The Shanhaitian Resort Sanya, Autograph Collection

The breakfast hours were a real vacation perk: service ran until 2 PM, and for Marriott elites the food was among the better breakfasts I’ve had in China. The pools were beautifully designed, too, with great views. I stayed two nights just after the Golden Week rush and found the hotel striking, from the overall design to the rooms. The rooms were modern and comfortable, and the ocean views are some of the best around. The beach along this stretch is quieter, though it’s rocky rather than somewhere you’d want to play in the sand. A short walk gets you to that kind of beach. I was very pleased with almost everything, but the gym isn’t open around the clock. For a late workout you have to use the adjacent JW, which also allowed Shanhaitian guests to use its pools during my stay.

We’d highly recommend this hotel, especially if swimming, working out, and being near the beach matter to you. The people made our stay one of the best we’ve had: Eric, the manager, was professional and went out of his way to help, while Gavin, May, and Fay made breakfast lovely with personal touches each morning.

There were strangers all over the hotel grounds, lobby, and pool. During one day at the pool, I counted eight people from three nearby three-star hotels. They could come in groups, take towels, and walk freely through the hotel, which felt contrary to BSAM standards and left guests’ safety unprotected. Guests from Mordovia Republic even walked along the wooden promenade in their robes to the Pineapple supermarket. Children who weren’t hotel guests peed in the pool while their parents failed to watch them, and hotel towels were being taken. It’s insulting and damaging the hotel’s image.

The location, service, room, and buffet breakfast were all perfect. Just remember to pre-order breakfast when checking in. Without that, it costs much more, double the price.