5-Star Hotels in Dali City

Afternoon Tea: There's afternoon tea every day, and it's not just a perfunctory offering – they have really delicious cakes and such. Welcome Fruit: Freshly washed fruit is provided daily. Service: The service is truly excellent. As someone who used to work as a server, I can say the attitude here is outstanding. Environment: It's exceptionally clean and tidy, and the staff are very friendly and never superficial. Hygiene: Superb. I'll definitely recommend this to my friends and family next time! 👍

The room was very spacious and well-equipped. The decor and design were fantastic. The renovation of the historic building is quite unique, and the courtyard is breathtaking. The housekeeping service was excellent, and any requests were promptly addressed. The breakfast was also delicious, featuring some unique dishes. I'll definitely stay here again next time I'm in Yunnan.

The design and attention to detail exceeded expectations. The butler had already prepared a travel kit with sunglasses and sunscreen. Breakfast was quite elaborate, semi-buffet style, which was a pleasant surprise. However, being an old wooden house, the sound insulation was poor, the room was a bit cramped, and the bathroom was small. For a price point of over a thousand yuan, the value for money felt a bit low. The hotel is conveniently located for getting around. If you prioritize service experience, go for it. But if you're sensitive to space and noise, you might want to reconsider.

The room was very spacious with views from both the front and back. The room service was also very thoughtful; afternoon tea and evening desserts were delivered right to our room! The rooftop mirror offered stunning views of Cangshan mountain, and you could even catch the sunrise from up there. Getting in and out of the ancient city was super convenient, with electric scooters available for rent right outside the door, making it easy to explore the nearby area.

The location is at the North Gate of the Ancient City. I chose the North Gate because there's a North City Farmers' Market nearby, which I highly recommend visiting. After shopping there, I bought some fruits and wild mushrooms, and the hotel manager kindly helped us cook a mushroom hotpot. It was much fresher and more delicious than the frozen mushrooms you get at restaurants outside. The hotel has great views and is very quiet. The person in picture six is the manager, she's super friendly and helpful – you can't go wrong asking her for anything. It's suitable for family trips; you can rent electric scooters right outside the hotel to visit various farms, the Cangshan cable car, and Wuwu Temple. An electric scooter is perfectly sufficient!

One of the best hotel stays we’ve had in China ❤️ Dali Yuewan · VILLA Joy Hotel was honestly one of the most memorable stays we’ve had during our travels in China. What made it so special wasn’t just the beautiful location and views of Erhai Lake, but the genuine kindness and warmth of the entire team. Our own butler, Xiao Jun, deserves a special mention. He was incredibly attentive, always checking if we needed anything and willing to help with anything we asked. He made our stay so easy and comfortable, and we really appreciated how thoughtful he was throughout our visit. The kindness extended to everyone — from the kitchen staff to the cleaning ladies. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and you could really feel the genuine hospitality. ❤️ The hotel’s own restaurant was another highlight. The Yunnan food and Western dishes were both delicious — so much so that we ended up eating at the hotel for our entire stay! It was convenient, delicious and honestly hard to leave when the food was this good. We also loved the extra services the hotel offers. The complimentary travel photography was such a wonderful experience and gave us beautiful memories and photos of our time in Dali. The pick-up service was also incredibly convenient. And then came the sweetest surprise — Xiao Jun arranged a beautiful birthday cake for our daughter’s 16th birthday. 🎂 We weren’t expecting it at all, and the cake was absolutely delicious. It made her birthday even more special. Before we left, the team surprised us again with a beautiful departure gift. Such a thoughtful gesture and a lovely way to end our stay. We’ve stayed at many hotels during our travels around China, but this is definitely one that will stay in our memories. It’s rare to find a place where the location, food, service and genuine kindness of the people all come together so beautifully. Thank you to Xiao Jun and the entire Yuewan Villa team for making our Dali stay so special. We truly felt looked after from beginning to end. We would love to come back! ❤️ Love from family roim 204 stayed 21/9 to 23/9

