1 Hotel Haitang Bay

1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya, a Michelin Key One-Key property, offers a luxurious and eco-conscious retreat on Hainan Island, making it a highly regarded destination for travelers seeking a tranquil and sophisticated experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for 1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya, is overwhelmingly positive, with an "Exceptional" rating of 9.4 out of 10, based on over 10,000 reviews on platforms like Agoda. Other reviews also indicate a "Wonderful" rating of 9.1. As a Michelin Key One-Key property, it is recognized for providing "a very special stay." Guests consistently highlight the hotel's luxurious atmosphere, modern and nature-inspired design, and strong commitment to wellness and sustainability.

2. Key Highlights

Guests frequently praise the hotel's distinctive design, which seamlessly blends eco-conscious architecture with the natural beauty of Hainan Island. The design, by Oval Partnership, utilizes local materials like lava stone and red cedar, while interiors by FARM Singapore incorporate natural furnishings and living green walls.

Amenities are extensive, including five pools (four outdoor pools and a children's pool), six to seven restaurants and bars, a luxurious Bamford Wellness Spa with a steam room, a well-equipped 24-hour "Field House" gym with complimentary access, a kids' club, and a serene yoga room. The resort also emphasizes sustainability, with farm-to-table dining, rainwater harvesting, greywater reclamation, and solar thermal panels.

3. Room Quality

The 294 rooms, suites, and villas are described as luxurious, contemporary, and spacious, ranging from 62 to 1300 square meters. They feature unpolished, locally sourced volcanic basalt stone and wood, complemented by natural furnishings such as tree stump stools, live-edge timber desks, rattan rugs, and organic cotton upholstery. Guests consistently find the beds to be extremely comfortable, with 100% positive assessments.

Standard room amenities include air conditioning, 24-hour room service, premium bedding, 40-inch LCD TVs with cable channels, minibars, and private bathrooms often featuring separate bathtubs and showers. Many rooms offer garden, poolside, or breathtaking ocean views, with some guests appreciating the scenic views directly from the bathtub. Free in-room WiFi is also available.

4. Dining Experience

1 Hotel Haitang Bay offers a diverse culinary journey across its six to seven dining and drinking venues, all committed to sustainable practices and locally sourced ingredients.

• 1 Kitchen: The signature all-day dining concept, it provides a farm-to-table experience with natural and organic ingredients, evoking a rocky coastline aesthetic.
• Green House: A fine dining Chinese restaurant featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and an exotic collection of plants, offering authentic Chinese cuisine and Cantonese specialties like Roasted Crispy Chicken with Sesame.
• Noodle House: Focuses on regional Chinese cuisines with hand-crafted noodles.
• Drift: A relaxed lobby lounge serving coffee, fresh pastries, and evening cocktails.
• The Sandbox: A casual poolside bar.
• The Juice Bar: Provides fresh juices for guests on the go.
• The breakfast buffet is a highlight, praised for its wide variety of international and local dishes, often enjoyed with an incredible sunrise sea view.

The hotel also maintains a Lobby Farm Stand, offering fresh seasonal fruits that might be imperfect in appearance but are perfect in taste, reducing food waste.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at 1 Hotel Haitang Bay receive high praise, with ratings of 8.6 on Agoda and 9.2 on Booking.com. Guests consistently describe the staff as friendly, attentive, accommodating, and passionate. Specific examples of exceptional service include staff assisting guests by flipping mattresses to their preferred firmness and welcoming lifeguards at the pool. The hotel provides a 24-hour front desk, concierge services, dry cleaning/laundry, 24-hour room service, and assistance with transport and tickets.

6. Location & Accessibility

Situated in Haitang Bay, Sanya, on Hainan Island, the hotel offers a tranquil setting away from the city's hustle and bustle. It is approximately 40 kilometers from Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX), with a journey taking about 45 minutes by taxi or private car. The hotel provides convenient transportation options, including a shuttle service, car hire, and taxi service.

The property is ideally located just 300 meters from Haitang Bay Beach and near Wuzihzhou Island Beach. For shopping enthusiasts, the renowned Sanya Duty Free Store is about 10 kilometers away, and Haitang Square offers a vibrant shopping experience. Atlantis water park is also a nearby attraction. While some guests note the location rating is slightly lower due to its distance from the main city center, many appreciate the peaceful and luxurious retreat it provides.

7. Value & Pricing

1 Hotel Haitang Bay offers "exceptional value for money," with an average price of around $187 per room, which is higher than Sanya's average of $133 but considered worthwhile given the unparalleled luxury experience. Another estimate places the average price at $163, also touting it as "affordable luxury." The hotel's value for money rating is strong, scoring 8.8 on Agoda and 8.9 on Booking.com. Guests have found garden view rooms to be particularly good value. Added conveniences such as complimentary self-parking and free Wi-Fi in all rooms enhance its value proposition.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted by guests. One recurring comment points to the hotel's vast size, with one guest mentioning "So huge as hotel, long walk to go back to ur room!" Additionally, the "Free WiFi" amenity received a slightly lower rating of 6.7 on Booking.com, suggesting potential inconsistencies in connectivity.

Sources

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16. agoda.com