Sanya Huayuan Hot Spring Seaview Resort

The rooms are run down, and breakfast was awful, especially the dry fried eggs. It was hard to stomach. The elevator works well, and Sasha, the friendly guide downstairs, was the one bright spot.

The one thing going for this place is how close it is to the sea. The grounds are green but need upkeep, the pool is very dirty and hardly seems to get cleaned, and breakfast was simply no good. We aren't fussy guests, but the way tourists are treated really stood out. It feels like a budget stay where the savings come at the guests' expense: they try to put you in the worst rooms, then charge extra if you want to switch. I don't think it deserves four stars now. Maybe it did when it first opened, but not anymore.

The beach is about a five-minute walk away, though the hotel doesn't have its own. There are plenty of cafes nearby, with prices usually around 30-40 yuan. Breakfast was tasty and colorful, with standard and meat-free choices. Our modest, clean room had what a tourist needs, and staff cleaned it and changed the towels daily. There's also a pool, though it seems best suited to children under 12.

The hotel is old but clean, and the sea is just a few steps away. We had a particularly good vacation. Bring something to lie on at the beach, since locals charge 30 yuan for a chair. You can exchange money with the guide at the hotel, and beach trips with Dimka cost half as much. At check-in, we arrived at 5:30 a.m. and were asked for 400 yuan to get a room then, or told to leave and come back at 2:00 p.m. We got checked in at noon. Sanya is a quiet village, so head to Dadonghan if you're after a party. HB meals at local eateries are expensive, so booking a hotel with meals included may be better. Have a great time.