T

he Ritz-Carlton is one of a string of fve-star hotels overlooking Yalong Bay at Sanya on Hainan Island, rubbing shoulders with the Hilton next door and the Marriott down the road, all of which are attracting a growing number of Chinese visitors to the country’s very own tropical holiday isle. And with at least two airlines plying the 90-minute direct Hong Kong-Sanya route, Yalong Bay is one of the most accessible destinations for Hong Kong families looking for a quick beach getaway. A weekend break with my ten-year-old daughter Natasha made a perfect Friday afternoon to Sunday evening escape.

Five-star treatment

From the moment you arrive in the hotel lobby you know your kids are in for a treat – they are welcomed at their very own check-in desk, where they have their photo taken for their “Petit VIP” passport, in which they can collect stamps for each kids’ club activity they complete. The newly crowned VIPs will fnd treats in the hotel room too, where amenities include kid-sized bathrobes and slippers. The Ritz-Carlton is a big resort with expansive gardens, two large swimming pools, a lagoon-style pool with access directly into the water from some rooms, and a collection of secluded villas just off the beach. There are restaurants aplenty, luxury shops and the largest spa in the

region, plus all the amenities you’d expect in a top-notch resort. What sets The Ritz-Carlton apart is its focus on giving children a truly frst-class holiday experience. Parents will appreciate the careful attention to detail that makes a stay with kids easy. As well as the usual cots and high chairs, the hotel provides bottle warmers and sterilisers, changing mats, baby bathtubs, prams and car seats on request – all helping to lighten the load of families travelling with babies. In the hotel room, rubber protective corners on sharp-edged furniture will help toddlers avoid nasty bumps, and potties are to be found in all of the hotel’s restrooms. The focus on children extends to meal times, too. Executive chef Chris Southwick has created nutritious and kid-friendly menus in all of the hotel’s restaurants, where small-sized tables and buffet tables are set up to cater to younger guests. What a treat to fnd a kids’ menu that doesn’t include the ubiquitous anything-fried-with-chips staples! And when the kids get to make their own pizzas, under the careful tutelage of the hotel chefs, the resulting meal can be a lot of fun.

For kids with the goal of achieving the highest level of VIP service (those with a penchant for business class travel, I suspect), the hotel offers a “child butler” service (for a not inconsiderable fee) where an individual attendant will cater to a child’s every whim, 24 hours a day. While not quite in keeping with the spirit of the all-inclusive family holiday,

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