My December 2025 Getaway to Hainan Island: A Refreshing Escape

I've been dreaming of spending my birthday at a warm beach for ages, and guess what? My dream came true literally. We booked a tour that departed on my birthday, and since there are no direct flights from our city, we had to travel to our neighbors' place. So, I spent the day traveling instead of celebrating . But that's not a big deal, right? We were heading to the beach, sunshine, and relaxation. Plus, it was freezing back home, so the thought of a warm vacation was a welcome escape. The tour package included a flight from Novosibersk to Sanya and back, accommodation at the hotel, breakfasts, and medical insurance. However, the hotel transfer and baggage weren't included, but the receiving party had a promotion for a free individual transfer. The package also included an extra day before check-in, so we didn't have to book an early check-in. We were checked in as soon as we arrived (around 5 am). Now, let's break it down. We left Novosibersk at 19:35 on time, and the airline was Aeroflot. You can buy a SIM card at the airport (or an e-SIM). We bought ours at a store called 'Chai u Andreya' in the Dadunhai bay after arrival. I used it to make video calls on VK. WhatsApp and Telegram worked with some effort. I installed a translation app and Yandex, Google, and other services on my phone when I got back home. Google Translate was more convenient for online text translation. After arrival, we had to scan our passports and fingerprints at special machines. Then, we went through customs and filled out migration cards. It's not complicated, and there's a Russian-language guide available. Make sure to bring a pen. You can fill out the card online, but I didn't have time. We went through customs, security, and met the receiving party. A Russian guy took my phone number and handed us over to a person who drove us to the hotel. The condition for the free return transfer was meeting the hotel guide at a specific time.

About the weather. The temperature ranged from 23 to 26 degrees Celsius during our stay. The humidity was comfortable for us. It was cloudy for a couple of days, but it didn't rain. The evenings were warm too. We wore lightweight clothing and shoes. I wore a light jacket only once.

About the hotel. It's located in the Siaodunhai bay. I chose this bay deliberately, and we didn't regret it. We took bus number 125 and walked a bit to get to Dadunhai. We went there a couple of times. The fare was 2 yuan per person. You need to pay without change, as the conductor isn't available, and the driver won't give you change. You can pay with cards or Alipay. We had cash everywhere. We took a taxi a couple of times from the cafe to get around. The staff helped us order a taxi through their app, and we paid them. There are a few places to eat and supermarkets near the hotel. The hotel is called Luhuitou Sanya Resort. It's right on the first line with its own sunbeds in the shade of palm trees. Our room was on the third floor with a view of the pool. When we checked in, they asked for a deposit in different currencies. We gave them 5000 rubles. When we checked out, they returned it to us.

A birthday surprise from the hotel)

The balcony has a glass partition, and you can see the sea.

View from the room.

The room itself is spacious.

This is a view of the room from the balcony. There are wooden, sliding partitions between the room and the balcony. To the left, not in the frame, are two opaque glass doors to the bathroom and shower.

Behind this door is a mini-entrance hall. It has shelves, hooks, a safe, an iron, and an ironing board.

The bathroom, with the doors open, becomes a through-way. It's actually pretty convenient to walk through to the entrance hall.

The balcony is also quite spacious. An adult can comfortably sit on the sofa. On the other wall, there's a small drying rack for clothes.

The bathroom amenities: toilet paper, cotton buds, a small tube of after-sun lotion, soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and a hair dryer. Each day, they restock toothbrush sets and a comb. I remember that. They change towels every day.

They regularly restock green tea, black tea, coffee, sugar, and 0.5L bottled water.

The room has a fridge, a kettle, some dishes, bathrobes, slippers, and beach slippers.

Overall, the hotel has an interesting interior.

Hotel entrance.

Breakfast is a real treat here, with a wide variety of options to choose from. You can even cook your own omelette, scrambled eggs, or skrämebl. I was impressed by the grilled fish dish. The soups, vegetables, greens, and fruits are all fresh and delicious. They also have a variety of baked goods with different toppings, such as honey, jam, chocolate spread, and whipped cream. And let's not forget the ice cream! You can wash it all down with a cup of coffee, tea, or a fruit-flavored drink. I was stuffed after every meal.

The beach is just a short walk from the hotel, and the sea is warm and inviting. From 9 am to 9 pm, you can rent towels at the beach bar, but I noticed that no one bothered to return them. There are a few sun loungers available, but you can also bring your own mat and lie down on it. The sea can get a bit rocky in some areas, but it's still perfect for swimming. The lifeguard is always on duty, but even when the waves are strong, no one gets pulled out of the water. If you're lucky, you can find some beautiful shells and coral fragments in the shallow waters.

We found some great places to eat near the hotel. The "Utk" cafe serves Peking-style duck, but we didn't get a chance to try it. The Lan Zhou beef noodle shop is a bit further away, but it's worth the walk. They have a wide variety of dishes at reasonable prices, and the portions are huge. They even give you a complimentary drink when you order food. You can find all sorts of international cuisine in Dadunhai, from Russian to Chinese. We tried the "White Bear" cafe a few times, and it was always a pleasure.

