Erhaike Inn

After much deliberation, we decided to pick Erhaike Inn because it sits right on the bank on Erhai (Er Lake). We initially questioned if it was wise to be such a distance from the old town where all the activity was and it turned out to be the right decision. Once you’ve done the old town, there really isn’t much else to do there and in any case, the hotel is only a short ride in a country taxi – the fare can range from 10 to 30 Yuan depending on your bargaining skills. The taxi rides in itself could be considered part of the experience of being in Dali - taking in the countryside views to and from the hotel. There is a pick-your-own strawberry patch that we would have loved to have visited but ran out of time. We loved being by the lake – it was quiet and was a lovely place to walk in the morning and evenings to enjoy the sunrise and sunset views. And the area is full of little laneways to lose yourself in. So much better than being in the old town. The property directly faces the lake and is a short walk to the road where you can catch a taxi. You get the best view of the lake from the top of the hotel. There are restaurants nearby (we only tried one but don't think we made the right choice - but that was mainly because we weren't into the excessive chilli that was used) and bicycle hire next door. Location wise, we give it the thumbs up. We were given a room upgrade on our arrival to a much bigger and more comfortable room. There was a suite of very useful amenities available. The room itself can be cold if the weather is as there is no heating. However, the beds do have electric blankets. In China, the locals prefer their beds to be firm and the firmer the better. This did pose an issue for us, but we solved the problem by placing the mattresses for the day beds under the bed sheets – that turned out to be quite a comfortable solution. A simple Chinese or Western (or combination of both) breakfast was offered and we found that quite sufficient - we weren’t expecting a gourmet spread and we aren’t fussy people. The owners did everything to make our stay comfortable, providing a very homely environment. They even invited an English speaking friend over to help with translating any needs we might have had. Overall, it was a positive and enjoyable stay.