Okinawa Travel Forum

I am going to visit my friend who is a marine probably in January. I want to surprise him so I dont want to ask him this myself. Can someone tell me what hotels are closest to the marine base?? Thank you!!

Which base? There is Foster, Butler, Schwab, and Futenma just to name a few. Be a little more specific and I can help you better. If you check my pages, I have a few hotels listed that are near (walking distance) to Kadena, but your friend probably isn't stationed there. Just so you know, most of the hotels on Okinawa are tourist resort type and many are quite expensive. So give the base and I can help.

If you can't find affordable places to stay in the area, you may just have to let your friend know you wish to visit, In many cases the base will have at least a small number of rooms available for visitors. They probably would have to book the room for you, however. Gary

Out of curiousity, I took a quick look at some of the "housing" sites and "recreation" sites for the military on Okinawa. There are several places with lodging, the White Beach Naval Station Beach has cabins, and there is the Joint Services Recreation Facility at Okuna. There isn't much information to be had on the details of those places on the net though, for security reasons, I'm sure. As I said, the travel arrangements would be much easier if your friend made them. You would have to be a military ID Card holder, of some type, to reserve in the locations. Your friend might be able to help you with airfare as well. If you try to do things on your own, your "surprise" could be a very expensive one. If they book, there is also less of a chance they would be deployed somewhere, or on exercises, than if you come unexpectedly. Gary

I just left there and you would be in error. It would be very difficult for her friend to book her a room on a military installation without her being immediate family. Also, even if he could, her friend would have to sponsor her and be responsible for getting her a pass onto the installation. Your US passport won't cut it. I spent nearly 4 years there and based on her budget, I could get her something close..for the night anyway. I am sure her friend could make other arrangements for her after she arrives. One other thing, the fact that he books a room there won't prevent him from being deployed or involved in an exercise. However, it would be cheaper for him to buy a ticket there than it would be for her. I helped a few people get flights from as far away as Atlanta for about $700 round trip. You right though, if she isn't specific, it could get really expensive really fast.

As I said, I couldn't find much specific info on the recreation areas. I wasn't aware that they would actually be located ON the installation. In that part of the world, it would make sense though. My experiences with military recreation facilities was all in Europe, and over there, they were never located on military installations. I also understand that a visitor would not stop deployment or participation in an exercise. I apologize for my mis-information however. It certainly was not intentional. Gary

Gary, no big deal. No way you could have known. Incidentally, as much as I can remember, there aren't really any hotels near (walking distance) any of the Marine bases on Okinawa. If there are, they aren't any places you would want to stay more than a few hours...at least nothing affordable. The Eagle Lodge, Hamagawa Lodge and the Sunset Resort aren't far from Foster and Butler, but they will cost you. There are also places like the Lagoon Resort near Futenma, but it is expensive as well.

Then there is the question of transportation. Cabs can get quite expensive, for a rental car you need an international drivers license and I have never tried the bus system as I drive all over the place.
As Al asked; which base is your friend on.
BTW Gary, I went to the lodge in Garmisch the beginning of this year and I needed Military ID to get on although the lodge isn't on any base. Security is high all over and things might have changed since you visited.
Daniela

Dani, thank you for that information about Garmisch. I did indeed visit before the new facilities were constructed. Gary

Gary,
the new facility is just gorgeous. You should go and see it again, but then I just love the Alps since it's home for me.
Daniela

I didn't retire, so I can't stay there anyway. Now they fix it up, lol. I actually stayed in a German gastehaus the last few times I was down there. It was a lot quieter late at night. I've been contemplating whether I want to come back for the Passion Play in 2010, and then re-visit Bavaria, plus a bit more of Austria. Gary

Could there be any question?
Once I am back stateside I will take my husband to see it all. Throw in some northern Italy while you are at it.
Daniela