The seafood here is amazing! We ordered the Peking-style duck, which comes with a side of steamed vegetables, sauce, and pancakes. They also bring you a bowl of broth made from the duck's bones. We loved the food and the atmosphere at the cafe.

We stumbled upon a cafe with aquariums featuring live marine animals that they'd prepare for us. They also had street food stalls cooking up octopuses, squids, and other seafood. We headed over to the Night Market, where there were countless food stalls offering a variety of dishes. You could find everything from pre-cooked seafood delicacies to barbecue meat skewers made from lamb and beef. There were tables and chairs set up, so you could grab a bite to eat and sit down, or take it to go. They even provided disposable gloves for handling the seafood.

I've got to say, the Chinese folks we met were quite fond of their spices – not just the spicy ones, but some pretty unique and pungent flavors too. Some of the dishes didn't quite hit the spot for us due to these strong spices, but it's easy enough to ask them to hold back on the seasoning while they're cooking. Just let them know!

Our guided tour was scheduled for 1 pm on our check-in day. Our guide tried to upsell us on some of the pricier excursions and even offered a 'free' city tour. We opted for the free tour and a transfer to the medical center, where my husband wanted to book a massage. The same day, the hotel sent a car to pick us up and take us to the medical center in Dadunhao, where my husband got a 1-hour massage. He really enjoyed it. After the massage, we picked up a SIM card and went for a stroll. On the way, our guide handed us a business card for a local guy named Van, who offers guided tours.

Now, about those tours with Van. We booked a trip to Yangoda Park, which included a transfer and entrance tickets. Van actually purchased the tickets online for us, which required our passport details. We didn't have the full payment with us, so we agreed to settle the balance the next morning. The next day, we met up with Van, handed over the cash, and he took a photo of the ticket QR code and the bus number on our phone. We took a bus ride that lasted about an hour. The park itself was stunning, with a funicular that took us up the mountain. We walked across a glass bridge and took in the breathtaking views.

After the bus ride, we had a bit of a walk to get to the next stop, and then we were on our own to explore wherever we wanted. We ended up grabbing lunch after a bit of a wander, and the meal was included in the ticket price - it was a bit of a weird spread, but we managed to find something to eat. I'm not a huge fan of the food, but it was better than going hungry. Plus, they had beer, which was a nice bonus. After lunch, we headed back to the bus, which took us back to the designated meeting spot. It's worth noting that there are buses that run to the park, and you can also take a taxi if you prefer. We were pretty happy with the trip overall."The free sightseeing tour was a total waste of time. We ended up going to a tea ceremony (which was actually the highlight of the trip), a snake farm, a silk and pearl shop, and a shark farm. Everywhere we went, they were trying to sell us overpriced merchandise. But our guide was really knowledgeable about China, so that made the whole experience a bit more bearable."

We took the "Chai u Andreya" tour to the Fuli amusement park. They picked us up from our hotel, took us to the park, and dropped us off at the entrance. Then we were on our own to explore the park. There were all sorts of rides, a small zoo, and an aquarium (which we ended up skipping since we'd already been to a few other aquariums). They also had rooms with 3D and 4D movies, and they put on shows with dolphins, kittens, and belugas.

I rode the 'American rollercoaster' – it was scary, but oh-so-fun. There's plenty to keep you occupied. In the evening, they put on a drone show and fireworks display. After the show, we made our way to the car and got driven back to the hotel. The ride back was a real treat.

We also booked a trip to Sanya Romance Park. They arranged for a transfer and included the park entrance fees. They picked us up from the hotel, dropped us off at the park, handed over the tickets, gave us a rundown of the park's layout, and let us loose. The park has all sorts of attractions, like a storm room, fear rooms, a house on its head, a hall of mirrors, and more. There's a three-hour show three times a day. After the show, they drove us back to the hotel. Unfortunately, the park and show didn't quite live up to our expectations. After reading so many rave reviews, we were expecting a lot more.

We took the scenic route to the "Deer Turned Its Head" park, which is located on a hill. Admission to the park is free, but you'll need your passport (a photocopy will do). The real cost is the ticket for the electric car that takes you to the top of the hill and brings you back down. It's a great way to see the city, though. We walked up the hill instead. The views of Sanya from the top are stunning. There are even shows and performances up there. We were really happy with the trip.

And we even got to see a rocket launch! That's when I really appreciated having my jacket, since we had to leave at 2 am and the launch was at 7 am. It was an incredible experience.

We wrapped up our stay and I'm still on cloud nine. The island is gorgeous, the water's warm, the locals are super friendly and welcoming, the food's decent, and our hotel was top-notch! We're both super satisfied with our trip!!!

P.S. Thanks for taking the time to read about my experience! I hope your own adventures are just as amazing!