Hotels with Pools in Kunming

Five stars to the DoubleTree by Hilton Kunming Airport! From the lobby environment and room cleanliness to the breakfast and airport shuttle service, everything met a high standard, making for a very comfortable stay. I especially want to commend Cai Cai. I was quite tired upon arrival, but Cai Cai was incredibly patient, efficiently handled my check-in, thoroughly explained all hotel services, and even offered thoughtful advice regarding my flight schedule. Any questions I had were answered promptly and properly, truly demonstrating exceptional service. The hotel maintains excellent quality control, and with such outstanding staff service, it has become my go-to choice for layovers in Kunming. I highly recommend it to anyone traveling through Changshui Airport.

This is a really great hotel. Both the room facilities and the hotel amenities are excellent, and the breakfast is good too. The pool is very clean and beautiful. I participated in both the yoga and meditation classes, and I highly recommend them. It was a perfect start to my trip. Yuyuan Garden is right across the street. I suggest going for a walk there in the morning before the tourists arrive; it's very peaceful. Given all the services the hotel offers, the price offers incredibly good value for money. The only thing that needs improvement is the complimentary afternoon tea; it didn't come with any tea or coffee, just a plate of fruits and pastries that seemed like they belonged to breakfast. That was a bit disappointing.

Having Wechat, checking process was smooth, we arrived in the day time. The butler greeted us at the lobby and took us to our apartment. The location was good, had breakfast places nearby. Easy pick up and drop off location for DiDi. Having wechat was convenient because you can message the manager directly. One thing that was a bit unclear was how the house keeping works. We stayed for 6 nights and asked how we can vacuum the house but the housekeeper said the vacuum was too big. The manager was very accommodating, they let us store our luggage for 7 days while we explored other towns. This is a great place for family, it is very spacious, the bed was comfortable and includes a washing machine. We will definite stay at the same place again next time.

I chose InterContinental Kunming, which has been open for over ten years, because of its location by Dian Lake. It's about a ten-minute walk to the lake, and the surrounding area is very quiet. Old doesn't necessarily mean outdated. The lobby's central axis symmetrical layout gives off a strong and stable aura. The staff are present and attentive without being overly intrusive. This sense of space and appropriate discretion is something many trendy 'influencer' hotels struggle to provide. The hotel's garden area is quite large, with palm and coconut trees giving it a Southeast Asian resort feel. There were even fragrant osmanthus flowers in bloom. The hotel's breakfast spread is very rich, with many Kunming specialties. I loved the rice noodles, each bowl freshly cooked in a copper pot, with both red broth and chicken broth options, catering to both strong and light palates. The 'posu bao' (flaky steamed bun), sticky rice, and the hotel's homemade flower cakes and Yunnan ham biscuits were just as good as, if not better than, those from famous brands outside. There was also yogurt from Gejiu, and you could tell by the taste that the ingredients were pure! I stayed for a week and didn't get tired of breakfast. Hope to see you again next time!

Exiting the hotel and turning left, walking down the slope past a traffic light, it's less than a five-minute walk to the east gate of Cuihu Lake – super convenient! The front desk staff were very welcoming, offering freshly made flower cakes upon check-in, and there were welcome fruits in the room. The twin room was clean and spacious, with a separate wet and dry area, and a powerful shower. The room curtains were quite thick, which is great for light sleepers. From the window, you could even catch a glimpse of Cuihu Lake, which was a pleasant surprise. Many of Kunming's important attractions are located around Cuihu Lake, making it very easy to explore. There are also plenty of dining options nearby – I loved it! I stayed for three days, went for a five-kilometer run around Cuihu Lake, and visited the Zhuanxin Farmers' Market, Yunnan University, Southwest Associated University, and the old streets. Unfortunately, I went on a Monday, so several memorial halls were closed, which was a shame. Overall, apart from the hotel breakfast needing some improvement in food quality, the other services and room size were excellent. In particular, the hotel offers great value for money and is definitely worth revisiting!

Facilities: This is an older five-star hotel with retro yet luxurious facilities. Cleanliness: The bedding and bathroom were very clean. Ambiance: The hotel hallways, with their warm lighting and wood-textured walls, along with the plush carpets, made me instinctively quiet my footsteps. The bedding was also very comfortable, and the soundproofing was excellent, allowing for a peaceful rest. Service: The service was very good and satisfactory.

I stayed at this hotel for 5 nights. I was quite hesitant before choosing it, especially after reading about the negative elevator incident, which made me really worry about safety. So, every time I took the elevator during my stay, I was on edge. The main reason I decided to stay was for the hot springs and swimming pool, as it's been raining a lot in Kunming recently, and I figured we'd just enjoy the hotel. Honestly, I wasn't particularly impressed with the service, and the facilities are quite old, very old. If it weren't for the constant rain and traveling with a child, I probably wouldn't have chosen this hotel. Especially after visiting Fuxian Lake, the comparison really highlighted its shortcomings.

Back in Kunming that evening, we skipped the queues and enjoyed the top-rated braised chicken feet barbecue. The overly friendly and enthusiastic landlady, who was almost prone to swearing, provided a wonderful final dinner for us, who were starving after a long day. Finally, we returned to our last resting place – a super luxurious mansion with an entrance garden, swimming pool, sauna, tea room, gym, entertainment room… Rangrang's carefully selected homestays truly made this trip a perfect ending! The exhausting part was that I had to cut my vacation short by a day for work, getting up at 5 am to catch my flight. The result was exactly the same as years ago when I returned to work after jet lag – I overslept the next day, hahaha! Just like in that dream.

Overall, the hotel was great – a true all-in-one spot for dining, entertainment, and relaxation. It’s perfect for spending a few days unwinding. The facilities like the pool and gym were excellent. Everything you need is right here! Plus, the three meals a day offered by the hotel were quite tasty. On a different note, I needed to arrange dinner for my family and called twice in advance to book a restaurant. The front desk said the F&B department would contact me, but they never did, even after I checked out… a bit frustrating. When I checked in, the front desk told me our standard room was on the first floor. I acknowledged it, and then they repeated it, “first floor, okay?” I didn't quite understand why they emphasized it twice. It wasn’t until I got to the room that I realized the cafe’s outdoor terrace offers a direct view into the room. (The front desk could have just said that directly instead of being so vague; how would I know, being a first-time guest?) Three areas for improvement: 1. The non-slip mat in the shower was very dirty. 2. The coordination among the F&B staff needs to be better. 3. The front desk should be more direct. Repeating that the standard room was on the first floor in such a roundabout way completely confused me as a first-time visitor about what they were trying to convey!

As someone who struggles with decisions, I'm so glad I picked this hotel—it was absolutely fantastic! It's right next to the subway entrance, making getting around incredibly convenient. The facilities are brand new, the bedding is super comfortable, and the breakfast spread is generous. Every staff member I encountered, from the greeter at the door to the front desk and housekeepers, was incredibly warm and attentive. This will definitely be my first choice next time I visit Kunming.