Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort Hotel

The grounds used to be one of my favorite things here, but many of the flowering trees have now been cut back to bare skeletons. Cheap fake flowers and artificial grass in the lobby are a baffling choice for a tropical resort. The peaceful atmosphere, thoughtful design and attention to quality that made this place special are gone. It’s hard to believe how far it’s slipped since my last visit, and it no longer feels worthy of the Sofitel name. Serious rebranding or management changes may be needed. The bed in my room was visibly dirty when I arrived, shocking for any hotel, especially a Sofitel. Security guards were unnecessarily aggressive and treated guests like intruders. Guests also bring in commercial photographers who shout across the property and tell paying guests where they can and can’t go, all so someone can get Instagram photos. It’s extremely disruptive and shows a complete lack of management control. The Club Lounge now feels more like a fast-food outlet, serving chicken nuggets and frozen dumplings. Loud music plays inside while more music from outside competes across the property. Guests openly smoke in the lounge without staff stepping in, which is completely unacceptable in 2025. I’m an Accor Platinum member. I used to consider Sofitel Sanya one of the best Accor properties in Asia, let alone China. During COVID, I spent several months here and gave it a glowing review for its immaculate grounds and thoughtful design. This recent stay was a complete disappointment, and the hotel seems to have lost touch with the Sofitel brand entirely.

The hotel and its grounds are lovely and peaceful, a good place to rest and connect with nature. But as a foreigner, don’t expect much help from the staff or even concierge, since they don’t speak English. I also didn’t get good results even with translation. It took 20minutes to convince them to exchange 100rmb so I could pay the taxi waiting outside. For poolside food, you can only order if you have We Chat and a linked credit card. Otherwise, you have to go all the way back to the lobby to order and eat there, since they won’t help place the order for you. The hotel shop doesn’t have much beyond instant noodles and a few juice choices. Plan sightseeing ahead. The hotel is 45 minutes from the city, and traffic can make that journey much longer. If there’s an accident, you could be stuck for half the day. Going to Nanshan temple, I spent 2.5h in traffic at 10am, then nearly 4h on the way back at 5pm. Good luck.

I don’t usually write reviews, but this was the least satisfactory Accor hotel stay I’ve had. I used two accommodation tickets from joining the China Accor Gold Card and booked two consecutive nights, one night per booking. I’d seen reviews from other Korean guests who booked basic rooms during the busy winter season and received suite upgrades through Accor Platinum benefits. I also booked a basic room, but at check-in I didn’t get even a first-stage upgrade, let alone a suite. I understand upgrades are at the hotel’s discretion, based on the status of its guests. I also tried to use the room upgrade coupon from the China Accor gold card, but was told every room was fully booked. The staff member who gave that answer said I hadn’t been upgraded, but had been put on the highest floor. In Pearl Tower, though, the sixth floor is just one above the fifth, the lowest room floor. That was something she shouldn’t have said. I could have accepted that the hotel was genuinely full. But several things at check-in made me doubt the person in charge’s explanation. The email sent the day before showed the hotel knew I was staying for two nights, yet at check-in staff asked if I was there for one. I had to point out the two-night booking before they could continue. They also gave very little explanation of my Platinum benefits. The next morning, I showed my room card at the restaurant counter to have breakfast at cuisine. Staff said I could go in, but five minutes later someone else came over and said my reservation didn’t include a meal. I was just about to sit down with food. Was I stealing a meal? I’d already explained at check-in that I could eat at cuisine. If I’d misunderstood and breakfast was only available in the lounge, someone should have corrected me then, but no one did. Another male staff member took a picture of the Platinum card on my phone before telling me I could eat. I felt humiliated with everyone watching. Later, while I went to get more food before finishing my meal, staff removed my seat and left my earphone case at the breakfast counter, even though I’d positioned it so the words "table occupied" were visible. After this, I have no intention of buying or renewing a Chinese Accor Gold card. I hope things improve.

The breakfast restaurant was a highlight, with plenty of Asian and Western dishes to choose from. The hotel itself feels modern, elegant, and beautiful.