This resort is exactly what you expect from Mandarin Oriental, luxury has a price and those willing to spend will want to experience this resort. MO Sanya will not let you down. We booked a plunge pool pavilion but moved to a pool pavilion once we arrived. There are approximately 8 rooms sharing a private massive swimming pool. We never saw another person in our pool even though the resort was quite busy. The pool (adjacent to these suites) is not heated and a consideration you may want depending on the season you travel. There are other pool options on the resort such as the family pool, heated outdoor pool and adult pool.

I had read the TA reviews prior to booking regarding the wait for buggy times and could not help laughing every time I thought of them when we were on the resort. It takes less then 15 minutes for an able bodied person to walk from one end of the resort to another through gardens and manicured grounds. Those that complain of the wait time may enjoy www.whitepeopleproblems.us I used the golf cart service on day of departure for assistance with luggage.

The Mandarin Oriental colleagues could not be more gracious and accommodating. Bara in the all day dining restaurant could not stop smiling if she tried, nor would she allow us to leave without securing our dining reservation at “Fresh” the following day. If all business owners could have someone selling their product as passionately as her.

Go out of your way to find Itzel, a management trainee from Mexico who went out of her way to accommodate us and had coffee waiting for us at the front desk with a personal note when we departed at 5am. Itzel introduced us to Sen, the Sous Chef responsible for their outdoor grill and seafood restaurant. Sen put together a fantastic custom menu based on our tastes. Having people like this look over you during your stay made you feel like you were being treated as royalty where ever you went.

The level of English spoken by most front of house colleagues is excellent and better then most international properties that I have visited in China. I strongly recommend being on a breakfast plan. The buffet is very large, changed daily and included many live action stations such as fresh juices to order from the fruit station, a carving station that rotated through bbq pork, roast beef and Salmon. Eggs and noodle dishes made to order and pastries made in house. We opted for a late breakfast and napped through lunch in a day bed by the pool.

For the traveler wanting 3-5 days of R&R without wanting to leave the resort, MO is a perfect choice. I would not go to this resort to just to stay on the beach, it’s rough with pebbles and coral and not close to what you would find in say California, however it’s scenic and slip-on shoes are provided at the beach house. I’d recommend this place for anyone looking for rest with good food, good wine, great staff in a luxury surrounding.

I'm someone who has high expectation. Esp for something we pay 500usd per night.
I stay at the plunge pool ocean front pavillion. The two bedroom villa was fully booked, so we stay next to each other with my family.

The booking was really hard. They hardly reply to our email. Ask for special promotion, the credit for F+B is helpfull. We need to fax or email the front and back of our credit card for security.

People do complain about their english here, I know my english aint that good, but at least we still can communicate. And I don't find a problem at all. You can't expect them to speak fluently like the american does. They're chinese. But hey, their service and their politeness and the way they remember you, your room no, and the way they try their best to please you, I never get this in any other places before.

The plunge pool pavillion has two floor, and the one staying at our second floor was sooo noisy, we need to close our balcony door at all time.

Buggy call was slow since the resort is very big and they're always busy esp at night, so we always do a lil walk, but it is nice, the weather, the pathway is clean, so if one of the buggy pass by we just jump in.

Breakfast was not that much, but people says that's the best in sanya? Yet it is high quality. I like the fact they make their juice freshly one by one, grill the bacon one by one as well. Breakfast staff at pavillion was fantastic.

The food menu price is not expensive. I mean it is price for a hotel food. 70rmb for a noodle. 200rmb for steak, I find it reasonable. I know there's a hotel who charge 50usd for a fried rice, and 20usd for a normal iced tea.

I went to the yiyang restaurant for dinner, and the staff hardly speak english, which is ok, because at least they tried, but we don't like the way she pour the tea, crossing infront of our face to reach the others cup. She should consider move closer to the other and pour the tea. We find it rude. Esp its should be their fine dining chinese restaurant. Food was great.

We went to the moBar for wine for the 1st night, there was a philipino singer joining in, they were great. But it become like as if its their own party.

We also went to the sunset bar, where we ordered a bottle of wine and a mango juice, and it never appear. But someone who sat beside me who just came, get his mango juice first than me. Then I asked them for that. They then make their mistakes by serving us a hot chocolate marsmallow fondue, which is appreciated. It was a nice one.

The guest relation staff, choi from korea is really friendly and helpfull. And so jerry from reception. The two concierge guy. All the buggy staff was top notch. I feel like I'm treated equally here.

The spa, I don't go there, since they never have a lot of space and its always fully book. So I send my mom and my dad, let them enjoy the facility. They go for foot massage. My mom love it so much, she says, the best massage she ever get. And she wanted to go for the full bodied massage. (She didn't since we don't have much time)
My dad hate it so much, the masseur was having flu, and can't give a good preasure for the massage, so during the 1hr, all he says is "please press harder". And yet she's still fail. My dad think its a ripp off and he canceled the chinese healing medicine appointment for the next day. Though he really have a bad backache. So my advice is, ask for the senior masseur.

I went to yalong bay as one of my city tour trip. And it was looks like so cheapo beach full of wannabes. So I'm happy with dadonghai beach. Enjoy the resort, enjoy the guests activities that they made for the guests and the kids.

I really regret spending many of my time for travelling and sight seeing in sanya. I'd rather stay in the hotel, enjoy the food and the facilities.

The hotel location is close to the shopping area, close to the food stalls, and its fun. You can grab a taxi to get back to the hotel by one 8rmb.

I don't have any idea if I would come back to sanya, but to mandarin oriental sanya, they made me think twice.

If you'd like a resort with exquisite grounds where every 10 meters is a photo opp, has great food, wonderful rooms, multiple lovely pools and excellent service this is it. The hillside rooms, or sky villas if you'd like to get pricey, are the way to go- terrific views and a short walk through immaculately manicured grounds. The resort location certainly feels removed but is a reasonable walk, or complimentary shuttle ride, to Sanya. The breakfast buffet is outstanding. As other guests have noted there are better beaches and ocean swimming locations in Asia but what this resort offers more than makes up for it. We will definitely go back.

THis is actually in between 3 to 4 stars on the overall rating scale. The rooms are lovely- very big. Very nicely laid out with a very relaxed feel. Was there for a conference but it felt reasonably relaxed environment. This is China not Thailand or Cambodia, so don't expect stunning beaches- so the beach at Sanya is obviously a letdown. The Spa is lovely though- not cheap by any means- but deserves all the plaudits it gets. Definitely world-class spa (and I am a spa junkie). Food is decent- liked the breakfast. Service is what you would expect of a Mandarin- language barriers non-withstanding. All in all pretty good really- I generally like Mandarins, and this lives up to the standard. Wouldn't say that Sanya would be a first choice holiday destination for me given other choices in Asia- but not a bad place to spend a few days if you need somewhere within 90 minutes flight of HK.