HUALUXE Kunming by IHG

I loved that the AC didn’t blow straight onto the bed, and the surroundings were lovely, with the lake just a short walk away. The rooms were very quiet and dark, and nearly flawless. A few things didn’t work for me: the tub in the middle of the room, the glass-only bathroom doors, and the master light switch being on the wrong side of the bed. There was hanging space but nowhere to put folded clothes. The restaurant food was very average, especially lunch, which I’d call below par. The place across the street was super yummy.

The service really set this stay apart. The concierge, poolside team, cleaning crew, and restaurant servers were all wonderfully efficient, and the staff were the best we’ve experienced, even after stays at some amazing hotels. Shout out to our manager Cathy and the team for making it such a wonderful experience. The property was pristine and the food was amazing, too. We had an incredible time at this resort in Yunnan Kunming. We usually like trying somewhere new, but this is one place we’ll come back to.

The room was amazing, with a view straight over the swimming pool. I was upgraded for some reason, and was glad of it. Service was top notch, and room service cleaned every day. They weren’t hesitant to knock if I hadn’t put out the please service my room sign. The hotel is huge and resort-like, in a very comfortable area where you can walk around for a run or jog. Breakfast was so-so for me as a Muslim, since there wasn’t much choice. There’s a Muslim food stall about a 2 km walk away, but the selection there is limited too. The hotel is pretty far from the main city and the Muslim community in Shunceng. I found only two nearby restaurants selling halal food through Alipay. I recommend using Alipay for transactions, it’s really convenient. I was here on a business trip, so the poor Wi-Fi was a real problem. You need to rely on an eSIM or international roaming for a better connection. Please improve this, since I saw many people staying here for business and internet matters. I only found two restaurants around the hotel selling halal food through Alipay.

Be careful with this Hotel. Their cancellation policy says the reservation department must receive notice at least 24 hours before arrival if you want to cancel or amend a booking. I gave a week's notice, but after I emailed to cancel, they charged the full booking amount in advance without notifying me, then sent an automatic email pointing me to the cancellation policy. If you want to avoid trouble during a holiday or work event, avoid this Hotel and the brand.