lounge with premium drinks, appetizers, and table games.
8.  Suites are usually a bedroom and separate living room.
9.  Jr. Suites are a bedroom and living area combined.
10. Partial Ocean View lets you see only a small section of the ocean.

An ocean view room is one wherein the ocean may be visible but there are many obstructions to the view. It is a term used by most establishments as a marketing strategy.
It may not be as expensive as an oceanfront room, but if you are lucky, you might find yourself in a room with an unhindered view of the ocean.
Rooms located on the second and third floor offer better views of the ocean than those that are located on the first floor. Once you have arrived at your room and you are not satisfied with the view, you can always ask to be transferred to another room, preferably one with a better view.
Oceanfront rooms offer a better view of the ocean than ocean view rooms. It is still better to ask about what the resort can offer before committing because these terms can be misleading. While the room may be fronting the ocean, you might not have a direct passage towards the beach.
If you are inquiring online about these rooms, choose those that have pictures showing the room’s features not just on the inside but also its surroundings. Don’t hesitate to ask before you decide to rent one.


If you need help booking your next beach trip, call Peterson Travel Pros.  612-559-6545.

Take steps to protect yourself from the dry air on board the plane. The air in a plane is very dry and may dehydrate your system.

• Drink lots of water. Although you can request water from your flight attendants, it is a good idea to bring plenty of water on board with you. You may either purchase bottled water once you pass security or bring an empty bottle with you to fill from a water fountain. Remember that you should never drink the water from airplane bathrooms; it may contain bacteria.
• Use eye drops (eye drops may now be carried through security) whenever your eyes feel dry. If you are really uncomfortable, don't hesitate to inform cabin crew.
• Consider saline nasal gel if your nostrils feel uncomfortable breathing dry air. Saline nasal gel, which can usually be found near the saline nasal wash at a drugstore, can help keep the inside of your nose moist and make breathing more comfortable. Apply in the restroom and wash your hands before and after. You can put it on a cotton swab and coat the inner 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of your nasal passages. It may seem gross, but it really works for preventing your nose from painfully drying out.
• Bring lip balm in a 3 oz or smaller container and use it to protect your lips from becoming painfully dry. Bring a small container of hand lotion or cocoa butter if your skin dries easily.

Smartphones are very capable.  But to maximize potential, you need to familiarize yourself with it.  Lots of people capture photos with the native IOS Camera app.  It is the quickest camera app, because it’s right on the lock screen.  This allows you to capture precious, short-lived moments before anyone can even turn on their fancy camera.

A few tricks:

• Panorama lets you capture wide vast scenery and landscape
  
  
• Burst mode allows for photographing action continuously and quickly.  To do this, start holding down the shutter button a little before the action takes place.
  
  
• Tap and hold on the screen to lock focus and exposure, then slide your finger on the screen to further set exposure to achieve your desired brightness.
  
  
• Use the volume button on the side of the phone (Or on the headset) as a shutter release to minimize shaking and avoid blurry photos.
  
  
• Turn on flash when photographing people in daylight – so their faces don’t look too dark.
  
  
• Play with the lines, the curves, the perspectives; you will have crazy pictures with it.
  
  
• Don’t be afraid to use third party apps.  Most professionals tweak their photos to make a good shot great.  There are several apps out there, but two favorites are PS Express and Snapseed.
  
  
• Focus on focus.  Touch your screen to focus your subject.  The closer you are to your subject, the more depth of field you will get when focusing.  This creates a blurry background while your focus point remains sharp.
  
  
• Lighting is key.  Whenever possible shoot during early morning or evening as the light is softer.  It can also be an opportunity to create silhouettes.
  
  
• Frame your subject using objects such as leaves or branches.
  
  
• Play with the elements of nature.  Clouds, birds, and sun rays are good elements to play with.  Take pictures of reflections in the water.
  
  
• Timing is everything.  For the most dramatic scenery, try snapping when the sun is low. 
  
  
• Respect the rule of thirds.  Your phone a grid to help you.
  
  
• Be aware of what’s in your frame..  When shooting landscapes, try to show depth by including something in the shot that helps show scale.
  
  
• Clean the lens.  Your pictures will be sharper.
  
  
• Take the photo horizontally.  Crop it in square format directly on Instagram.
  
  

Travel and Leisure

By Lindsey Campbell September 1, 2015

Hotels in the Caribbean are faced with a clean-up of Sargassum.  We visited the Riviera Maya last year and the problem was evident.  Large masses of seaweed washed on shore daily.  Hotel crews had a daily ritual of burying the unsightly seaweed. 

On Barbados’ east coast, hotels are providing complimentary transportation to west coast beaches for the day.Sandals, which recently opened its Barbados resort on the island’s south coast, cleans its beach every morning. Because of this effort, operations are running normally, with the beach open and all watersports activities uninterrupted.

Sargassum is a nonissue for Sandals’ resorts in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Antigua.

Martinique’s Atlantic coast has been hard hit. The island’s Regional Council has spent $2.2 million on sargassum cleanup, and over 100 volunteers work with public works staff to clear affected areas.
http://www.PetersonTravelPros.com

With the Expedia and Orbitz consolidating and potentially tightening their hold on travel bookings, major hotel chains are offering a host of benefits to lure travelers to book with them directly: digital check-in, free meals, Wi-Fi and even the ability to choose a specific room.

Hotels want to be in direct communication with their guests. Hilton has introduced a number of services for guests who book directly, including a digital check-in option that eliminates waiting in line.

Hilton also offers direct-booking guests the ability to choose their exact room, a feature similar to an airplane’s seat-map function. The guest can see the plan of each floor and click on the room they want

Loyalty programs also help steer consumers toward booking directly with hotels, with rewards points and “elite” level benefits like concierge lounges, free meals and upgrades. People book directly just to get their rewards points, which they don’t get if they book with an online site.
http:/www.PetersonTravelPros.com

Don't get left behind in port – When the captain says that the ship is leaving port at 5:00, he means it. He isn’t going to wait around for those that lost track of time.  

If you get left behind in port, you are responsible for your own transportation to the next port or back home.  The costs can be several thousand dollars each and will be even more complicated if you are traveling without a passport.

Our advice?  Plan on arriving back near the ship 1 1/2 to 2 hours before you are scheduled to leave.  This not only gives you some time to shop in the port area, but also gives you plenty of leeway if you run into traffic or your taxi or bus has a breakdown on the way back.