Hot Cross Point SANTA MONICA

The private beach beside the parking area was lovely. It's small, but quiet, with fish visible in the clear water. I stayed on the first floor and didn't see any insects. There were plenty of washing machines, and without a rental car I found the shuttle, tuk-tuk and airport shuttle services very useful. Taxis were easy to get through the DiDi app, too. Ms. Nakamoto's warm smile made a real impression on me, and Mr. Yang was so kind, friendly and helpful. Thank you both. Breakfast had a great selection, though it was a little disappointing that the restaurant wasn't open for lunch or dinner. At the front desk you could buy ramen, alcohol and coffee, and a bit more variety there would be nice. It was a comfortable and pleasant stay.

The shuttle made it easy to get around the nearby group of hotels and restaurants. We tried several restaurants, and while they weren't cheap by Japanese standards, the food and service were amazing. The schedule was comprehensive and ran until after dinner. This isn't right by the island's main beaches, but a straightforward 15-minute drive takes you to the famous Miyako Blue beaches. There's a huge parking lot, so finding a space for our rental car was easy. The hotel was modern and spacious, including the bathroom, and the breakfast was as good as many five-star hotel breakfasts around the world. We also had fun at the delicious Halloween buffet dinner. A great hotel for a three-star, and definitely somewhere we'd return when we're back in Miyakojima.

Getting around was simple even though we didn't drive. The resort shuttle serves the area, there are restaurants at different price points, and there's also a bus to and from the airport. A free onsen pass was included, and the onsen is about a three-minute walk away. I recommend going at the end of the day. Our room was clean, with a very good bathroom and a clear ocean view, even though it wasn't one of the best rooms. The morning buffet had lots of choices, including Okinawan and international food.

The breakfast was good, and the rooms seem to have been renovated recently, though they're small. The beds were hard but okay. Still, I wouldn't stay here again. The hotel is quite old and I feel it misrepresents the beach. You can see a bit of ocean, but there's no beach, only sharp lava flows. The worst problem was the sewage smell in the hallway. Some days it was unbearable and seeped into the room. The staff knew about it but did nothing.