MGM Grand Sanya

The beach was my favorite part, and the rooms are large. If you can, get a room on the 9th floor for a great view across the resort and out to sea. There are lots of activities, but most cost extra. The zip line was RMB 78 for one very short ride, and I’d rather go back to Sentosa Island in Singapore for a much better experience. The facilities feel old and outdated, and the staff seemed too few in number. They did try, but looked tired and overwhelmed. I probably wouldn’t return since the rooms aren’t cheap, and there are other hotels nearby with their own beaches and better updated facilities.

The hotel has beautiful gardens and pools across its extensive grounds, and our room was very spacious and well equipped. Having a coffee machine was especially nice. I found it unpleasant that local sellers were allowed to sit on the hotel’s sun chairs. The loungers also have no mattresses, unlike the ones at the neighboring Marriott. With the hotel costing so much, it was disappointing that every activity came at an additional charge.

I don’t get all the five-star ratings. The rooms were old and dirty, and housekeeping hadn’t even looked under the bed. When we asked a receptionist where we could get a decent lunch, he said, “I don’t speak English,” even though he did. That felt incredibly disrespectful. Half the bar menu wasn’t available, and almost nobody spoke English, apart from a few exceptions. The grass and facilities were kept clean, so that earns a second star. This place has nothing in common with “Hawaii” or other resorts. Rubbish.

The beach was fantastic, and I liked the spa and weight room. The rooms were basic, though, and nightlife was nonexistent. Breakfast was just adequate. The place felt very Western.