We arrived at the hotel by taxi and were awaited by the hotels concierges. They took our bags while we proceeded to check-in. Always take a meter taxi and not the guys that prompt you into their cars, they are ALWAYS more expensive. The hotel is huge featuring around 1000 rooms while we were there the hotel was only at 25% capacity I think.
The reception desk was staffed by atleast 10. They however had some troubles finding our reservations though it should not have been hard to find under our family names..
Anyway we checked in into our deluxe seaview room on the 9th floor. The rooms are large clean and spacious and are equipped with all the amenities you might need including an ethernet cable for the free internet. Free wifi is available in the lobby.
The airconditioning works well (if you manage to figure out the Chinese remote control ;))
We requested a king bed which sleeps very well, it had a hard matress which I've liked alot.
There is hardly any noise from outside eventhough we were located streetside.
The hotel has one large indoor pool which is heated and several outdoor pools. Note however should the hotel be full of non chinese guests (which I think will not be the case very often) there could be a shortage of sun loungers.
The staff at the pool and poolbar hardly speak any English so if you have any other question other than the normal ones you'll have a hard time getting an answer from them. It has to be said though all the staff are VERY helpful and will do their utmost to help you.
Everything is kept clean and immaculate including the many trees and other various plants on the domain.
Drinks are priced okay at the pool but it's much cheaper to buy them at a supermarket or at the small store outside the hotel.
The breakfast starts early enough and ends SHARP at 10.30, don't bother coming later because all the food will be gone. Anyway 10.30 is a nice time to close so just come earlier!
The breakfast has both Chinese and Western options and varies during the week.
We did one hotel restaurant Kwok Heung Kok I believe which is also reasonably priced and has some good options though when it's calm in the hotel they might not have everything you need.
Finding places to eat in walking distance of the hotel is difficult except if you like street bbq's and shady places.
Take a cheap taxi (not the njam njam ladies on their mopeds, you'll know when you get there) and ask them to go to Jiefang Lu which is a big shopping street with supermarkets and others. Always use the meter you'll come out more expensive if you arrange a price.
While you are driving there there is one other big street on the left hand side of this street after a while you'll see other seafood restaurants. Keep going a bit further and there you will see more Western/American style restaurant buildings the food however is 100% Chinese but the quality is superb and cheap! Don't bother asking the concierges where to go they don't have a clue. The one we ate at most of the time was a stylish restaurant with dark yellow neon lights, you'll notice it when you drive by.
If you like good seafood at a good price go to the Chunyuan Seafood Plaza just behind Jiefang Lu. You can select the fish you want and then take them to a small stand to prepare everything for also a cheap price! You will pay a fixed price per type of fish you bring in. We had around 7 kinds and did not pay more than 69 RMB to prepare everything.
Back to the hotel the check-out was flawless and we left satisfied.
If you like the hustle and bustle China can bring you definately stay in a hotel in Sanya bay, if you like to stay in your hotel the whole time take a hotel at Yalong Bay (be aware there is litterly NOTHING to see/do in Yalong bay except for the three restaurants that are extremely overpriced). Yalong bay features more upscale hotels too but you'll pay the price.
If you need a city map the concierge desk has them, just ask one.
If you have more questions or want to know the exact names of the restaurants we went too message me please.
- Howard Johnson Sanya
