Hotele z: Pools w Yunnan, China

Upon check-in, the butler informed us that my parents' twin room was not in the same building as our sea-view room. Butler Feifei then kindly upgraded my parents to a sea-view room free of charge. Also, the shuttle driver was excellent, taking us back and forth and even enthusiastically helping us with our belongings. The hotel's views are also fantastic.

On the positive side, the hotel has quite a few recreational facilities, and the room amenities are decent and relatively new. On the negative side, the biggest problem is the excessive dampness in the room. It was uncomfortable to sleep in, and although the hotel changed the bedding, it didn't help much. This might be due to the humid air during the rainy season in Xishuangbanna, but two things puzzled me: 1) The front desk said no one else had reported this issue before. 2) I stayed at three hotels during this trip, and Zhucheng was the third. The other two were right next to Zhucheng, and their rooms didn't feel noticeably damp. Also, the hotel room didn't pay enough attention to some details. The sofa arrangement prevented the curtains from closing completely automatically; I had to manually close them. The refrigerator was also quite noisy, which affected my sleep.

This Mingyu Licheng Ademan Hotel in Banna was such a pleasant surprise! It's full of Southeast Asian charm, surrounded by lush rainforest greenery, and the pool light show creates an incredible atmosphere. The room was spacious and smart, with a Dyson hairdryer and Atelier Cologne toiletries, which really elevated the experience. The balcony offered a super relaxing view. The butler service was attentive, and they even offered pick-up and drop-off. The Dai-style rice noodles for breakfast were amazing. Absolutely fantastic value for money, definitely my top choice for accommodation in Banna!

I was very satisfied with the hotel. It offers great value for money, especially being near the Starlight Night Market, and the staff service was excellent. We could walk to many popular spots. The room was a standard Atour Feast style, with a smart Little Du butler. We stayed for four nights, and it was so convenient to go out and come back for meals every day. Exploring the riverside and Starlight Night Market was incredibly comfortable.

When I started planning our itinerary for our 15 day Yunnan holiday, I plotted out our path to go all the way up to Shangri-la, back down to Kunming and then to Jiaozi Snow Mountain and Dongchuan Red Land. Then I chanced upon a video of Aini Garden and fell in love! The only reason we came to Pu'er was to get to Aini. This was the first place I booked, and I really took a chance because it has a no cancellation policy and I really had to stick to the date once it was made. The initial pre-arrival experience was less than pleasant. I didn't know how we were going to get to the manor and my WeChat messages went unanswered. The hotel we stayed at in Pu'er finally got in touch with someone and got them to message me. I asked how we could get there and the answer was a curt ”take a taxi or charter a car”. No pleasantries of ”we look forward to seeing you” or offering to arrange a car. When we arrived, no one was at reception and no one came out. Our driver was so perplexed he wondered if we were in the right place and if the place was open. Finally a young girl came out and registered us in. There was an air of aloofness from everyone else. However, once we were checked in, things warmed up quickly. We were offered coffee and freshly cut papaya and had a nice introduction chat with the lady staff. The bedroom and bathroom is well appointed, spacious and comfortable. We would have enjoyed sitting on the balcony if the chairs were more comfortable. I love the floor to ceiling glass windows but the panel above the door should also be glass (it is just netting) so traffic sounds from the road actually comes through at night. I actually wanted to book the cottage in the hills but opted for the standard room in the main house because I was worried it would be cold. Big regret as it is actually magnificently located with stunning views. However take note that you will need to call for a buggy ride or make a 1km hike every time you want to eat or get to the main house. If you are self driving, no issues as you can park right next to the cottage. Anyway it's a small price to pay for an unlimited view of the milky way and seclusion. This is as close to a Ryokan experience as you can get in China, minus the hot springs. 3 days 2 nights of blissful, carefree living is not quite enough. They make sure they feed you well, with the freshest produce available for hotpot dinner and home-cooked Yunnanese dishes for lunch. There are so many activities organised, from taking you up the mountain for a glimpse of sunrise (with mountain goats for company ❤️) to coffee plantation education tour to horseback riding along the mountain ridges (the view is spectacular!) to scavenging for wild vegetables and fruits to drinking, dancing and singing around the campfire! So much to do, so little time! One area of improvement I personally would like to see is the coffee serving. They tend to be quite snobbish about how their coffee is taken. Neat, with nothing else. Asking for sugar or milk feels nearly scorned upon. Coffee is a versatile drink and can be savoured in a huge variety of ways. How else is Starbucks so successful? I felt kind of stifled and deprived because I love a good latte and had looked forward to enjoying an unlimited indulgence of coffee throughout our stay. Anyhow, I love the ecotourism efforts here. It feels natural and unpretentious. I love the people and the camaraderie they cultivate. I especially enjoyed talking to their consultant 敬梅, a beautiful lady with extensive knowledge in Yunnan culture and ecological progress. Also thank you to 徐芳 for arranging transport back to town and giving helpful recommendations. We hope to return again.

