The Busena Terrace

We found the garden-view room calm and quiet, with plenty of space and a comfortable feel. The room was clean, the amenities were excellent, and breakfast was enjoyable. The staff were attentive and wonderful throughout our stay, and the whole place felt properly luxurious and relaxing.

The grounds are well kept, and the rooms look clean and modern, so the hotel makes a good first impression. Staff are very friendly, though many speak little or no English, which can make things difficult for international guests. Breakfast is a hassle at times. Several restaurants serve it, but only one has a Western buffet, and it gets so crowded that guests often have to wait. The buffet itself is good quality, but it’s the same each day, so after two or three days you’ve seen it all. There are other hotel restaurants, though they’re very expensive. A little more buffet variety or cheaper options would help. The pool schedule was especially frustrating. It’s open only from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closes from 2 to 3 p.m., when the sun is strongest, for supposed maintenance. I never saw any work being done, so the rule felt arbitrary and annoying. It’s a solid hotel, with good food and friendly staff, but there are clear problems with food variety, organization, English communication, and the breakfast crowd.

We really liked the setting, the location, and the rooms. They’re spacious and comfortable, and the buffet was a highlight, with plenty of fresh, varied food. The hotel also looks beautiful and luxurious from the outside. Still, the high price made some of the problems harder to overlook. English communication was sometimes difficult and led to misunderstandings when we ordered food. Many facilities were closed during our stay, including most of the restaurants. The few that were open apart from the buffet felt expensive for the quality. The outdoor pool only ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a daily “maintenance” closure at 3 p.m., which was quite restrictive. It would help if the hotel explained ahead of time which restaurants and facilities would be available, so guests could plan. More staff able to communicate in English would also make things smoother for international travelers. We appreciated the beautiful surroundings and comfortable rooms, and feel improvements to communication and availability would help the hotel live up to its luxurious image.

The buffet was outstanding, a 10/10. Busena Terrace has been the best hotel we’ve stayed at in Okinawa so far. The staff were incredible, especially Ali-san, who was so accommodating.