Holiday Inn Resort Sanya Bay by IHG

The room was comfortable, and the view from our pool-view room was great. I expected less, so the stay turned out pleasantly. The hotel is near the airport, though it doesn't seem to have a shuttle. Still, we had a very nice stay.

Our room was cool, and breakfast was okay. The trouble was the construction site outside: banging and digging from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, weekends included. I asked reception to move us, but they were full. They offered another room near the end of our stay, when switching no longer made sense. We were there in early January.

The hotel isn't especially luxurious, and the decor feels a bit dated, but everything is well cared for. The pool was a highlight: large, spotless, with lovely warm water and no sand or debris underfoot. In the evening, you could see staff cleaning and topping it up, and they also had a bubble bath that was loads of fun. I'm over fifty and still had a great time. From the balcony you can enjoy the night view, and there's direct beach access across the road from the back entrance. I left with some really happy vacation memories.

We originally booked Holiday Inn Resort for one week in September 2024, planning to try another hotel afterward. This one was much better and cost almost the same, so we stayed a second week too. Inside, the rooms are modern, attractive, and spacious, though the building's exterior color makes it look old. The grounds and pool area are very well kept. There's a Chinese restaurant and a Western one, and the international breakfast was very good. There are lots of indoor and outdoor activities for children, with a daily program. It's very family friendly, with plenty of kids around. The beach is about 100 meters away and easy to reach. A lovely artificial tropical park runs along the coast in front of the hotel, with good paths and restrooms, and extends about 13 km toward downtown Sanya. I worried about airport noise, but there wasn't really a problem. Outside, you might occasionally hear a faint rumble when a plane takes off, like distant thunder, but it's quiet. We estimated the guests were about 90% local Chinese and 10% Russian. Staff use good translation devices or phone apps to communicate in English or Russian. A DiDi or taxi ride to downtown Sanya takes around 30 minutes and costs about 20-50 ¥ depending on the time of day.