2023/24 Sanya update
 

Old thread: But after nearly 4 years, I'm heading back to Sanya for a couple weeks of the Xmas holiday season, left in a hurry in mid-January of 2020. Interesting to read the old comments from MD & TB.

-Flying HU on 4-year-old points, only had to pay 150 rmb for tax & fuel surcharge.
- Not on any Hainan visa free program but did notice on IG the Hainan tourist promotions.
- Marriott has about a dozen hotels from 10 different Marriott brands. Will stay first week at the Dadonghai bay at the JW and its Autograph sister. Together they have 4 fabulous outdoor pools, & the JW has an EL that's open in the evening 7 days a week.
- Probably week 2 in Yalong bay, will check out the oldee Marriott & Sheraton resorts on the beach. Hopefully owners have some renovation done on these 20+ year old hotels. IMO, Yalong bay has the best beach & landscaping in Sanya. Might burn some points & 2023 Marriott SNA's here or use some expiring Hyatt rewards in Sanya.
- Sanya has several hospitals, different tier levels but it's rumored the best one is the military one in Haitong bay near the new shopping mall.
-CNY in 2024 is February 10, that's when the tourism chaos will peak in Sanya. NFL super bowl is Sunday February 11.

Any new 23/24 Sanya update comments are welcome.

Be interesting to see any updated reports. We were last there Christmas 2017 and stayed at the Sheraton Haitang Bay. Like most places down there it was nice enough but despite 25-30c weather during the day the pools were freezing cold and not usable. Its unlikely we'll ever be back there but if we were during the winter we'd definitely be looking at places with a heated pool.

During the covid years we stumbled on an unknown place in central Guangdong called Hailing Island. Its pretty underdeveloped and rough around the edges but its got a bit of character to it that I've felt Sanya always lacked.

tipping in Sanya
 

Easy to answer that Sanya question this mid-December week, Sanya is warm to hot at 25C+, vs cold or snowy in Beijing this week. Rates have not doubled yet for Xmas/NY eve holiday week, or tripled for the CNY chaos week.

But need to leave the JW Dadonghai bay for Yalong bay tomorrow. I know about the China tipping etiquette and threads', had fabulous food, and service here at the EL club lounge, even brought me a special bottle of 15-year-old scotch whiskey when i complained about cheap bourbon. So 7 days X 100 rmb a day, 700 rmb, or about $100 for the week?. seems okay for a mixed staff of 10 people.
I'm, going to put a mix of 50's & 20"s in one 'white' envelope and give it to the EL supervisor with a couple names and say great hospitality, do whatever is proper for her staff.
Then see what happens. Later, ill post hotel trip updates on the Marriott forum.

A tip is not expected at any hotel in China and certainly 700 Rambos will be the biggest tip these people have ever received.

A tip in China? One question: why???

culture
 

I don't tip maids, taxi, food folks in China. But for 15 years at good China hotels, I do tip conseiquer and lead EL staff. Repeat visits and long stay service is very worthy for me. Discovered early on a high turnover rate in these areas, so also may need to tip the assistant, or other lead EL staff. I 'never' wait "10 minutes" for a room or a good beverage on repeat visits.

I'll be in Los Suenos Costa Rica for the Signaturetriplecrown fishing tournament week in mid January. (Mariott resort club marina) If i only tipped $100 a day there, I would be considered a stingy cheapskate in "Latin' culture. BTW, best San Jose CR airport hotel is the Sheraton Casino. Fabulous 8th floor EL open 7 days a week, No tips = no food, no table on a 2nd visit. (The conseiquer is the same guy for the last 10 years)

China isn't Costa Rica

Please keep toxic "tipping culture" out of China, or actually Asia. Thank you.

100% agree!