Heading to Hainan instead of Thailand

Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, like pasta with stew — cool, but after the third time, you want something new. And where can you go for roughly the same money? There’s an option just for those who want a change — Hainan Island in China.

Accommodation

Calculate your accommodation budget based on which bay you’ll be staying in. The most popular are: Dadonghai, Yalong Bay, and Sanya Bay. What’s the difference between them?

1. Dadonghai Bay is considered the cheapest and most popular option for a stay. Here you’ll find inexpensive hotels, a large beach, mountains on both sides, and incredibly beautiful corals. That’s why people come here for diving, but there’s almost no nightlife.
2. Yalong Bay is an expensive spot. Restaurants along the beach, luxurious hotels right on the shore, many brand-name stores, and the most beautiful sunset views.
3. Sanya Bay is the golden mean — a good balance of price and quality. Here, five-star hotels are much cheaper, the sea and beach are clean, and there’s developed infrastructure and nightlife.

If you’re unpretentious and can sleep soundly through someone else’s snoring, a bed in a hostel dorm can be rented for about 50 yuan a night. Hotels from three stars are similar in price to simple apartments near the sea — about 300 yuan per day.

Food

In the resorts of Hainan Island, you can even find restaurants with European cuisine — this option is suitable for those who can’t live without their favorite burger with fries. If you’re renting an apartment or house with a full kitchen, buy food at markets, especially seafood. At a restaurant, ready-made delicacies won’t be cheap — a dinner will cost up to 150 yuan.

Leisure

You can relax and book excursions to different parts of the island — this way you’ll see it from all sides, and observe the contrast between the southern and northern parts. If you have a lot of time or came for the winter, explore Hainan on your own. Transport on the island is well-developed: buses, trains, and for short distances — motorized rickshaws. Buses are the cheapest way to get around, with regular routes costing from two yuan per trip. As throughout Asia, you’ll find architecture here that reflects Buddhist culture. On the island, for example, there’s “The End of the Earth” — a park located right by the sea, with unusually shaped stones. Which ones—we won’t say, we want to preserve the ‘wow’ effect. Be sure to visit the crocodile zoo, Monkey Island, and the hot healing springs. After all, Hainan Island is a Chinese health resort, where tourists from all over the world regularly go for wellness retreats. Golf clubs, shooting centers, rafting, opera, sea fishing, Chinese massage — you won’t get bored!

How to get there

The journey is not short and often involves transfers. So if you’re going to fly for 10 hours, it should be in a comfortable cabin with responsive staff, wouldn’t you agree? You’ll be lucky if you fly Hainan Airlines, and here’s why:

1. The airline has entered the top 10 best airlines in the world and has been awarded the title of a “five-star” airline by Skytrax for 7 consecutive years.
2. On many flights, baggage allowances are generous. Economy class passengers can carry two pieces of checked baggage + 10 kg of hand luggage, and business class passengers — three pieces of checked baggage and 20 kg of hand luggage. And that’s an incredible amount. All for shopping!
3. The crew speaks multiple languages, ensuring there is no language barrier in case of anything.
4. Diverse European and Chinese cuisine, including children’s meals. Plus, an in-flight multimedia entertainment system in multiple languages.
5. In business class, seats recline into a full-fledged bed. Bliss!
6. Business class passengers can order a free airport transfer to/from the airport in Beijing at least 48 hours before departure. We’ll travel like kings.
7. For travelers in transit through Beijing to Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, or any other third country, a 144-hour visa-free transit policy applies to citizens of many countries.

Friends, don’t be afraid to take risks and discover new places and experiences. A Thai beach with planes flying low overhead is cool, of course, but there are many wonderful places in the world anyway. So this winter, we’re heading to Hainan! And you already know where to get tickets on Kupi.com.