Hermit Hills Okimawa ~with COLORS~

The property itself had a lot going for it. The beach view matched the website photos, and the floor-to-ceiling windows made the room bright when the curtains were open. The floors were very clean, the kitchen was well equipped, and everything was supplied except seasonings, which we brought ourselves. Laundry detergent and toiletries were there too. The management, though, was terrible. We couldn’t get into the guesthouse at first because management sent incorrect information. They had given us two different sets of details, and it took us a while to figure out the mix-up. When I emailed, they didn’t spot their own mistake and told me to read the check-in instructions carefully. They apologized only after I explained what had gone wrong. The listing said the place could accommodate several people, but I didn’t find it suitable for a large group. There were four double beds for our five women, and no extra blanket. When we asked, they just replied that there were four double beds and everything provided was fine. That was surprising, and it would be a problem for anyone who needs their own blanket. The shower temperature kept changing, so we had to leave time between showers or the next person would get cold water. It might be less of an issue in July or August. During a typhoon, we also asked about the induction cookers because we’re not locals and didn’t know what to expect from power cuts. The reply was just a paper with essentially the same check-in instructions and no useful information. The power did go out during the day, but came back quickly, usually in 5-10 minutes, so the cookers shouldn’t have been affected. With no guidance, though, we didn’t prepare anything to cook and ate only dry food. There are graves at the entrance, which could frighten people who are sensitive to that. Given Okinawa’s geography and history, though, they’re something you may encounter while traveling there. We also couldn’t get online at all, despite previous travelers saying they could watch Netflix and YouTube. We tried for a while, then gave up. These are my experiences, shared because I hadn’t researched the place much beforehand.