Hotel Breezebay Marina

The crowds and queues felt like the big city, complete with crying babies, which wasn't what I wanted on holiday. You have to plan everything well in advance and book through QR codes, so spontaneity isn't really an option. Breakfast started with a 20-minute queue at 6:30, and the rest of the morning didn't improve. Although there's a balcony, the AC compressor blows hot air at you, and you can hear babies crying from the pool. I wish I'd picked a smaller hotel nearer Hirara and gone snorkeling at the turtle beach. Definitely not worth the price.

My five-year-old loved the bunk bed, turtle and penguin plushies, play kitchen, crayon blackboard, and huge character cushions in the family room. My husband and I appreciated the space and large fridge, and the kids' room kept her busy for a while. The secluded beach on site was nice, with lots of tiny crabs, and there's free parking right across the street. Staff were really helpful too. We didn't have a Japanese number, and they kindly called a snorkeling rental place for us. Cleanliness needs work: the blue couch had stains, some room corners were dusty, the bathtub was cracked, and water didn't drain properly on the shower side. Breakfast was limited, and two of our three days had the same options. There was less variety than at its sister hotel Hot Cross Point, and the food wasn't nearly as tasty. With several buildings at Breezebay Marina, the breakfast area can get very crowded when large groups or tours are there. We'd love to come back if cleanliness improves.

The room facilities were the worst, along with the staff, aside from the hotel's location. It was uncomfortable to carry heavy suitcases through the hotel because of the long walk between the lobby and the new building, with stairs along the way. There was a wheelchair-accessible bathroom right in front of the stairs, which felt contradictory. I had booked two nights and paid on the site before arriving. At check-in, a short-haired male employee said the payment hadn't been confirmed and asked me to pay. Even though I showed the receipt and confirmation, my family and I had to explain the situation at the lobby for a long time after playing in the water, and we checked in feeling cold. The male employee eventually checked us in. At checkout two days later, another female employee repeated the same problem. I asked her to check with the male employee who had handled our check-in, but she only did things that frustrated me. Another female employee finally checked with the travel site and let us check out. I feel they had plenty of time to verify the payment during those two days. Being treated like someone who hadn't paid made me feel upset and stifled, and we nearly missed our flight because of this. They left for another place without a proper apology. It was the worst staff response and service I've experienced.

It's easy to find a parking spot, even late at night, and the lot is spacious. The hotel also has airport shuttles, so ask the staff for the schedule. They were friendly, responsive and professional, with English-speaking staff available. The rooms were clean and seem to all face the sea, with breathtaking views. The hotel keeps investing in renovations, so much of the infrastructure is brand new. The lobby, restaurant and pool areas are gorgeous, the amenities are all there, and the WiFi is amazing. Snorkeling at the hotel beach was good. Breakfast is well worth getting. Lunch was excellent quality and good value too, and the Italian restaurant is worth checking out. On a remote island, arranging meals can be difficult, so having these options here made things easy. I absolutely recommend it.