Hotel Indigo Dali Erhai by IHG

The suite was huge, with a balcony looking out over the lake and mountains. The bedroom was large, the king bed comfortable, and the bathroom very spacious, with a tub and shower. It was super clean and the room had been disinfected. We also got six free bottles of water each day, coffee, complimentary drinks in the fridge, bath salts, and fresh fruit on the first day. There’s a pool and fitness room too. Breakfast wasn't good, so I'd skip it. Staff didn't speak any English. Don't use the tap water for drinking.

The breakfast at Indigo is consistently delightful, and the cruise we took was good value at ￥142 per person. This was my second stay with the brand, again as a stopover, and Hotel Indigo Erhai in Dali Yunnan was a great place to pause. The room felt stylish, spacious and premium, and the staff made us feel welcome. People in Dali also seemed energetic and open to chatting with tourists. I hadn't expected the area to be so interesting, but I noted Xizhou Ancient Town and another place to visit. When I asked the front desk about attractions, they referred me to the Concierge in-charge, even though it was about 10 pm. I asked about ferry rides on the huge lake. The officer suggested taking a car a little farther down to Xizhou village to buy tickets in advance, then boarding at Jinguisi pier. They also recommended visiting Xizhou for Bai ethnic culture and trying Garden Restaurant at Baocheng Mansion. Its Chinese name is Xilinyuan. The Yan families' mansion is well maintained, and we enjoyed the Bai cuisine a lot. We returned to Guanxi pier on the south side of Erhai. The Indigo Erhai complex isn't as magnificent as the one at Inuyama, but it's a great hotel in Dali.

A lovely stay. The room was spacious and clean, with an ocean view.

Really great place, with a lovely room and view and great service. It's a bit expensive, though that's what you'd expect from a five-star hotel. The staff are friendly, even if their English isn't very good.