Banyan Tree Sanya

I've stayed here twice. Such a beautiful place, with a private yard and pool!

The Banyan Tree Sanya Resort & Spa has the look of a five-star resort, but in many ways it doesn't operate like one. I've traveled for years, visited numerous countries, and stayed in well over 100 places, from boutique hotels to international luxury resorts, so the shortcomings here were clear to me. The grounds are clean, the location is good, and the staff are friendly and helpful. At this price, though, those are the basics. The bigger issue is that communication and technology aren't working properly. English skills were practically nonexistent. I found one employee across the whole resort who could communicate clearly; otherwise, it was translation apps, misunderstandings, and a lot of patience. As a guest, you're left to figure things out on your own, with no clear introduction, useful information, or orientation. Even trying to arrange things became a struggle. The spa is there, but it's unclear how to book it. Information is missing, communication breaks down, and the organizational and technical processes don't run smoothly. Instead of relaxing, you have to piece everything together yourself. The comparison with the brand is striking. At Banyan Tree Phuket, Laguna Phuket Thailand, everything works at the highest international level. Here, it feels like a completely different hotel under the same name. Friendly staff and lovely grounds can't make up for the communication, organization, and technology problems. For an international luxury brand, that is disappointing and simply inadequate. More facade than substance. ⭐⭐☆☆☆

The villas with pools are great, and Xiao Dadonghai Bay is quiet and peaceful, without many people around. The beach was calm too, although the water had a lot of seaweed.

Even with rain and severe weather expected, I was already happy on my first day. The airport transfer was provided despite Typhoon Yagi being forecast, which was a relief since I don't know how we'd have found a taxi if nothing was working. We were met, offered coconut milk on the way, given dinner after check-in, and then warm milk for the night. They drive us around everywhere in cars. The room is huge, with a separate kitchen and sitting area. There are lots of comfortable slippers and toiletries, plus a souvenir turtle. Breakfast runs until 1 PM, which is amazing after a long flight when you want to sleep in. There's still time to eat, and the selection is big: soups, rice, noodles, snacks, fruit, teas, and juices.