Trip Overview
When: July (summer peak season, but worth it for beach weather)
Duration: 7 days
Travelers: Friends group
Budget: ~5,000 RMB (~$700 USD) per person
Transportation: Domestic flights + Didi (China's Uber)
Why Sanya?
Real vacation isn't about rushing through crowded tourist traps under the blazing sun. It's not about stuffing your itinerary so full that you blur past everything. True relaxation means picking a beachfront resort, sleeping in until you naturally wake up, strolling around the pool and beach,发呆 (doing nothing), and just... existing. That's the essence of travel.
Sanya (三亚) had been on my bucket list forever, and I finally decided to knock it off before summer kicked into full swing. This trip? Zero rush, zero monuments. Just beach resorts, poolside lounging, and the art of doing absolutely nothing in paradise.
Haitang Bay: The Lost City Aquarium
The internet-famous spot at Haitang Bay has to be The Lost City. Walk into any search and boom—there's this underwater world. The Lost City is actually an aquarium located in the basement level of the Atlantis hotel. The main attraction? That massive aquarium display, visible from both the hotel lobby and inside the Lost Space itself.
Reality check: Staff will ask if you're a hotel guest—only guests can snap photos in front of the aquarium. The seating area for afternoon tea is right next to it, with the entire aquarium wall as your backdrop. Great for Instagram, though.
Tickets run 198 RMB (~$28) with no student discount. The space isn't huge—if you've visited aquariums at other major attractions, The Lost Space might feel underwhelming. Pro hack: If you're staying at Atlantis anyway, the aquarium is included with your room.
Dadong Sea Area: Hotel Stay
This hotel sits at Dadong Sea (大东海) on Yiyun Road 77. It's about 20 km from Sanya airport—conveniently close, we headed straight there after landing. The location's a win—you can order food delivery easily.
Foreigner tip: The water quality at Dadong Sea isn't great, so don't expect to swim there. But the hotel makes up for it: there's a pool on the first floor AND a rooftop infinity pool on the third floor that's become a major Instagram hotspot. Perfect for those aesthetic shots.
Rooms are spacious with an outdoor balcony. Sea-view rooms on the ocean side offer actual ocean views. Modern minimalist decor, and the bathroom is enormous—there's a massive bathtub that could probably fit four people. Yes, we tested it.
Yalong Bay Marriott (亚龙湾万豪)
Upon arrival, the staff greets you with a custom coconut shell necklace—definite VIP treatment, similar to the white scarves at Ri'an Yurong. There's a popsicle stand near the reception; we'd seen this brand at several hotels and it's actually delicious.
The bed was decorated with fresh flowers, and towels folded into little elephant shapes—lovely touches that set the tone for the stay. Step outside and you're on the beach. Yalong Bay (亚龙湾) has crystal-clear water with layered blue hues going from turquoise to deep blue. Since it's a private beach, it's beautifully uncrowded—less chaos, more tranquility. You can comfortably lie on a beach chair and soak up the sun.
Pro hack: The beach is empty both day and night. They have tons of beach activities—sand balance bikes were marked at 300 RMB, but we haggled down to 50 RMB (~$7). Always negotiate beach vendors!
One of the perks of a resort hotel? The buffet breakfast—normally costs over 100 RMB ($14) per person if bought separately. The spread is extensive, with both Western and Chinese options. Breakfast is to the left of reception, in what feels more like a banquet hall with soaring ceilings.
Every morning I'd grab a bowl of noodles—filling and practical. One morning, a server mentioned I was a Gold Card member and offered fresh-squeezed juice and a fresh coconut as extra perks. Nice touch.
I've stayed at Yalong Bay Marriott three times now. My first visit was at night; the beach was empty except for waves crashing and moonlight hanging in the sky. The next morning, I walked to the beach and was blown away. The water is unbelievably clear with gradient blues—turquoise to deep blue. The sand is clean and soft. Private beach means few people and peaceful vibes.
After renovations, the rooms have improved hardware. They still give small gifts during turndown service. The lobby faces the sea directly—sitting in the lobby sipping afternoon tea while watching the ocean is peak relaxation. There's a swingset by the sea that's become a new Instagram hotspot; everyone who's visited has at least one photo there.
The closest spot to the beach houses the seafood-focused grill restaurant, Yu Bar. The seafood was surprisingly delicious, but the view? Absolutely stunning.
Atlantis: The Underwater Suite Experience
Back to Atlantis for another visit—this time to try the underwater suite. Plot twist: it's not actually underwater. The bedroom has another open-air balcony overlooking the Water World theme park.
Reality check: I was worried about potential deep-sea phobia. Turns out, totally unnecessary.
There are two underwater suite types at Atlantis:
1. Neptune Underwater Suite: 58,000 RMB (~$8,100)
2. Poseidon Underwater Suite: 100,000 RMB (~$14,000) — the one Li Xian stayed in
3. Regular rooms: From 2,200 RMB (~$310)
I tried the cheaper 58,000 RMB option. The main difference is 200 square meters in size; otherwise pretty similar.
Room Review: Atlantis' interior design isn't particularly standout—the fame mainly comes from the underwater suites, aquarium, and water park. Underwater suites use Bvlgari toiletries; regular rooms have AHAVA. They gave a dolphin plushie as a souvenir, and I got access to the Royal Club with afternoon tea and happy hour on the 48th floor—ocean view tea is pretty spectacular.
Water World & The Lost Space
Staying at Atlantis gets you unlimited access to both. Note: On checkout day, facial recognition stops working at noon sharp.
Jiuyue Life Homestay (久悦生活美宿)
Recently watched the variety show "Travel Adventure" (青春环游记) episode featuring Sanya. Waves, beaches—hadn't seen those in forever. So I booked a flight to Sanya for a spontaneous trip.
I specifically searched for the same homestay from the show—Jiuyue Life Homestay (久悦生活美宿). At 300+ RMB per night, the value is solid. Location near Yalong Bay, close to an Outlets for shopping and dining, and walking distance to Yalong Bay beach.
The entire homestay is white-themed. The center features a big pool, and when I visited, there were tons of young people photographing by the pool. Coconut trees everywhere, white bungalows surrounded by plants—it feels like living in a tropical forest.
Rooms have various themes, mostly minimalist. Staying on the second floor gives you a view of the entire courtyard. The unique poolside cabin is great for photos—book in advance.
Style Tips:
Most guests come specifically for photography. Girls should wear dresses, light colors work best. Guys can go summery—island-style shirts, shorts, and flip-flops.
Address:
Sanya, Jiuyue Life Homestay (三亚久悦生活美宿)
Yalong Bay Red Maple Hotel (亚龙湾红树林)
I've basically slept through every resort hotel at Yalong Bay—each has its own character. Red Maple is definitely the most unique, with the most authentic Southeast Asian island resort vibe.
Hotel Style:
Yalong Bay Red Maple's decor is slightly older compared to neighboring hotels, but it's entirely wooden throughout, giving it that rich Southeast Asian island resort atmosphere. If you're visiting Yalong Bay, this place is worth experiencing.
Best Sea View:
If you're talking about the best ocean views, Red Maple wins. The hotel has an incredibly open lawn in front of the lobby—no buildings blocking the view. Sit in the lobby for afternoon tea and you get prime ocean viewing.
Thai Cuisine:
The hotel has an on-site Thai restaurant with a Thai head chef, Southeast Asian decor, and genuinely authentic food. The curry crab, tom yum goong, and red ruby dessert are all delicious.
Biggest Highlight:
My favorite? The coconut trees lining the水池 (pools) on both sides of the lobby. Super summery vibes—romantic day and night.