If you have been following along, you will know that during the summer holidays, my family decided to go on a brief beach break. The catch? Both our daughters are under 2 years old. The youngest was 1 month old and the eldest was almost 21 months. We went from Beijing to Beidaihe and spent three nights and four days in the coastal town. Despite the challenges that come with traveling with such little humans, it was such a good time that by the end of it I wished we could have stayed longer
Click here to read about how we prepared
The Accommodation:
We stayed at one of the Meisheng Hotel’s three-bedroom apartments in Seatopia: one room for my newborn and me, one for my toddler and husband, and one for my mother-in-law.
There are so many reasons to recommend this property, from the service to the cleanliness to the close proximity to absolutely all that matters; we would definitely stay there again. The rooms were spacious, and the beds were super comfortable. The living area was roomy and light, and having a washing machine and small kitchen stocked with basics made a HUGE difference to the comfort and flexibility of our trip.
The hotel provides a “butler” service for apartment guests, and while you may be thinking of a penguin-suited man who shines your shoes, it actually just means a helper who will be on WeChat for any questions or requests (like asking for laundry detergent or where the pool club is). They also turn the AC on in advance and check that the lights and WiFi are on and working for a chilled (literally) arrival. They have many different apartments on offer, such as ones with a splash pool or private garden and patio or whirlpool tubs, in anything from two to four bedrooms.
Find it:
Beidaihe New Area Ocean Blue Coast Visitor Reception Center
北戴河新区远洋蔚蓝海岸游客接待中心
Tel: 166 3057 6963
Pro Tip:
All the expected amenities were included, BUT the towels are not traditional towels; they are hardly towels at all, but rather disposable paper towels. The rooms have “black-out” curtains, but that is not quite accurate; it was more like “beige-out” if you ask me, so if you need it to be dark to sleep late, bring an eye-mask. While Trip.com lists things like “umbrellas” under the hotel inclusions, they do not mean beach umbrellas. Those are, in fact, very expensive to rent (minimum RMB 800), which is why you will see them being used as coat hangers rather than anyone actually hiring them.
The Food:
Since we had a kitchen, it was great to have the option of getting a few items at the shop nearby and making food at home. There is also a KFC, Pizza Hut, and several Chinese restaurants within a few minutes’ walk. There is a big cafeteria that serves a huge variety of food and drinks, with things like Kung Pao chicken on the menu for those who prefer something less traditional. My favorite was the YoYo Café, where I had the beef stew one day and creamy chicken and apple stew the next, which were both absolutely amazing, along with a very yummy cold coconut latte. YoYo was also great for us as a family because they had activity tables set up for the kids to play at while the parents gulped down their food (and there is a very good baby changing station).
Pro Tip:
Whilst in the Cafeteria, go out the back entrance (not down the elevator) and you will find the supermarket. Right next to the supermarket is a quaint little bakery with yummy breads and delicious soft-serve ice creams!
In and Around:
We decided to walk everywhere; since we had the double stroller, it was very convenient, and we liked exploring. There are, however, electric little cars, almost like golf carts with four seats, and electric standing scooters for rent all over Seatopia. These beach buggies, like most things in China, are open to negotiation. The average rates are around RMB 60-150 per hour, but you can get deals on Dianping like RMB 185 for ten hours.
For the adventure seekers who like to explore, one can also take a quick DiDi ride to Shanhaiguan (山海关区) to see the Great Wall section that ends in the sea, called Lao Long Tou (老龙头). Or take a ride to Nandaihe for an awesome 1km-long cable car ride over the ocean to Xianluo Island (仙螺岛跨海索道), especially cool (and cool) in the evening!
That being said, there is no shame in doing as little as possible to avoid needing a vacation from your vacation. In that case, you can lounge at the beach all day, and swim in the lovely, not-cold-at-all water, or spend hours chilling at the pool club (RMB 20 per adult; our littles were free), which also has kiddie foam parties and a children’s pool section to boot.
Everywhere we went, my toddler found friends, and everyone was entertained. It is a destination very much centered around family getaways. Kids of all ages are catered to, and any family looking for a quick (or even long) trip that is not too far from Beijing should definitely look into Beidaihe. Sure, you might return home more tired than when you left … but you’ll have better photos.
Images: Janita Shahsavari
