Covid restrictions and a trip to remember
After two years of putting this trip off because of Covid restrictions it finally happened. And really it was a trip for the books. From beginning to end it was like a mini movie, a live action drama! Yes, I finally made it to Sanya.
Now many refer to Sanya as the Hawaii of China. It’s located on the island province of Hainan and is a major tourist destination for both expats like myself and locals. Compared to other places in the world I would say it’s still very much a developing area and has potential to be an even greater attraction. Nonetheless, it’s still a great city to visit and you really do feel like you’re on an island while there.
Sanya has various attractions to offer and a plethora of different areas to stay. When I was planning this trip it was so hard to decide where to stay. But really where you decide to stay is dependent on a few things: the attractions you want to see, your preferred environment to stay (either quiet and laid back or more hip and fast paced), your need for proximity to restaurants that offer foreign/western cuisine and whatever else that you want to incorporate into your stay.
I’ll break my trip down into what in my opinion are the most important aspects when planning a trip: where to stay, things to do, and the most important to me where to eat! I’m forever a foodie and my midsection is all the proof you need.
Ok let’s get on with it.
Where I stayed
Deciding where to stay when going to Sanya depends heavily on what you want to do and how important it is for you to stay close the sights/restaurants. There are various local and international hotels to choose from. After going back and forth for days, we decided to stay in two different areas the first being Yalong Bay. If you love the water and just want to relax and take in the sights, this is the area to stay. It has beautiful beaches with some of the best looking water I’ve seen in China, and an array of water actives that are offered on the beach. You can book water activities from your hotel or just go to the beach and book there. Hotels can be more on the higher end price wise, especially those close to the beach. But nevertheless there are some great guesthouses that are super cozy and won’t put a big dent in your bank account.
We chose to stay at this beautiful guesthouse, Rimuli Muli in Bohou Village. From beginning to end the stay here was welcoming and cozy. We arrived pretty late (after missing our flight) past midnight and there was someone there waiting to help us check in. Most of the staff didn’t speak English but they made sure the person checking us in spoke English.
The property is in a quiet area with a magnificent view of the mountains. The rooms differ slightly in size and views but all offer a very modern, comfortable and clean feel.
They also offer photoshoots on the property with three complimentary photos. The only downside was they didn’t offer breakfast. The Bohou Village had many other guesthouses and homestays so the variety is there for you to choose from. All of which are so close to the Yalong Bay Tropical Forest. For us we took a DiDi which cost about 10RMB, but there are also buses available. Rooms start from about RMB275 (about USD$40) upwards depending on the time of year.
We moved our to our next hotel, Wingate by Wyndham Sanya Luhuitou, located in the Dadonghai area. A little over 40 minutes from the airport but about 20-25 minutes from our previous stay in Yalong Bay.
Now if you’re looking for a location that is just about central to all you would like to explore, Dadonghai is it. Our hotel was located just below the Luhuitou Scenic Area. Once we got checked in to our ver spacious room we headed straight to take in the amazing views fromLuhuitou park. If you want to relax have a coffee or snack while looking over the expansive ocean view, this is the place to be.
Dadonghai has an array of different restaurants, bars, lounges and water activities. Wingate is located right in front the harbor. It’s the perfect location for those who enjoy nightlife activities. The hotel even offers a shuttle the Duty free mall. Wingate gives you the international hotel feel. With modern decor, clean and well kept rooms and grounds. Rooms can be booked with the inclusion of breakfast or you can opt out if you’d like to get breakfast outside the hotel. The breakfast buffet has both Chinese and western food options. I would recommend including breakfast, the food is good and it’s open until 12 noon. The staff is also very helpful and friendly. The hotel boasts a gym, convenience store, kiddie pool, water slide and laundry area. Rooms generally begin from about RMB600 (about USD$85) depending on if it’s either low or peak season.
Our room was very spacious. It came with a full bathroom with his and hers sinks, and also a half bath/makeup room. It also had a walk in closet, living room and a very spacious bedroom. We booked a room with a view of the harbor and it came with a fully furnished balcony that included a day bed and a coffee table and chairs. The balcony could be accessed from both the living room and the bedroom.
Other places to mention that are popular are: Sanya Bay, which is said to have nice beaches for swimming and both luxury and affordable hotels. It’s suitable for people who want pursue longer stays in Sanya. There are lots of restaurants that gives the optimum convenience both food and affordable accommodation. Haitang Bay is also a very popular area to stay while in Sanya. It’s roughly about 45-50 minutes away from the airport. This area has numerous luxury beachfront hotels. With clean beautiful beaches. It’s not as crowded as other areas because it’s further out from the city area. Haitang is where the famous Atlantis Hotel is located. This area is perfect for travelers who want to relax in their hotels and enjoy great duty free shopping!
Stay tuned for part two of this blog, where I’ll dive into food options that will satiate your appetite and probably yearning to order up something yummy! So stick with me and let’s see where to next.
Renee, where to next? 
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