5-Star Hotels in Tibet, China

After returning from Shigatse, I chose the St. Regis Hotel again. My butler, Justin, arranged a courtyard room in the main building for me in advance. The room was more spacious, and the toiletries were Bvlgari. Everything was very comfortable. Thanks to the St. Regis and Justin, my trip to Tibet this time was very pleasant and comfortable.

Excellent location, very close to Potala Palace. The hotel staff are warm, attentive, and very thoughtful. The breakfast selection is extensive. Special thanks to butler Jiang Cuo for his consistently high-quality service throughout our stay. Highly recommended!

Many people, myself included, often debate between the St. Regis and the Shangri-La, as both hotels in Beijing are quite unremarkable. Ultimately, I chose the Shangri-La for its value for money. I had considered Songtsam too, but common sense told me to be a smart spender. Although the hotel shows its age, its architectural style is grand and refined, revealing luxurious material choices. Time has inevitably left its mark, but a classic car, even when old, is still a classic car. Moreover, service and quality require time to accumulate and withstand market scrutiny. While the Shangri-La may not have many existing locations, it still holds a strong market advantage, and it takes an discerning eye to appreciate it. My butler, Bowen, arranged my room before I even arrived. Looking out the window at the Potala Palace's silhouette in the distance immediately set the mood. He then meticulously delivered on all aspects of my package. I found Bowen to be a man of few words but very steady, highly responsive, and an exceptionally smooth driver. He never asked inappropriate or subjective questions, which I truly appreciated. Over three days, Bowen's accompaniment added a unique dimension to my Lhasa itinerary. Among the few Tibetans I've encountered, he was a definite plus. I sincerely wish him all the best in his work! The Shangri-La in Lhasa lives up to its brand's standards and enhances the reputation of its sister properties. I'm so glad I made the right choice; this will be a memorable and wonderful travel experience.

The hotel environment is excellent, and it's very clean and comfortable. I'd definitely have stayed a few more days if I hadn't already booked my flight. The hotel activities are also great. However, I was quite disappointed with the front desk service. We had two rooms in our party, and one of them was upgraded, but we weren't informed. When I called the front desk, the first time they said they were busy with check-ins. The second time I called, they told me the room card was incorrect. A little later, they said it was an upgrade. I'm not sure how credible the front desk's statements are. Then, the next day, when I inquired about the deposit refund, they initially told me the deposit for room 501 had been returned. I told them I paid 1000 for both rooms together, and then they said room 507 hadn't been inspected yet. I'm not sure if the hotel front desk has proper systematic training. I booked for one night, and both explanations from the front desk felt deceptive. I hope the hotel can provide more training for their front desk staff. Although the front desk's actions made me uncomfortable, I'm very satisfied with how the hotel manager handled the situation. He went back and forth several times to resolve it for me and kept apologizing. I would definitely stay at this hotel again when I visit Lhasa next time, but I sincerely hope they can thoroughly and systematically train their front desk staff. After all, it's a high-end hotel, but the front desk's communication style doesn't seem to match that standard.

Staying at the Songtsam Bamei Lhaka Hotel was an amazing encounter with nature and warmth. My Snow Mountain Lake View Suite had floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, offering a direct view of the sacred Basongcuo Lake. The water was like a mirror, reflecting the snow-capped mountains, and the morning light pierced through the clouds, painting the lake surface like a moving masterpiece unfolding right outside my window. The hotel's private pier lay peacefully by the lake, providing exclusive, undisturbed views of the stunning sunrise and sunset. The ******* butler offered hot ginger tea and a Hada, which felt like a genuine welcome, not just a formality. An oxygen concentrator was promptly delivered to my room, instantly easing my altitude sickness worries. The rich ******* breakfast in the morning, paired with a heartwarming tremella soup in the evening, showed thoughtful attention to every detail. The entire room had comfortable floor heating, and the latex mattress provided excellent sleep. Outside, the starry sky and morning mist alternated, making even breathing feel lighter. This isn't just a hotel; it's a sanctuary for the soul amidst the ******* mountains and waters.

This was my first trip to Tibet, and after a lot of research, I chose the Hilton. Manager Ava contacted me in advance to reserve a parking spot and upgraded my room. The garden-facing room was very comfortable. The breakfast restaurant even offered Rhodiola rosea (a local herb). The hotel's location is quite good; I walked around the area and it seems to be right in the city center. It's also super convenient to get to the temples, just about a ten-minute drive.

Songtsam was my first choice for my trip to Lhasa with my mother. The service was absolutely fantastic! A special thank you to Ms. Quji and Ms. Geji at the front desk for their attentive service! They responded to almost all our requests immediately, and the emotional support they provided was incredibly high; it felt like coming home. The room layout was spacious, more like a one-bedroom apartment. The toiletries were their own brand, but the toiletries could be upgraded to a more comfortable brand. The breakfast was excellent, with *******, Chinese, and Western options available. I'll definitely be going to Lhasa again in May or June, and I'll choose Songtsam again!

Before check-in, I was notified by phone that I had been upgraded to a villa suite. However, upon arrival, I found that the view was significantly worse than the standard room on the third floor that I had booked. Also, there was no underfloor heating in the living room, only in the bedroom area. The bedroom and living room were connected without a door, and my two friends who were traveling with me felt very cold (it snowed heavily that day, see video). They even had to bring extra blankets and a heater. It felt like the room upgrade was just to make room for others, as the villa suite was practically empty.

The service was professional and very supportive. We were greeted with a Hada upon entering, which was a lovely touch reflecting the hotel's local character, and the Hada itself was of good quality. The ******* ladies were beautiful, warm, and provided excellent service, while the young men were very helpful. Breakfast was also great; even as vegetarians, we found suitable options. Overall, our stay here was excellent. We are very grateful and wish the hotel continued success in its business.

I rarely leave reviews, but this time I absolutely have to. We booked three rooms for a two-night stay. First, I'd like to thank the InterContinental for upgrading one of our rooms to an executive room. However, this is, without a doubt, the worst InterContinental I've ever stayed at. Firstly, on our check-in day, we informed the front desk that we had an elderly guest who needed an oxygen concentrator. That machine rattled and clanked all night, making it impossible to sleep. The next day, when we asked if we could get a different oxygen tank, the butler actually told us that the hotel had no other equipment, essentially implying, 'Just deal with it.' On top of that, on the first night, there were people arguing loudly in the hallway, and not once did any hotel staff intervene. Secondly, on the second day, around 9:15 AM, I specifically called the front desk to ask for a light cleaning of the room. The front desk even asked if we wanted the sheets changed, and we said no. Yet, when we returned to the hotel around 6 PM, the room hadn't been cleaned. I called the front desk again and had to urge them three times before a staff member finally came knocking on our door, sluggishly. Upon entering, they complained, saying we had told them not to clean the room. I'd like to ask when and where the staff member ever saw anyone from our room, and who said not to clean the room? Is this how five-star hotel staff are trained – to complain to guests and get scolded by the front desk? Is this the InterContinental's service standard? On the second day, during checkout, I went to the front desk to ask for a bag to put some small items in. The front desk initially said, 'Go get it yourself from the concierge.' I just want to know, it's at least 60 meters from the front desk to the concierge; are guests supposed to go retrieve it themselves? I asked if it could be delivered to the front desk, and the staff said it would take a long time, and I should wait in my room. The result? I never got the bag even by checkout time. I ended up carrying a metal box out the main entrance, and the front desk staff didn't even offer an apology. I just want to ask, does this kind of service meet your standards? Which five-star hotel provides service like this? I really shouldn't try to save money next time. I'll stick to Shangri-La, honestly.