Hainan > Hainan Island Holidays in 2019: Last-Minute Tours and Prices

On Hainan Island, travelers can enjoy beach holidays all year round, shopping and wellness programs, attractions, magnificent park areas and an oceanarium. The island is located near Hong Kong and Macau and is washed by the South China Sea. In addition, Hainan has the status of a special economic zone, but industry is concentrated in the northern regions of the island. The capital of the island — Haikou — attracts travelers with sightseeing opportunities and active entertainment.

Where it is located

Hainan Island and the small islands adjacent to it are located in the southern part of China and are washed by the waters of the South China Sea.

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Tours to Hainan Island

It is located on the same latitude as Hawaii, which allows us to speak of excellent climatic conditions for a resort holiday, the riot of tropical colors and diverse flora and fauna.

In the central part of the island there are many pineapple, mango, coffee and banana plantations. Tea grows on the mountain slopes. The coastline stretches for 1,500 km along the sea. A trip to the island from Ukraine does not require transfers. In the summer tourist season, UIA and SkyUp airlines organized non-stop 10-hour flights from Kyiv.

When it is best to go

The high season on Hainan Island begins at the end of November and ends in the second half of April. During this period the most favorable conditions for swimming and beach holidays are observed. The air and water temperature is approximately the same — +25°C. But this is only a convention, since the island is considered an excellent place for year-round holidays for sunbathing and water activities enthusiasts.

From a financial perspective, the best time to travel is from June to September inclusive. Prices for hotels and other services on the island are lower than usual. But tourists who find it hard to tolerate the heat should avoid traveling at this time, since the air on Hainan in the summer months warms up to +39°C. There is high humidity due to frequent tropical rains.

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How to choose a bay on Hainan Island?

What to do

Most of the time on Hainan, travelers spend on beach vacations and water activities. The developed infrastructure of public beaches allows you to use sun loungers, umbrellas and showers almost anywhere on the island. All the beaches are sandy and gently sloping, which makes swimming comfortable for both children and adults.

The city of Sanya, located in the south of Hainan, is especially popular. Two of the most popular bays are located in its vicinity — Yalong Bay and Dadonghai. Yalong Bay is less crowded with Chinese tourists. It is peaceful, and the water is clean and transparent. Many dive centers are concentrated here. But be extremely careful, do not use the services of dubious schools, since proper attention is not paid to water sports at the resort, and tourists are often offered outdated equipment.

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Excursions on Hainan Island + Beach holidays

For beach holidays and eco-tourism, hotels located in tropical forests on the first beach line are perfect. They are adjacent to complexes of well-known global brands with 5 and 4 stars. The level of service depends on the price list.

In breaks between relaxing on the beach, we recommend visiting:

International Duty Free Complex. The largest shopping center on the island — Sanya International Duty Free Complex — is located in Haitang Bay. It is duty free and offers clothing, footwear and many other goods from well-known brands. On 720,000 sq.m there are entertainment venues, a hotel, etc. You can reach the shopping center by free buses that depart from all popular tourist areas.

“Tropical Paradise” Park in Yalong Bay. It invites you to get acquainted with the colorful local nature, stay in a villa on the top of a local mountain, and visit the Orchid Valley, meeting peacocks, parrots and antelopes along the way. In the “Snake House” reptile shows are held, and from the Lovers’ Bridge a stunning view opens onto the mountain-sea landscape.
Oceanarium. It is located within 25 km of Sanya. A 600-year-old turtle is kept in a special nursery. In total, 200 representatives of marine flora and fauna live in the oceanarium. You can take part in feeding crocodiles with a live chicken (for an additional fee) and watch various show programs.
Monkey Island, sprawling 80 km from Sanya. You can get to the island only by cable car. Tourists observe monkeys walking on the ground, sitting in trees, asking vacationers for sweets and stealing shiny jewelry.
Sanya has entertainment venues where various types of parties are held.
The city also has health and wellness facilities offering rejuvenation and wellness programs from the realm of traditional Chinese medicine.

Where to eat

The priority direction of the local cuisine is seafood. But for tourists who are indifferent to seafood, Hainan’s restaurants and cafes offer many vegetable and meat dishes of Chinese cuisine. Many establishments are oriented towards Russian-speaking tourists, as evidenced by their names — «U Leny», «SSSR», «Kievskaya Rus».

«U Leny»
The small restaurant is located in Dadonghai Bay. The average bill is about 13 euros for dinner for two. They cook excellent Peking duck and seafood. You can pre-select seafood from the assortment in the aquarium. Guests are respected here, so at the end of the meal they always bring a treat — dessert, fruit, tea or something else.

Armando BBQ
A very interesting establishment in Sanya Bay — a Brazilian barbecue where you can taste various types of meat, soups, salads and desserts for a fixed price. The buffet for one tourist is 12 euros. Drinks such as beer, tea, etc. are paid separately.

What to combine it with

A wonderful holiday on Hainan Island can be combined with a visit to Macau Island, known for its gambling clubs and casinos, as well as Hong Kong.

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The best hotels for family holidays on Hainan Island

Travelers with children choose to rest only on the coast, staying in one of the hotels in the bays of Sanya, Dadonghai or Yalong Bay. More active tourists can combine a beach holiday with excursions in the northern part of the island — near the city of Haikou. There you can visit the famous Dongshan Safari Zoo.