The old town is a must place to see. Go to Shangri-La.
HI - Kunming - Camellia Hostel in Kunming … I stayed in the Camellia Youth Hostel dorm area (attached to the hotel) for 25 RMB per night (discounted form 30 with the hosteling card). The place was AWESOME! There were eight beds per dorm and usually with people of the same sex. The base of each bunk had two lockers to keep stuff with your own padlock (HUGE — enough for two large rucksacks). Locks are also available from reception for a fee. The dorm rooms were extra clean and warm, nice comfy duvets and clean sheets, and the showers were warm and well powered. The beds were a bit hard but you got used to it. DVDs are available to rent from reception, 15 RMB for buffet breakfast in the hotel itself, or better still, go for awesome and cheaper breakfast at City Cafe just around the corner! Luggage storage facility for long periods of time and Internet for 10 RMB/hour. Free shuttle to the airport. Most definitely recommendable! This is the best hostel I've stayed in so far!
The Hump Hostel in Kunming … I was really satisfied with everything in this hostel -- maybe they are sometimes a little slow, but that helps you to slow down.
The Hump Hostel in Kunming … The hump was worth staying -- a lot of fun and it makes your holiday very relaxing without having to deal with the business side of things. the staff there were very genuine, the noise side is true but personally i'd rather deal with that than other things. quite a generous hostel i would say. plus they really know how to make cocktails plus you can drink it with a rooftop view over the city.
The Jade Emu International Guest House in Dali … Absolutely well worth visiting! Clean, spacious rooms with all necessary facilities available. Helpful friendly staff, good with English. The bar/courtyard garden is a good place to get contact with other guests. Old town just across the street and the mountains in the backyard! Could you wish for more?
Panba Courtyard Guesthouse & Hostel in Lijiang … I stayed at Panba for two nights. The hostel exceeded my expectations. Located in a winding cobblestone road in the ancient part of the old city. Although it's a bit tricky to find (look for Chinese lanterns on either side of the door), the hostel is a warm home base for your adventures in the city. The rooms are spacious (especially on the Third Floor, where you will awake to the sun rising over mist rolling on the mountains). While the building's exterior is ancient, its interior is strictly modern. The bathrooms are clean. Western toilets with two settings. The guys at the front desk are helpful and, what's more, friendly. They know the surrounding area well and their English is decent/great. Just FYI -- if you stay in the hostel during the school year, beware that a nearby elementary school will play the National Anthem at wake-up volume at eight in the morning. Can't express more appreciation for the place. Bike rentals are available for 30 RMB. Stay here!
The Hump Hostel in Kunming … The Hump was an excellent place to stay. The staff were very friendly and there English was great. The prices were reasonable and they allow you to bring anything into the hostel, such as food and beer. They are willing to help you with anything you need and most important they never screw you around. Definitely recommend.
The Lily Pad Inn in Dali … The Lily Pad is very quite and friendly. The rooms are clean and the showers hot and great. I spent quite a long time there after traveling through India, Thailand, Laos, and China and liked it the best.
Kunming Cloudland Youth Hostel in Kunming … I was there in July 2006 and enjoyed the place very much, (after I finally found it) no taxi driver seemed to know where it was. They took me to the nearby hospital, Wal-Mart, and then I finally found a girl in a shop by Wal-Mart that actually walked with me and found the place. Now that's what I call great local interaction. But back to the comments about the place. I have to say that it had a very friendly staff, and the facilities were very clean. The only thing is their directions from the airport are not complete and not easy to understand.
HI - Kunming - Camellia Hostel in Kunming … The staff here were great. Yes it cost a little more than some of the other hostels at 120rmb a night for a double room. But I tell ya they dont lose your reservation or say oops we are all booked up even though you do have a reservation. All you can eat breakfast goes with this the place is close to downtown, and ten minutes from the airport at a 15 rmb cab fare, and they will take you back to the airport for free! not too shabby!
The Jade Emu International Guest House in Dali … This hostel was great. They really took care of us during our stay. They hooked up some great tours, bus trip to Lijiang, and took care of our luggage for a day. The internet wasn't working on the third floor, so they even provided us with a router to connect. I can't say enough good things about this place. Enjoy.
The Hump Hostel in Kunming … Locationwise, It's in a great area on a beautiful strip, with everything you might need right nearby (any quality of food and shopping areas). Plus being a central area, you don't have to go far to get transportation to anywhere you want to go. And it is a quiet area, even at night, if you're concerned about sleep. Don't go wanderin' around after dark though! As to the place itself, it's got mediocre rooms and a mediocre shower room and mediocre food -- but in China, this is saying a lot for a hostel, and it is definitely quite "upscale" compared to the rest of Yunnan. Add on top of that that it's really not hard to meet new people there, because the bar/sitting area is pretty popular, and you even get the chance to meet up with Chinese students who visit the place (either at parties or just on a sunday afternoon). The emphasis in this place is sort of like a tiny club-med -- you get lots of activities and possibilities in a single place, and this they do very well. Overall, a fun…
The Hump Hostel in Kunming … It's a nice hostel, but there is one problem: if there is a party you can't find sleep in the rooms. But as there are nearly no parties anymore it's better for people with sensible sleep. The parties were great, so it's a pity that there aren't any anymore. Given that it's in a pub and bar area, the noise is ok. The terrace is great! Nothing to say against this. It's a wonderful place to hang out, night or day.
At the moment they should work on their service and their toilets. Then they might be the most popular hostel in Kunming.
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