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Sanya: More Luxe Than We Thought

We've been following the hostile takeover development in Sanya for a while now. Since that first spark of lust in our beach-loving hearts, we just couldn't stop. When we heard about the Ritz-Carlton hotel coming to Sanya, Hainan's main beach resort, we figured it would be the area's nicest. Then we found out about the Mandarin Oriental! And now, it turns out that a Kempinski has been up and running there for a few weeks!

The Kempinski Sanya is nestled on a private beach. That's a huge plus in Sanya, where visitors say Yalong Bay is already suffering from the flash-influx of tourists. All 408 rooms feature private balconies and, more importantly, free internet access (we're thinking ethernet, though it's not specified). There are three proper restaurants, including a "brauhaus" that sounds delightfully out of place. The pièce de résistance is an Angsana spa, courtesy of Banyan Tree resorts. Introductory room rates start at $138 a night.

Much has been made of the pace of development in Sanya, and one recent CNN article noted that while the tourist dollars are rolling in, it "will never be the same." With some cautious trust in the situation, we're still dying for a little r&r there, not to mention access to real Hainanese chicken rice. Those in Hong Kong should take note of it as a suitable side trip, especially since special visas are available at the airport for stays of two weeks or shorter.

Related Stories:
· Kempinski Hotel Sanya [Official Site]