Tibet is widely known as the “Roof of the world” and its capital, Lhasa is the main point of entrance to this remote part of the world. The tourist industry here is booming,and there are a few mid range hotels, with rooms of a similar standard. Budget accommodation here is particularly good value for money.
When choosing a hotel, aside from location, hot water supply is something else you may wish to consider. Most hotels are within walking distance of the two main scenic spots, the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace. In winter, many places offer discounts of up to 20%.
At the top end of the market, there are really only three options, the Lhasa Hotel, the Tibet Hotel and the Grand Hotel Tibet. Prices range from RMB450 to RMB1200 per night for a standard room. These hotels provide high standard of service, boast a number of restaurants and provide facilities such as a tennis court, swimming pool and meeting rooms.
Most of the mid range hotels are Chinese style, with the exception of the Kechu Hotel. Prices range from RMB50 to RMB450 for this type of accommodation.
Some of the best places to stay in Lhasa are without question the budget hotels. The standard is very high, and the staff [Tibetans] receive warm praise from foreign travelers. Tibetans, it would seem, are well-disposed towards their visitors. The Banak Shol offers 5-bed dorms for RMB25 per night, and a free laundry service. It also has an open air restaurant, ideal for meeting others, or simply enjoying the afternoon sunshine [summer only!]. The Kirey has 2 and 3 bed rooms for RMB30 per person.
The Yak Hotel (Yake lushe) is conveniently located in the center of the city, within walking distance of two of the main scenic spots in Lhasa, the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace. This hotel offers good accommodation for travelers on a tight budget and has recently been renovated and expanded.The hotel rooms offer a range of accomodation from variable quality dorms to doubles with toilets.
The Snowlands Hotel is well situated near to Jokhang Temple, with a roof terrace to sit out on. It is about ten minutes walk from the famous Potala Palace. There are 30 rooms here arranged around a courtyard in the hotel, all are decorated in Tibetan style and some are equipped with TV and telephone. Hot water is supplied around the clock but the showers are grungy and water rarely runs in the winter.
The Pentoc Guesthouse (Pandu luguan), a newest, friendly hotel conveniently located at the center of the Lhasa city, it is only 50meters from the Barkhor Square. This is a stylish hotel provide three-bed dorms, single and double rooms. Rooms are clean but quite small, decorated in Tibetan style. With a share shower block, hot water is supplied 24 hours.
If you are looking for a quiet hotel in a convenient location, the Kirey Hotel (Jiri luguan) is one of the best choices. This hotel is run by Tibetans and is close to the Jokhang Temple, one of the most famous sights in Lhasa.The hotels outlook is not so nice, but don’t be deterred by the concrete and characterless compound. Rooms are clean, comfortable and pleasantly furnished.
Located near the Lhasa River, the Himalaya Hotel (Ximalaya fandian) is a one star hotel in Chinese style, renovated in 1998. It is about a 10 minute walk from Barkhor square.The hotel boasts a total of 116 rooms, which are clean and sparsely furnished. All have their own bathrooms, with showers not baths. There is hot water provided but only twice a day.For dining, there are two restaurants in the hotel, one Chinese and the other Tibetan, serving reasonable fare. Other facilities include a small business center and travel services.
The Tibet Hotel (Xizang binguan) is a four star hotel located outside the center in the west of the city. The hotel boasts a total of 80 rooms, decorated in mock Tibetan style, all comfortable and equipped with TV, air-conditioning and IDD.There are six restaurants within the hotel serving Chinese and local food. The hotel bar and discotheque are ideal places to spend an evening.
The Golden Bridge Hotel (Jinqiao fandian) is located near to some famous sights, such as the Sera Monastery, Jokhang Monastery and the busiest Barkhor Square. All the rooms within the hotel are basic and in good condition.The hotel restraints serve Chinese and western cuisine. There are also various sized meeting rooms and a functional business center. For recreation, there is a sauna and massage center, beauty salon and shopping arcade.
The Century Grand Hotel started business in April 2005. Next to the Lhasa River, the hotel is located in the downtown district on the cross point of Deji Road and Jiangsu Road. With transport facilities, it takes only 10 minutes to go to the Potasa Palace on foot and is minutes to Norbu Linka.In the lobby, we can find a general counter for registration, a softly fragrant lounge bar, and a smal shop with Tibetan decoration.
Lhasa Kechu Hotel 
In Lhasa, most of the mid range hotels are Chinese style, with the exception of the Kechu Hotel (Lhasa jiqu fandian). This is a Tibetan style hotel that is centrally located, about 50m north of Barkhor Square.The hotel boasts a total of 22 rooms, ranging from carpeted single or double rooms to well furnished four-bed rooms. All have private bathrooms with a 24 hour hot water supply.
The Lhasa Hotel (Lasa fandian) is the most luxurious hotel in Lhasa. This former Holiday Inn hotel was renovated in 1999. The hotel has a range of restaurants, which provide Sichuan, western, Indian and Tibetan food.The hotel has three five and six storey buildings with more than 450 rooms and suites. All rooms have a private bathroom, and are clean and comfortable. Some are decorated in Tibetan Style. Hot water is provided 24 hours and heated in winter.
The Banak Shol Hotel (Balangxue luguan) is another popular hotel in Lhasa with a charming Tibetan-style courtyard.The hotel offers basic dorms and a range of rooms with or without bathrooms. The cozy Tibetan style rooms fronted by verandas face into the inner courtyard and are really quite sweet.he hotel also offers a free laundry service and bicycles for hire. The hotel restaurant, Kailash Restaurant on the second floor…
The Grand Hotel Tibet (Xizang dasha) was constructed in 1987, and enjoys a good location, very close to the Potala Palace, and the Jokhang Temple.The hotel contains four buildings, and all the rooms are spacious, comfortable and elegantly decorated. They are equipped with air conditioning and TV, IDD and hot water are supplied around the clock. For dining, there are various styles of restaurant, providing different food from China, Tibet and the west.
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