During my time in Lijiang, this was the only hotel I was truly satisfied with. I was honestly so tired of those so-called 'owner-run' B&Bs where you pay good money but get no sense of service, feeling cramped like you're intruding in someone else's home. Hygiene: Everything was excellent. Environment: Remarkably good. Both the reception and the hotel's public areas are exceptionally spacious for the Old Town. A major plus is that it's just a five-minute walk along the main road from the parking lot. Many B&Bs in the Old Town, even those not cheap, are tucked away down winding alleys with cramped receptions and gardens. This place truly offers the facilities of a proper hotel. The garden is also beautifully maintained. All public areas are lovely, well-equipped, and there's even a play area for children. The complimentary travel photography service also had very kind staff. Service: Every staff member I encountered was excellent, from management to restaurant and front desk staff. They not only greeted me proactively but also offered enthusiastic help. I've already recommended it to all my friends planning to visit Lijiang. I hope the owner continues to have great business, and that both the pets and staff receive even better welfare and benefits.

Back in Dali, I decided to revisit the Xianyun 360-degree Cliff Seaview Hot Spring B&B, and it truly lived up to expectations! The front desk staff were incredibly polite and attentive. I later found out that the humble and helpful manager, who was always ready to assist, was also from Beijing, which made me feel right at home. The B&B's environment is serene and immaculate. The private hot spring pool in the room is definitely the highlight. Soaking in the hot spring, you're directly facing the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake – it's like a landscape painting come to life. During my downtime, I loved sitting on the balcony, gazing at Cangshan and Erhai, which was incredibly therapeutic after a long journey. The restaurant's dishes were delicious and flavorful. My experience was as excellent as ever, truly a hidden gem of a seaview B&B. Choosing to stay here twice speaks volumes about its reliable quality. It’s my top choice when visiting Dali, highly recommended! Amenities: Excellent Hygiene: Good Environment: Beautiful Service: Fantastic

I couldn't book the same room type for two consecutive nights, so I had to book different room types for each night. The difference between the 'pool view' room and the 'Xiang Tang' room is that one has an openable window and the other doesn't. I stayed in the pool view room on the first night and it wasn't noisy at all. However, my experience in the 'Xiang Tang' room on the second night wasn't as good. The restaurant is right downstairs, and even at 10 or almost 11 PM, there were still children making noise on the platform. Closing the window helped a bit. The cleanliness wasn't great either; there were a lot of hairs on the bathroom floor. I hope they pay more attention to this. Everything else was pretty good. At least I didn't experience any power outages or room maintenance issues. They also provide toiletries for children.

The Naga Hotel, with its Thai-style architecture, provides exceptional butler service and thoughtful touches like complimentary airport pickup, making it perfect for photos. The rooms are spacious, equipped with projectors and balconies. It's just a 10-minute walk to the Starlight Night Market, and they offer free shuttle service to the Gaozhuang scenic area. Overall, it offers great value for money.

This hotel's location is absolutely unbeatable! Situated right near Baisha Ancient Town and at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it boasts a prime, front-row view of the mountain. With unspoiled agricultural land in front, the panoramic views are completely unobstructed. You can soak in the majestic snow-capped peaks right from your room, and even witness the breathtaking 'Golden Mountain in the Sunlight' spectacle from your bed. The ambiance and viewing experience were incredible, making this the most delightful stay of our Lijiang trip. The service was incredibly thoughtful and attentive. As we stayed for two nights, the hotel kindly arranged airport transfers, making everything seamless and stress-free. They also provided daily shuttle service to and from Baisha Ancient Town, which was super convenient for exploring and saved us the hassle of driving or finding taxis. Beyond that, the hotel offered immersive Naxi cultural experiences like tea pressing and 'Jiama' woodblock printing, which allowed us to truly delve into local customs and added so much richness and fun to our journey. The staff were consistently warm and attentive throughout our stay. They greeted us cheerfully, patiently recommended local specialty foods and off-the-beaten-path routes, and all their suggestions were incredibly useful. During downtime, they'd even invite guests to gather downstairs for tea and a chat. Their genuine and heartfelt approach made us feel completely at ease and welcome, as if we were visiting our own backyard. Their meticulous care and concern were evident in every interaction, truly making us feel at home. The guest rooms were spacious, and the amenities were comprehensive and well-equipped with everything you could need, ensuring a very comfortable stay. The combination of the unparalleled scenic views and outstanding soft and hard services far exceeded our expectations. Whether you're looking for a relaxing vacation or an immersive Lijiang experience, I highly recommend it. This will definitely be my top choice for accommodation on my next visit to Lijiang!