Boutique Hotels in Hainan, China

For the same price point, I still recommend Banyan Tree~ Although it opened earlier than other hotels, it wins out by being quiet and free from the noise of those marketing family-friendly hotels. The breakfast running until 12 PM is fantastic, perfect for late risers, and the restaurant is very orderly. While some online reviews mention a limited selection of food, there's no constant turning over of dishes by people, and my child never experienced any stomach discomfort during our nearly week-long stay~ Staff in public areas always greet you, and service response is very prompt~ One evening, we couldn't open the main entrance (likely improperly locked by the turndown service staff). It was already 10:15 PM, and the maintenance staff, seeing us waiting for over 10 minutes with my young child urging to go back to the room to sleep, suggested climbing over the wall to open the door from the inside so we could get back to our room. (The wall had dangerous-looking spikes to prevent climbing). Outside food deliveries are brought to your door by a butler and are quite fast~ The hotel's public beach isn't large, but its waters have a breakwater, so the waves here are much smaller than in other bays. At low tide, you can even pick up small shells and catch small crabs (remember to wear protective gear. A reminder that the area of the hotel beach is a coral protection zone with live coral, so do not go into the water with exposed legs to avoid cuts, and do not step on or turn over corals! Please release any live creatures back into the sea). The sand closer to the water is fine, but further out, there are many mixed broken shells, so children must wear flip-flops or sandals, and socks would make it less uncomfortable. The hotel offers many activities to keep children entertained: aromatherapy candles, coconut shell painting, stringing shell bells, planting coconut seedlings, football, beach volleyball, coffee grounds sand art, painted fans, twisted sticks, and recycled paper bookmarks (daily schedules vary). Some are chargeable~ Since each room has its own pool, we didn't use the public pool. We also rarely saw other guests in the public areas. Mosquito repellent was provided in the room, and we always took mosquito precautions before going out, so we weren't bitten by mosquitoes or other insects throughout our stay~ The greenery in the park is maintained daily by staff. Besides encountering various sizes of snails at night and frogs croaking loudly around the pool (which scurried away frantically when seen), we didn't encounter any scary animals. Finally, when we left, I took a bag of items made by my child in the park~ and shells picked from the beach~ They kept insisting they want to come again next time!

Hainan's second stop was Qixianling, and Junlan Hotel seemed to be the most well-known in the area. It certainly didn't disappoint. The rooms are spread across small villas, with four separate units (up, down, left, right) in each, offering great privacy. Outside the window is a dense rainforest, providing a peaceful and serene atmosphere. Each unit has its own private hot spring pool and a small balcony. The rooms are spacious, perfect for kids to run around. Unlike Atlantis, which is all about excitement, this place offers a different kind of relaxed retreat. The rooms are definitely a bit dated, but they have everything you need, and the cleaning staff is very meticulous. The restaurant food is delicious, with some specialty dishes that are a must-try! The hotel has various hot spring pools and swimming pools. If you have enough time, try them all out; they're open quite late. I want to especially commend the hotel's entire service system. From the greeters to the lobby, the restaurant, the shuttle drivers, and the pool security – everyone was incredibly warm and polite. Since the hotel is quite large, and the accommodations are spread out and deep within the rainforest, shuttle services are available throughout the hotel. You can book ahead or simply flag one down. This was a lifesaver for me, traveling with a child. I could explore freely on foot or easily catch a ride without my child complaining about walking too much. Finally, a few tips for future guests considering Junlan: don't bother bringing big and small bottles of mosquito repellent; the hotel provides it for free (though even drenched in repellent, mosquitoes won't spare any new guest! It's a special 'gift' from the tropical rainforest!). If you plan to hike in the National Forest Park from the hotel, getting a taxi might be difficult. The hotel front desk can arrange for a scenic shuttle to pick you up for 20 yuan per person, which I think is well worth it. While there are public buses outside, I couldn't figure them out and didn't want to walk to the bus stop. When traveling with a child, it's best to minimize hassle. If something can be taken care of for 20 yuan, don't try to save that little bit!

The facilities are decent, but I'm deducting points for two things. First, as shown in picture 1, a staff member told me I needed a swimming cap after I got into the pool, which I completely understand. I immediately left the main pool and played with my child in the kiddie pool. However, half an hour later, a group of people arrived, and two men among them were happily playing in the pool without swimming caps. The staff member was right there but didn't say anything. What's the deal? Double standards? Second, after checking out and about to get into my booked Didi, the front desk stopped me, saying my room payment had been mysteriously refunded and I needed to pay again. Although their attitude was good, why did it take three days, and they only noticed it when I was checking out? Luckily, my Didi driver was very nice and patiently waited a few minutes.

