SKY VALLEY HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL - Prices & Reviews (Dali, China)

We stayed just one night in this lovely hotel. It is absolutely beautiful and the staff is very helpful and friendly. We loved 'Kee' who speaks English very well and is very helpful and nice. We were a bit surprised that the hotel is not in the old town Dali, but that was our own mistake, as it does say that it is located in the lovely Bai village Xizhou.

Date of stay: October 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

This hotel built in traditional Chinese style is very well designed and furnished and has great charm. The hotel manager and staff were especially helpful. The restaurant food was relatively simple but suited us with two young children very well.

Date of stay: October 2018

Room Tip: The premier room above the reception area is fabulous

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Pros: The hotel is built around two charming, well-restored courtyards, with beautiful wood paneling and carvings. Service was excellent. Good western breakfast and the one dinner I had was very good. Walking distance to Xizhou Town morning market. Modernized room with spacious bathroom. Very quiet setting (there were no other guests, so I can't say how well-insulated the room is from other noise). Cons: Location: It's at least a 20 minute drive to Old Dali, which has a number of worthwhile attractions, and likewise further from Weisbaoshan with its numerous Taoist temples on the mountainside. It's not in a particularly attractive part of town, and there are only one or two other decent restaurants within a half hour walk. My room with a king bed was fine for me, traveling alone, but would have been tight for two people. The bed had a very firm mattress, which I don't like because I sleep on my side. I was told all their beds are like this, but they gladly and graciously added two mattress pads on top of it for me, which made it fine. (Of the seven hotels I stayed at in China on this trip, this was the only hotel where this was a problem for me.)…

Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Traveled solo

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Beautiful hotel. Good food. Great service. Not easy to find all of this in one boutique hotel. Every employee you come across in the hotel is there to make sure you have an exceptional vacation. I cannot say enough about this place. If you want to relax, be fed, energized, excited and feel like royalty - you must come here. Thank you to all the employees and friends at Sky Valley for making each vacation special.

Date of stay: August 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends

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Sky Valley is one of my favorite hotel if not the favorite. Special thanks to Mr. Kay (I believe he is the hotel receptionist). Out flight got delayed so we did not arrive at the hotel until closed to 21.00 and the hotel restaurant was already closed. When learned that we had not had dinner, Mr. Kay kindly asked the chef to cook dinner for us. And on the last day, we had to leave the hotel before the usual breakfast time to catch our flight and Mr Kay agreed to have the restaurant served us breakfast before we left. He was also very helpful in advising us on transpoprtation to Dali old town and the airport. The hotel is housed in a magnificant traditional Bai house which is more than 100 years old but has been tasefully restored. The room is spacious, well equipped and comfortable. It is within walking distance to Xizhou old town and easy to catch a mini-cab to Erhai Lake. Lastly, Yunnan ham fried rice at the hotel is very yummy! We had it on the first night and again on the last night.…

Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends

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The quality of the accommodation was superb but amazingly was bettered by the service. Went to celebrate our anniversary and birthday and chose the Garden View Suite. Lovely room all newly decorated/furnished. Bathroom great too. Thanks Kay for the warm welcome, I'm sure we'll be back :-)

Date of stay: July 2017Trip type: Traveled as a couple

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

The Sky Valley Heritage Boutique Hotel is a restored central courtyard Bai property. Nestled into a residential neighborhood, its gates conceal a lovely garden and quiet refuge. Close by is a vibrant Bai market that is a must-see. Bicycles enable visitors to pedal out into the country past rice paddies, vegetable gardens and painstakingly worked family farms. Rooms are restored with respect for the past but with an appreciation for modern comfort. The staff is warm and welcoming and communicates well in English.

Date of stay: May 2017

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Wonderful rooms, beautiful hotel, very kind service. But the icing on the cake was the restaurant. after our first meal there we felt no need to eat anywhere else. The hotel is quite far from the sights and center of Dali.

Date of stay: May 2017

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In the middle of a small village outside of Dali, probably one of the nicest boutique hotel I have been staying at. The renovation of the old property was done at a very high standard, the staff was very helpful and well trained. A must is a visit of the local market, where you will meet many different ethnic groups

Date of stay: March 2017Trip type: Traveled as a couple

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My husband and I stayed for a week in this precious gem niched in a subdued residential area, away from the hustle and bustle of the old town square of Xizhou, near Dali in Yunnan. The hotel made it very easy for us to get there, with a hired-car trusted by the hotel management waiting for us at the train station when we arrived. It is such a plus that this hotel is away from the highly commercialized old town of Dali-- it is definitely worth the extra 1/2 hour ride from the train station-- to be amidst a real and charming living environment of the tribal Bai culture. We could feel the love and thoughtfulness that were given to the architectural renovation of this old mansion-- an amazing labor of love for several years in carefully preserving all that is precious of the original design and structures-- with stunning mood lighting throughout the properties (especially evening lighting of the courtyards!) that brought ancient tales alive--- as though the walls were telling you stories of what they have witnessed through the eras... The youtube video on the website is so touching and informative on how the owner felt the calling to preserve this ancient scholarly home. I wish it had Engish subtitles though, so that non-Chinese speaking visitors can appreciate the respectful and tender care that went into this amazing architectural feat. The family suite we stayed in is as spacious and beautiful as shown in its website photos, with all convenient amenities and high quality toileteries of modern-day 5 star hotels. We were delighted by how congenial and gentle the staff were, ready to help and extend themselves at requests. We feel as though we were with an extended family-- their ways are relaxed and kind, with genuine recommendations about places and local tips. Another wonderful plus was to find out that their restaurant uses daily fresh vegetables and meats, mostly organic from local farms, and no MSG. It was like eating home-cooked meals away from home! Not everything is perfect in any lodging, here's some to know ahead of time: -the bathroom washing sink drainage is not perfect, but we can empathize with the challenges of modernizing plumbing facilities in an old mansion. -the Western breakfast choice can use some improvement and maybe even some more varieties, though the Chinese breakfast choice was very good. -the rather-stark spacious hallways can use some warm decorations to bring them even more alive. I would have rated this gem a four and a half star shall there be such a choice, given the slight flaws described above, but just a four star would not have done our enjoyable experience justice. The small inconveniences are humbling reminders of traveling, that not everything is right at your fingertip or wish. They actually add to the charm in appreciating different cultures and histories of the place...…

Date of stay: March 2017

Room Tip: I visited several other rooms. All the garden view and family suites are beautifully appointed.

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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.