1. **Check-in Area:** The check-in counter, or front desk, was quite shabby. The computer keyboard was practically caked in grime, and don't even get me started on the sofa next to it – it looked very unhygienic. 2. **Dining:** The breakfast area was a bit cramped, with just four small tables by the street. If you're a party of more than two, you'd have to sit separately, or you might even have to stand and wait for a table. The coffee, however, was good. I only had breakfast once: a cold quinoa salad (see Photo 6) served with bread that had an overpowering artificial creamer flavor. I had been looking forward to the rice noodles for the next day, but serving didn't start until 8:30 AM, which was far too late for my rumbling stomach. Early risers and those who prefer hot meals should seriously consider other options or make alternative arrangements. 3. **Room (2nd floor) - Noise Issues:** Don't even think about getting any sleep at night. After 11 PM, there was still noise along the street, along with the clanging of the garbage truck. (Seriously, I'd strongly advise against staying in the Old Town.) The next day, it started pouring before dawn, and the sound of the heavy rain kept me awake as well. 4. **Room - Facility Issues:** The room I stayed in was supposedly the quietest in the entire hotel. It featured a large bathtub and a bathroom where the toilet and shower area lacked wet/dry separation. Unable to deal with the wet floor, I decided to shower in the bathtub. That's when I discovered Problem #1: the glass partition was completely transparent, with no curtain or frosted glass. The staff member claimed this was 'design.' Then came Fatal Problem #2: the bathtub had no running water, haha! 😄 5. **Room - Odor Issues:** Upon entering, there was a strong musty smell. The staff claimed it was due to 'raw wood,' but it's been 8 years and it still smells like that? Quite amusing. 6. **Staff (Pre-Check-in):** Before I even checked in, they asked me to cancel my booking on the platform and pay them privately for a discounted rate. I have this in writing. This is definitely a huge red flag, and I'm surprised they even dared to suggest it. 7. **Staff (General):** The individuals themselves were nice enough, but I was surprised to find that all the 'Jixiashan' staff were quite young, without uniforms, and seemingly without direct supervision, which gave a very disorganized and casual impression. 8. **Housekeeping:** I was quite satisfied with the housekeeping. Seeing the clean duvet and towels gave me peace of mind (P.S. the pillows were also comfortable). The hotel's facilities are very old; no matter how clean the bathroom tiles were, they still looked run-down, compounded by the dim lighting. Therefore, I feel the housekeeping staff here really have a tough job. 9. **Building Structure:** One morning, during a heavy downpour, when I opened my 2nd-floor room door, the entrance was essentially flooded up to my heels. It was quite a feat that the water didn't spread into the room. At night, there were no lights, so I had to grope my way back to the room along the dark corridor. It would be quite difficult for someone who doesn't remember their way (see Photos 1-2). 10. **Hotel Amenities:** One night, I heard the guest next door return, unable to open their door with the key, and had to call a staff member for help. They chatted for a bit outside the door before the staff member finally told the guest a 'trick': 'The key needs to be inserted a certain way, and the lock has a particular mechanism...' That's quite a struggle – needing a special technique just to get back to your room! 11. **Minor Details:** The room key had a very large, bulky leather tag attached to it. Absolutely no consideration for travelers on long journeys with limited luggage space. Who would want to carry such a bulky thing around? I originally had high hopes for the 'Jixiashan' brand. When I was in Shangri-La, I heard their Meili store had a collaboration with Kolon, which made me think they had good taste. This Dali Ancient City location is their first store, but it turned out to be such a low standard. Given the daily rate, I guess I understand why. This particular store cannot be found on 'Jixiashan's' mini-program; it's categorized under 'Wang Shenme Chuan Qu Le'.

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

This was an absolutely fantastic homestay experience. I've stayed in other places where the photos looked great, but the reality was a huge disappointment. So I didn't have high expectations this time, but wow, was I surprised! Could a homestay actually look as good as its pictures? Was the 'butler service' more than just a slogan? And could a room really be this beautiful without a wide-angle lens? This time, I truly experienced it all. If I had to nitpick, I'd suggest the host add a few more hooks in the room. Other than that, there's nothing else to say. If you're reading reviews and researching accommodations, go ahead and book this place with confidence – you won't be disappointed!

The service was excellent. From the moment we checked in, they noticed we had a lot of luggage and thoughtfully helped us take it to our room. As a family-friendly hotel, they had everything ready for the kids: bathrobes, slippers, toiletries, a footstool, and even Wangzai milk. There aren't many dining options nearby, but the simple noodles offered by the hotel in the evening were perfect for the little ones. The room and the Golden Storm area were fantastic, the kids absolutely loved it. A nice little detail was the showerhead having a lower setting specifically designed for children.