No turning back! This is how to enjoy a seven-day self-driving trip in Hainan with kids

Having been to Hainan several times, I have summarized a perfect self-driving route along the east coast of Hainan, ideal for traveling with kids. In seven days, you can travel from Haikou to Sanya without retracing your steps, enjoying breathtaking scenery all the way. The most convenient way to travel with kids is, of course, to rent a car. Rent in Haikou and return in Sanya, very convenient. - Route: Meilan Airport➡Wenchang➡Shenzhou Peninsula➡Shimei Bay➡Riyue Bay➡Lingshui➡Phoenix Airport - First Stop: Wenchang After picking up the car at the airport, head straight to Wenchang and check into the Hilton at Qishui Bay, where you can step out directly onto the glassy sea. Since you are traveling with kids, it's not recommended to visit popular tourist spots. A few minutes' drive from the hotel, you can go to the beach and catch big starfish. Of course, you can't miss the local delicacies, especially since the prices in Wenchang are almost half of those in Wanning. Tan Niu Wenchang Chicken, Puzhen Zao Po Vinegar, Lao Ba Tea, and Yue Bai Wei Seafood Processing Workshop are all worth trying. - Second Stop: Shenzhou Peninsula After much deliberation between the Hyatt and the Sheraton, we chose the Sheraton because it is closer to the beach (and cheaper). The kids loved the sea swings, carousel, and T-shaped pool so much that we didn't leave the hotel at all, not even to visit the lighthouse or the coastal road. If there is a sunset, I recommend trying the hotel's sunset restaurant. - Third Stop: Shimei Bay One of the most beautiful bays in Hainan, with a six-kilometer stretch of turquoise sea and silver beach. Between the Le Méridien and the Westin, I chose the Westin because it offers more activities for kids, keeping them busy from morning till night, and even has paid childcare. However, its pool is not as beautiful as Le Méridien's, and because the pink beach is right at the hotel, there are many outsiders entering. - Fourth Stop: Riyue Bay A paradise for surfers, but since the kids are too young, we chose the Gift Sea View B&B away from the coast. The white buildings and sea-view pool are very photogenic, and we tried staying overnight in an RV for the first time, which almost dispelled my idea of buying an RV. - Fifth Stop: Lingshui Lingshui has many beautiful spots, but this time I chose the long-desired Boundary Island. The water here is crystal clear, with plenty of activities and even stingrays to feed. We stayed one night at the island's fishing club, choosing a sea-view wooden house. Apart from the inconvenience of getting around (calling for a sightseeing car in advance), everything else was perfect. - After leaving Boundary Island, we drove directly to Sanya Airport to return the car. This trip skipped the most popular Sanya and Haikou, opting for a more niche and sophisticated east coast loop. Of course, renting a car made the trip more convenient.