Smile Hotel Okinawa Naha

This morning the woman at the counter helped me track down my lost bag, and her English was perfect. Thanks to her, I got it back. It’s nice to find a hotel that still has a real reception and staff who are good at their jobs. So many hotels feel cold now, with check-in and checkout done only through machines.

The service was excellent throughout. I was booking from overseas and needed to change my reservations, but for some reason I couldn’t do it online. Staff replied to my email right away and were very helpful. We stayed before and after our Kerama Islands tour, and when we asked for the same corner room the second time, they managed to give it to us again. They even took our bags up to the room when we dropped them off before check-in. It’s right by the ferry terminal, relatively quiet, reasonably priced, and breakfast was good. The rooms are a little tired, but have all the amenities, including separate taps for the bath and sink. For a Japanese business hotel, the service and location make this five stars. Highly recommended if you’re taking the ferry to the islands.

The room, bed, bathroom, and breakfast were all okay. What didn’t work for me was the reception staff. I asked several times about getting a taxi to the airport and never got a clear answer. Eventually I got frustrated and booked another hotel for my last night before leaving.

I was satisfied with my stay. It’s no five-star luxury resort, of course, but the price was very good, the staff were nice and cooperative, and the rooms were surprisingly quiet. Breakfast was good too.