sanya/hainan island

[carang]

ok, after carefully considering everyone's wonderful advice regarding yangshuo and guilin, we have decided to try further south.... hainan island.

i think there is a train from shenzhen, but i can't seem to find info... i can only find from guangzhou. have any of you taken the train to sanya?

how about good, cheap budget hotels/apartments. there will be 4 adults and 2 kids.

we are on a VERY tight budget.

any and all advice is welcome and appreciated!
thanks!

[drumbrake]

No direct train from Shenzhen. You need to go to Guangzhou - for example the K407.

I think one of the cheapest ways of going to Sanya . Hainan is to book a package through a Hong Kong travel agent - especially if you want to stay in a hotel on the beach.

There is also this place: Boao Inn but I have never stayed there or even been to Hainan. For beaches I'd go to Thailand.

[MovingIn07]

We flew to Hainan from Shenzhen airport. It was dirt cheap (about 500RMB if I recall correctly). But we didn't fly to Sanya airport - we flew to the other one in the north. I think that's where the train goes too - I found little evidence it went all the way to Sanya when I was looking ..... Stayed in the Sheraton - crappy sheraton and not cheap; then took a bus to Wanning and stayed in Le Meridien - nice hotel and not cheap! Looked like heaps of cheap accomodation near Sanya though - but it didn't inspire me as a place - basically a chinese tourist resort - yuck.

Given a choice, I'd go to Lijiang instead. Or perhaps Dali (which I've not been to).

[Stoob]

Get to Sanya, Haikou, Hainan Island by Train, Ferry,Bus and Flight

[hello_there]

If you're looking for beaches, Sanya might be too cool this time of year. Went a couple Decembers ago it wasn't pleasant beach weather. It was also dirty and not much to do there, food all around the island was marginal, service was crap at the 5 star hotel and even worse anywhere outside. Can't imagine going back. Just about anywhere in the Philippines or Thailand would be a wayyyy nicer beach destinations than Sanya.

[Mat]

If you are on such a tight budget/time and want some nature nearby why don't you go to Zhaoqing?

it's only 4 hours bus from Shenzhen.

Zhaoqing Hotels and travel reservation, China Zhaoqing hotels discount reservation

[MovingIn07]

If you are on such a tight budget/time and want some nature nearby why don't you go to Zhaoqing?

it's only 4 hours bus from Shenzhen.

Zhaoqing Hotels and travel reservation, China Zhaoqing hotels discount reservation

Cool! That looks really interesting. How do you catch the bus?

[Stoob]

Cool! That looks really interesting. How do you catch the bus?

If the thought of mainland supplied subway equipment causes you concern, you should not even consider long distance bus travel in the PRC.

I've seen enough wreckage on the Guangshen expressway alone to put me off.

[Mat]

Cool! That looks really interesting. How do you catch the bus?

You can take from "everywher', ie

• Lo Wu
• Bao'an Bus Station
• Longgang Long Bus Station

it's about 3/4 hours drive as I recall and the price was about RMB60-80 at the time (back in 08).

here more updated info actually: From Shenzhen Shekou to Zhaoqing by Coach | Delta Bridges

[carang]

hmmm... will have a look.

we are not all that interested in beaches (thailand for 6 people is just too expensive). my mum (has been to beijing in the past) and her husband want to dip their feet into the neighbour to the north.

they are now retired and living off of their meagre savings, so budget IS a major concern for all parties (they would never let us cover their costs).

i'll have a look at the suggestions made. thanks!