Tibet Hotels

Hotel options in Lhasa have improved significantly in recent years. There are a smattering of boutique hotels and a couple of international-brand properties. Ask, and you may be shown rooms ranging from a depressing 20-person dormitory to a deluxe suite with private bath, balcony, and minibar. Many of the more expensive hotels even equip their rooms with oxygen machines to ease the effects of altitude sickness. Tibetan guesthouses are staffed by locals and are more personable, but some of the shared bathing facilities at the lower-end options can be archaic. It's best to book way in advance during peak season. Outside of Lhasa, standards are much lower, so be prepared to rough it.