Lingshui Beach Hotels

Our recent stay at the Raffles Clearwater Bay certainly didn't disappoint. The hotel has a strong Southeast Asian vibe with its wooden corridors, rattan lighting, and lush layers of tropical plants. It’s quiet and uncrowded—sun loungers on the beach are easy to come by, and the pool isn't packed either. A massive shoutout to the breakfast, easily the best hotel breakfast we had during our 9 days in Hainan. Manager Darryl reached out in advance as always and got our room sorted, and the smooth room upgrade was fantastic. Throughout our stay, dining and transportation arrangements were all handled with great care, and he constantly checked in to make sure we were comfortable. With gorgeous views, few crowds, and consistent service, we'll definitely choose to come back during the off-season and look him up again.

We had a wonderfully comfortable two-day getaway, and this was my first stay at Capella, which left a fantastic impression. I'm already looking forward to checking out the soon-to-open Capella Nanjing next. First, the service: Blacky, our Cultural & Travel Ambassador, made our stay incredibly warm. From daily chats to handling our requests, messages were always answered instantly, morning or night. Blacky patiently introduced and deeply recommended various explorations and special activities, making our itinerary rich and fun. They were always eager to help without being intrusive, and this genuine warmth created unforgettable holiday memories. At Silk Road for breakfast, the restaurant manager enthusiastically introduced us to a tamarind latte, a local specialty. Even if it might not be a standard menu item, their eagerness to share local cuisine and hotel specialties, and to create surprises for guests, deeply touched me. The special blend was perfectly balanced with sweet and sour notes and excellently presented. These unexpected delights made for precious holiday experiences. Regarding the most important aspect of a holiday – the accommodation experience – the bedding quality was superb. After staying at numerous major brands for business travel, Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan's bedding comfort is one of the best, absolutely worth experiencing. As a resort hotel, it was pitch dark when the curtains were closed, and the soundproofing was excellent, allowing us to easily sleep until we woke up naturally and still make it to breakfast before 11 am. The hotel grounds are extensive. While I'm no architecture expert, I adore plants. The landscaping choices and arrangements are exceptionally well-thought-out. Compared to most hotels with limited, often dense plant varieties, Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan features everything from high-reaching traveler's palms and regular palms, to mid-level broadleaf shrubs, and various ferns at ground level, all arranged in a naturally staggered way. We could call for a buggy anytime, anywhere on the grounds, but I preferred to stroll through this private, secluded garden, enjoying both shade from direct sunlight and the fragrant aroma of plants. The main pool is open until 10 PM, allowing for plenty of water play even after the hottest part of the day. Paddleboards and magic carpets were freely available and a hit with the kids. The heated pool is a 25-meter standard lap pool, and the gym is fully equipped with cardio and strength training machines, plus a ping-pong table and tennis courts – more than enough options for a holiday. My favorite part was the complimentary access to the dry sauna, steam room, massage pool, and snow room at the spa. It was a wonderful experience; my skin felt much smoother after alternating between hot and cold. For dining, the fruit Danish at Silk Road's breakfast is a must-try. Their custard cream is silky smooth and not overly sweet – I want the recipe! I also recommend ordering a bowl of Yi Mein noodles with wontons and adding a generous scoop of 'zaopocu' (a local sour vinegar) to create your own 'zaopocu' wonton noodles – everyone should give it a try! Sabai Sabai, the Thai restaurant, has excellent online reviews and was generally good. Their peanut sauce is delicious, but a word of caution: the curry beef ribs curry contains a significant amount of peanuts and has a very strong peanut base, which is quite unusual. If you're not a fan, I suggest choosing other curry options like chicken curry or crab curry. We opted for the basic room type this time, and the overall experience far exceeded our expectations. The spacious nearly 90-square-meter interior, convenient buggy service around the resort, extensive activity schedule, and consistently meticulous hospitality meant that, apart from potential differences in room views and amenities based on booking, there was essentially no sense of a 'basic room' compromise. The baseline quality is exceptionally high. I'm really looking forward to experiencing their villa suites when I visit next year.

The Wyndham Lingshui Clear Water Bay Resort, despite being open for ten years, still offers a very good overall stay experience even though some facilities show their age. Its location is outstanding, making it incredibly convenient for self-driving to various attractions in Lingshui with short commute times. The biggest highlight of the hotel is that your room card grants access to the back garden. The garden boasts beautiful landscaping and features a swimming pool. Walking through the garden leads directly to the beach, where the rocky shore is perfect for kids to go crabbing, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. To be objective, there are a couple of downsides: The hotel has a semi-open design, with the lobby entrance wide open, which means it doesn't feel cool enough when you enter during the summer. The guest room corridors are also open-air, making them a bit stuffy and hot around midday. The buffet breakfast selection is somewhat limited; it would be even more perfect if they could expand the variety and improve the quality of the dishes. Overall, it's ideal for family vacations, especially if you're traveling by car. The private beach and garden are significant bonuses.