ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort by IHG

Look, I’ve stayed at a lot of resorts in Okinawa, and honestly? The ANA InterContinental Manza Beach gets a lot of things right that other places miss. First thing you notice pulling up to the Serakaki location – and this is key – you’re not fighting for space with a dozen other massive hotels. The property sits on this gorgeous stretch of coast where you can actually see the famous Manza-mo cliff formations without squinting through crowds of tourists.

The rooms are what you’d expect from a five-star place, but here’s what I appreciated: they didn’t go overboard with the “tropical paradise” theme that makes some Okinawan resorts feel like theme parks. Clean lines, those floor-to-ceiling windows that actually open (rare these days), and the AC works perfectly – which, trust me, matters when you’re dealing with Okinawan humidity in summer. The beach access is genuinely private, not the kind where you’re stepping over other hotel guests from three different properties. Water’s that incredible Okinawan blue-green, and the snorkeling right off the shore is surprisingly good. I saw more fish in an hour here than I did on some of the paid excursions from Naha.

What really sets this place apart though is the staff – they seem to actually know the area instead of just reciting scripts. The concierge pointed me toward this little Okinawan soba place about ten minutes inland that I never would’ve found otherwise. And the timing advice was spot-on; she told me exactly when to hit the outdoor pools to avoid the afternoon rush and when the resort shuttles run to the nearby shopping areas. The food’s solid too – the breakfast spread includes proper Okinawan specialties alongside the usual international options, and their taco rice is actually decent (which is saying something, since Okinawans basically invented the dish). One small thing that bugged me: the Wi-Fi gets spotty in some of the beachfront areas, so if you’re planning to work remotely, stick to the main building. But honestly, if you’re checking emails while looking at that view, you’re doing Okinawa wrong anyway. The 8.0 rating feels about right – it’s genuinely luxurious without being stuffy, and the location gives you that secluded resort feeling while still being close enough to explore the rest of Onna village and the northern part of the island.