This was my first stay at the Yalong Bay Metropark Villa Resort. The day before my arrival, our butler, Xiao Zhao, proactively contacted me via WeChat to confirm my itinerary and inquire about any special requests. The hotel is located next to Yalong Bay Golf Course, boasting a beautiful environment with rivers winding through lush greenery. Our room had one bedroom, one living room, and one bathroom with a bathtub and kitchen. The courtyard also featured a small separate room with a sofa, air conditioning, and a double bed, comfortably accommodating two people, along with a small tea room. The private pool in the courtyard was a hit with both adults and children. The room attendant, Wang Xiaoyan, brought us water and fresh towels several times a day – excellent service! We dined at the hotel restaurant, enjoying a set meal of coconut chicken and the buffet. Restaurant manager Xu Xiaoling personally greeted us, showing genuine care and even giving a gift to our child – truly thoughtful. Breakfast was served until 11 AM and the food was quite good. The hotel offers a shuttle service to the main road, from where it's about a ten-minute walk to the Yalong Bay public beach. The beach is beautiful, but the jet ski vendors there were quite aggressive, often using megaphones to tell tourists to leave, claiming that area was exclusively for their business and telling people to go play elsewhere.

This hotel has an old-money vibe, with spacious and very quiet rooms. I woke up to the chirping of birds in the morning. Chris was incredibly thoughtful; he took our room cards and escorted us directly to our room, introducing us to the hotel's activities along the way. Our room placement was excellent – the highest floor for that room type – and he even helped us add an extra bed. We had a wonderful 3-day, 2-night stay here, experiencing the coral boat and scuba diving. It was so convenient to enjoy water activities right at the hotel. When we were running late for breakfast and risked missing our boat to the pier, Chris even arranged an electric cart to take us there. He was incredibly responsive to all our requests throughout our stay. The hotel staff were also very enthusiastic; they came to help us with our luggage when it arrived. Overall, I felt the service was really good. Looking forward to our next trip!

Beyond the fantastic ambiance, the service here was also excellent. My flight was a bit late, and I needed an extra half hour for check-out. The front desk happily extended it by a full hour. The taxi service was also quite prompt. The Chinese restaurant on the first floor offers reasonable prices; their dim sum is comparable to what you'd find in a mall. The 3-person dinner set was only 238, and the portions were generous – two adults and one child couldn't even finish it all. Compared to other hotels, the prices here are much more affordable, so you don't even need to go out looking for food.

Our overall experience was fantastic! Getting to the island was super easy, and it wasn't crowded at all. The VIP channel was a great value for money, especially since we got a free upgrade to a sea-view room. The service was excellent, and the amenities were lovely. A special shout-out to our return transfer driver, Li Cai. He provided thoughtful service, always had a smile for guests, helped with our luggage, and drove safely. Thumbs up! 👍

The hotel's location in Xiaodonghai is great. While it's an older property, the facilities are well-maintained, and the rooms exceeded my expectations. It offers good value for money. During holidays, getting to the city center can be slow due to traffic from Luhuitou. I hope the hotel improves its pool management; it's currently subpar. People were in the pool without swim caps and even wearing shoes, which makes you wonder about the water quality. On the plus side, access to the beach is very convenient and close, perfect for families with children. However, Xiaodonghai has many underwater rocks, making it a bit uncomfortable to swim from the shore. The concierge service was excellent – very friendly and proactive in helping with luggage. Also, the breakfast was delicious with good quality offerings, including fresh juice. Overall, it was a good value stay, and I hope the hotel addresses the areas for improvement.

The hotel is nestled at the foot of Qixianling Mountain, boasting a superb environment. The main building is ideal for wheelchair users, and the receptionist was very helpful, upgrading my room. The room even had its own hot spring, which was very convenient and comfortable. The restaurant manager was very welcoming and greeted us proactively; the food was also of good quality. A truly wonderful trip, I would definitely stay here again.

For our trip to Lingshui, we specifically wanted to experience both Xiangshui Bay and Qingshui Bay. After comparing the two, if you're looking for a place to truly escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful, relaxing vacation, this hotel in Xiangshui Bay is definitely the top choice. **Privacy and Ambiance:** The entire hotel is incredibly quiet, and with fewer guests, it feels wonderfully pleasant. During the scorching midday sun, lounging in the room's pool to cool off was absolutely heavenly. The hotel is very close to the beach, and the on-demand shuttle service was practically wait-free on weekdays. On weekends, with more people, it might be a bit slower. There are also many free-roaming rabbits on the hotel lawn, which is quite charming. **Compliments on the Travel Photography:** Because of the serene environment and fewer people, every corner of the hotel felt like a natural 'photo frame.' Every casual shot turned out beautifully atmospheric. The complimentary travel photographer didn't have that stiff, assembly-line feel at all; instead, they captured candid, lively moments of our child splashing in the water. **Facilities and Service:** To be honest, the in-room facilities do show their age a bit, and some equipment is slightly outdated. However, this is a minor point; the hotel's service team is incredibly warm and attentive. From the front desk staff to the shuttle drivers, everyone greeted us proactively, and their gentle voices left us feeling truly touched. If we come back next time, we would still choose this place for its tranquility and heartwarming hospitality.