2-Star Hotels in Dali City

This time I stayed at the June Inn in Dali, and I found the owners, a husband and wife, to be very warm and genuine. The owners are from Northeast China, so they're very straightforward and easy to talk to. They made us feel very comfortable, without that overly commercial or formal vibe. There was a small hiccup during check-in. The driver didn't drop us off at the agreed-upon location, and we had to walk for about 3 minutes to reach the inn. Since we had arranged to be dropped off at a specific spot, I personally wasn't too happy with that arrangement. Unexpectedly, when the owner found out, he immediately came out to Bo'ai Gate to wait for us and personally guided us to the inn. This gesture really impressed me ❤️ Later, chatting with the owners was also very pleasant. They both felt very authentic and enthusiastic, giving us the feeling of having made local friends in Dali. The inn's location is also great; it's very convenient to get to the South Gate area of Dali Old Town. Thank you to the owners for taking care of us these past few days! This trip to Dali left me with wonderful memories. I hope to have the chance to stay here again next time I visit Dali. 🌿❤️

On my way back, I returned to Yuezhu Yishan. It's close to the ancient city, which is convenient after a long day of sightseeing. The bedding was just right – not too soft, not too firm – ensuring a good night's sleep. Every corner was spotless, and all the necessities were provided. The concierge was as attentive and thoughtful as ever, helping with our luggage. It felt just like coming home. I'll definitely stay here again on my next visit.

The breakfast with minced pork rice noodles was delicious! The owner, a retired serviceman, was incredibly kind and provided excellent service. The room had a beautiful view, facing Cangshan Mountain and backing onto Erhai Lake, and it was very spacious. Great value for money! The only downside is that the soundproofing isn't great; even with the windows closed during the day, you can still hear the music from Sanyue Street. Also, the walk from the guesthouse to the main road is a few hundred meters down a very dark alley, which can be a bit spooky at night if you're alone.

Because of the internal friction and pressure in the workplace, I chose to travel to Dali. On the first day, I stayed in another B&B booked on Ctrip for one night. It was very noisy and the hygiene was poor, so I changed. On the second day, I searched for B&Bs in Cai Village that were close to Erhai Lake but not facing the sea (facing the sea would be noisy) on Baidu Maps. Then I went to Ctrip to check the phone numbers and called them one by one. I looked at several B&Bs and the hygiene was not good. Finally, when I was about to give up, I finally arrived at Blue Sea Whisper: 1. Travel: The B&B is located in Cai Village. The B&B is a 1-minute walk to Erhai Lake. You can ride an electric car for more than 20 minutes to check in at Xindi Coffee and Longkan Wharf in the Erhai Ecological Corridor. It is a 3-minute walk from Cai Village CBD. It is very good to see the sea and eat. Very convenient. By the way, I strongly recommend bean curd rice noodles. 2. Environment: It is close to Erhai Lake but not the closest to it, so it is very quiet. The yard is very tidy, the room is very clean and new, and the sunlight is very comfortable. There is a terrace leisure area on the third floor, and you can also watch the sunrise and sunset on the roof. 3. The owner of the homestay is a super gentle and kind lady. On the first day, she recommended a route according to my schedule, took me out on an electric car, saw that I didn’t go out to play, brought me fruit to eat, invited me to eat with their family, etc., which made me feel great kindness and warmth on this trip. I sincerely recommend that if you travel for a long time or stay for a stay, you must go to the site to see the homestay before booking. Some are really scams. I strongly recommend this homestay. Next time I come to Dali, I will stay here again. It is very comfortable and really healed my mental exhaustion.

I booked this place after reading the reviews about the above and beyond service, and the connection that guests were able to make with the owner of the accommodation. When there are hundreds of hotels to choose from, I value getting to know the humans behind a business. Unfortunately during my stay the main owner whom the reviews refer to, was away. The staff that was in place was helpful, but I felt gave me the one simplest solution to any question I had, rather than the best possible solution, or even options, for what I needed help with. I probably had an anomaly of an experience. The room was spacious and fairly clean. There was a bathroom window in the room that had no blinds or curtains, and the courtyard lights would stream into the room past 10pm, which meant that the room was not completely dark. I included a photo - the light is a lot more obvious and pervasive in a dark room. I had to sleep with an eye mask on, which thankfully, I had. I would suggest to the owners to put a curtain or some blinds up in the bathroom window. I would still recommend this hotel for its quiet location and proximity to the ancient city (8-10yuan Didi ride). Hopefully you'll have the lady boss around during your stay.

It was okay. I stayed for four nights during the off-season. The third floor was better than the first; on the first floor, you could hear drumming from the bars outside on the street. However, the rooms weren't very soundproof; I could hear people opening their doors and going to the bathroom in the next room. On the plus side, the room was quite spacious, and the environment was nice. The owner was also very friendly. There's a microwave, fridge, and washing machine available. Overall, it was decent, but for the price, I probably could have found something better.

The owner was very kind and enthusiastic. Our driver got a bit lost and couldn't quite get us to the hotel, so the owner actually came out to pick us up. I booked a room with a sunrise view, and I was indeed able to see it – it was absolutely beautiful! The only minor drawback was that the bathroom wasn't a wet/dry separation, which was a small inconvenience, but everything else was great.

The room type was pretty good, and there were fellow travelers to team up with in the group chat. The hostel had good soundproofing, and the front desk offered free earplugs. It's located within Dali Ancient City, making it very convenient for walking around, and transportation is easy. The scenery is also nice, and there are cats at the property. You can even use the owner's computer to transfer photos, which is a great service. There are many beautiful hydrangeas planted at the entrance.

The rooms weren't large but were clean, with modern amenities. It's located right on the main road of Dali Ancient City. I stayed on the ground floor, but the views from the rooms upstairs were quite beautiful. There are some peach trees in front of the house; if you go during the flowering season, you'll be amazed. Before going, I checked the map and thought it was on a main road, so I assumed a car would be able to pick me up right away. But upon arrival, I learned that cars are only allowed in at night; in the morning, cars are prohibited, only motorbikes and bicycles are allowed. So every time I needed to go somewhere, I had to walk to the main road, which was a bit inconvenient – ​​this is the biggest drawback you should consider. On the other hand, the owner was quite enthusiastic; I checked in at 1 AM and he waited until he fell asleep, making me think I was being locked out!

This was my first time staying in a youth hostel, and the room was quite nice. The window offered a view of Cangshan Mountain. Both the owner and the other guests were very warm and friendly, even inviting me to join them for a BBQ and beer. However, I wouldn't recommend it for those who prefer a quiet atmosphere over a lively one.