Shangri-La Karesansui Hotel

The owner and his wife made us feel welcome right away. We arrived from Lijiang by train around 11:22am, and he contacted us first to arrange a pick-up, even though we hadn’t asked. They served handmade local snacks and tea while helping us check in early, then upgraded us to a better room with a bathtub at no extra cost. The room had Le Labo Santal 33 toiletries, like the ones previously offered in Singapore Airlines Business Class. That evening, the owner brought warm milk to our room. The hotel is within walking distance of the ancient town, and the next morning his wife made an impeccable, delicious breakfast. Honestly, it would be hard to find such a good Western breakfast even in a five-star hotel in Shangri-La. Our train to Kunming was leaving late in the evening, so the owner offered us a complimentary late check-out and drove us to the station. He’s one of the kindest hosts we’ve ever met, and we’re deeply grateful for his generosity and hospitality. The service compares with, or may even be better than, many five-star hotels. We’d definitely return to Hotel Karesansui (Yanyi Inn) in Dukezong, Shangri-La. I highly recommend staying there. Satisfaction: 100/100.