Raffles Hotels in Lingshui

1. Clearwater Bay Beach is truly fantastic (though it rained, so I'm not sure if that affected the singing). The sand is fine, the sea is blue, and there are many small sand crabs (but please release them if you catch them, they belong to the ocean!). 2. Our butler, Chloe, provided excellent service. She upgraded our room, was incredibly responsive to all our requests, and went out of her way to help us solve any issues. She contacted us in advance of our stay, and during our stay, she sent us a fruit basket and coconuts. She also actively helped us secure a prime spot for the beach BBQ (super nice). 3. The hotel itself has a strong Southeast Asian style, designed with elegance and grandeur. The corridors, arches, sculptures, and the long bar are all beautiful. At night, when the lights come on, the entire building looks incredibly sophisticated and high-quality. 4. Dining: We tried the beach BBQ, and the atmosphere was great. Although we couldn't dine directly on the sand, the lawn right next to the beach was still lovely. The food was excellent, ranking among the best buffet ingredients we've had in Sanya (with sea cucumber, abalone, caviar, lobster, hairy crabs, large oysters, etc.). However, the overall service was somewhat disappointing. The waitstaff seemed to be aimlessly busy (perhaps temporary staff who were very unprofessional), and it often took multiple calls to get their attention. The same applied to clearing plates (they'd clear a full plate of food you were still eating, but wouldn't clear empty ones). Also, the vinegared hot pot (Zao Po Cu hot pot) caught fire due to the strong wind, and the flames were quite large. Yet, the waitstaff remained unconcerned. In the end, it was a foreign staff member who helped put it out – kudos to him. 5. Bar: We tried the Singapore Sling and a Negroni. The Singapore Sling, originating from Raffles, was good, but the Negroni was very mediocre. The overall service was also quite frustrating. We had to call the waiter over just to get water, and after sitting for ten minutes, we were told our table was reserved. However, every table had a 'reserved' sign. The waiter then said some tables with signs were reserved and some weren't, which honestly left a very poor impression. 6. The hotel pool is great. The lagoon pool has a bubble activity in the afternoon, and the adult pool is also very clear. I feel like if the weather were good, we could also surf and swim by the sea. Next time, with better weather, I'll try the water activities. 7. The room view was quite good, and the housekeeping auntie was very meticulous, turning down our bed every evening. Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives. The overall service could definitely be improved. The beach is indeed unbeatable, and the butler service was excellent. However, the service from other staff members needs strengthening. Apart from the staff near the front desk and in the Chinese restaurant who proactively greeted us, I hope other staff members around the resort can also be more proactive in greeting guests.