Sanya Phoenix International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Sanya has no real city centre to build a stay around: the airport already sits on Sanya Bay, while the beaches considered the best stretch further away, towards Dadonghai, Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay. Anyone with a dawn flight or a one-night stopover can stay right next to the terminal, on the same bay as the airport; those staying for a holiday gain beach quality by moving further out, up to 40-45 minutes away at Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay, where the 5-star resorts, villas with private pools and the island's only theme park are concentrated.

Sanya Bay (airport area)

Airport area · The Novotel is literally next to the terminal, a few minutes' walk; the rest of Sanya Bay stretches for about 11 km along the coast, 20-30 minutes by taxi from the airport.

Best for: Dawn flights, one-night stopovers and anyone who doesn't want to move far from the terminal.

Pros

The shortest possible transfer of all Sanya's tourist areas
Long beach, less crowded than Dadonghai

Cons

Darker sand and less clear water than at Yalong Bay or Haitang Bay
Almost no nightlife outside the hotels

Recommended hotels in this area

Novotel Sanya Phoenix International Airport: Literally next to the terminal, among the very few hotels in Sanya reachable on foot from the airport; 119 rooms with a pool, convenient for a dawn flight or a one-night stopover.
Crowne Plaza Resort Sanya Bay by IHG: A resort in European Baroque style across 55,000 sqm along the 'Coconut Dream Corridor' of Sanya Bay, with a private beach and 380 rooms; 20-30 minutes from the terminal.
Doubletree By Hilton Sanya Bay: 299 rooms designed for families, with a water park and a children's pool, on the same bay as the airport.

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Dadonghai

Neighbourhood · About 11 km from the airport, 25 minutes by taxi; the centre of Sanya and the railway station are 10-15 minutes away.

Best for: Those who want the cleanest sea closest to the centre of Sanya, with restaurants and nightlife within walking distance.

Pros

One of the cleanest and most popular beaches in Sanya, at the foot of Mount Luhuitou
Restaurants, bars and shops within walking distance, more than any other tourist area of the city

Cons

In summer and on Chinese weekends the beach and promenade get very crowded
The upscale beachfront hotels cost more than at Sanya Bay

Recommended hotels in this area

JW Marriott Hotel Sanya Dadonghai Bay: 435 rooms at the foot of Mount Luhuitou, a 7-minute walk from Dadonghai beach and next to the coral reef nature reserve; 10 event rooms and two outdoor pools.
Ascott Dadonghai Bay Sanya: Serviced residence with studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments 5 minutes from Dadonghai beach, handy for families or longer stays with your own kitchen; 15 minutes from the city centre.

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Yalong Bay

Nearby town · About 32 km from the airport, 40 minutes by taxi through the centre of Sanya.

Best for: Those looking for a luxury resort with a private beach, accepting a good half-hour transfer.

Pros

The beach considered Sanya's most beautiful and best preserved, with white sand and clear water
A concentration of 5-star resorts, with private villas and high-level service

Cons

Further from the airport than any other tourist area of Sanya
Outside the resorts there is almost nothing: independent restaurants and venues are rare

Recommended hotels in this area

The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay: 446 rooms in the most secluded corner of the bay, with 33 private poolside villas; the flagship resort of the area, opened in 2008.
Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa: The first beachfront Hilton resort in China, with 492 rooms and 8 pools; the beach is shared with the Ritz-Carlton next door.
Sheraton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort: 511 rooms one kilometre from Yalong Bay's central square, facing the bay's golf club; one of the largest resorts in the area.

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Haitang Bay

Nearby town · About 39 km from the airport, 45 minutes by taxi (35 minutes via the G98 expressway).

Best for: Those who want the mix of theme park, aquarium and duty-free shopping without leaving the resort.

Pros

The only area in Sanya with an international-level theme park, the Atlantis aquarium and a duty-free centre of almost 400,000 sqm
A beach stretching for over 10 km, less built-up than Sanya Bay

Cons

The furthest and least central of Sanya's tourist areas
Developed from almost nothing in recent years: around the resorts there is still little besides construction sites

Recommended hotels in this area

Atlantis Sanya: 1,324 rooms and suites, including five Underwater Suites overlooking the aquarium; inside the resort there's also the Adventure Waterpark with its eight-storey slide.
JW Marriott Sanya Haitang Bay Resort & Spa: 142 rooms and 18 private villas from 68 to over 650 sqm, with a free shuttle to the airport; smaller and more secluded than the nearby resorts.
InterContinental Sanya Haitang Bay Resort by IHG: 295 rooms right on the beach, with two outdoor pools and the chance to go snorkelling right in front of the resort.

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