Ritz-Carlton, Sanya

Welcome to the Hawaii of the South China Sea. The 450-room Ritz-Carlton is a standout among the growing number of resorts on Hainan, China’s only tropical island. Amid crowds of well-heeled mainland Chinese (including lovestruck newlyweds in matching Hawaiian shirts) we found a Forbidden City–inspired retreat with gardens, reflective lagoons, and wooden pillar-lined walkways. After a day spent by your villa’s plunge pool, don’t be daunted by the distance to the seawater-themed Espa at the other end of the resort: a personal butler awaits to drive you there.