Sheraton Grand Xishuangbanna Hotel

Our family stayed at the Sheraton Grand Xishuangbanna Hotel in Feb. 2024. We enjoyed the property tremendously and would not hesitate to stay again at the hotel. I am Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, and during the check-in, was luckily upgraded to the premier one-bedroom King suite. The room comprises a full bedroom (with a king size bed) and a full living room (with a large corner sofa and a desk). There is a full bathroom attached to the bedroom (including a bathtub, two washer basins, a toilet and a shower stall) and a half bathroom attached to the living room. The room also include a large private balcony with tea set. We particularly enjoyed the peaceful tea moment in our private balcony during our stay. For Platinum Elite member, our stay includes the breakfast buffet and an evening tea. The breakfast buffet has good variety, including freshly prepared noodle, omelet, porridge, pastries, salad, fruit, etc.. Some of the highlights include salt boiled Quail eggs, Yunnan style rice noodle or porridge. It did lack a bit of hot meat dishes in the breakfast buffet though. The evening tea is set from 6:00pm-8:00pm each day. You are encouraged to take small snacks laid out at the lounge bar. The drink choices include various juices, coffee or tea. A particular highlight is the coffee made with Sheraton Hotel logo floating on top of the coffee. In term of location, the hotel is close to the Gasa airport (JHG), thus a bit far away from the main tourist attraction located near Jinghong City. However, the hotel arranges free transportation each day at 9:00am and 8:10pm into the Jinghong City and Gaozhuang Night Market. There is also a transportation back from Gaozhuang Night Market to the hotel at 7:00pm. Though if you want to enjoy the Gaozhuang Night Market, you would need to catch a taxi at Gaozhuang yourself. The hotel also arranged two free tours with transportation to two nearby attractions, the Mandiu Ancient Village and the Xishuangbanna Praruo Temple. We enjoyed both trips tremendously (reviewed separately). They stand in sharp contrast to the usual tourist attraction in Xishuangbanna, which is highly commercialized. The hotel has an exercising facility, an indoor swimming pool and a large and beautiful outdoor swimming pool. The outdoor swimming pool can be a bit cold during the winter month. It is recommended to swim during afternoon hours in a sunny day, as the sun can help to heat up the water a bit for swimming. One of the highlights of the hotels is a set of peacocks (around 10) that are raised by the hotel. During daylight, two peacocks are arranged around the lobby near a swing for photo shooting. The photo opportunity is particular popular among the hotel guests. Throughout the day, the wailing of the peacock can be frequently heard at the hotel ground. It is particular interesting to pay a visit to the peacock cage, and to see the peacock display their tails beautifully (this happens rather frequently). Another highlight of the hotel is the evening Bonfires event arranged by the hotel from 7:20pm-8:00pm during the Spring Festival Period (ending on the 15th of Chinese Lunar Year). The Evening Bonfires include a pair of hosts with loud music, and about 6-7 hotel employees who are addressed in Dai costumes that dance to the music around a bonfire. Frequently, hotel guests will join in, and mimic the dance played by the hotel employees. It is a tremendous fun and high energy event that I particular enjoy. In short, our family highly enjoyed the Sheraton Grand Xishuangbanna Hotel and would not hesitate to stay again at the property.