Could anyone recommend a place to stay in Dali NEAR the train station? Thanks.

The train station is in Xia Guan. There are 4 + 5 star hotels not far or you can walk a few 100 meters and look for cheaper ones. Or you can just go there and investigate and not ask others and just find out for yourself.

Campo lol I just wanted to find something before I went. Thanks anyway.

I wouldn't bother with xiaguan unless you want to explore it. Get a reservation in dali old town, then take a cab to dali. Although they go all night to dali you have to pay them the return fare. Some try the white face price (80rmb) but most actually ask for fifty. Then you are in old town already and don.t waste a potential bakery 88 breakfast. If you do you would regret it. Plus a night stroll on the city wall is just gorgeous.

Ok thanks Dudesons!

I suggest Jade Emu just outside of the old city for a nice place to stay. Better book first though if you are going in the October week of madness.

a lot westerner like to book hotel in advance, even 1 or 2 months earlier. Chinese will never do in this way, except in the Peak Season like in the Natinal holidays. hotels you can find online are usully double price than its peers. my sugustion is just walk around, you will find nice hotels range from 50-100 rmb. choose to stay in XiaGuan rather than the old town if only regards of distance convenience.

The problem with xiaguan is that it is an ugly little thing and there is nothing to do except KTV, special KTV, bad bars, terrible restaurants and contruction shops everywhere.
Being sardined in Dali is still better than Xiaguan at any given day.
JAde Emu is a good choice if it's booked out, go out of the city wall you can always find a hostel, even when the whole town is booked.
Don't forget to bargain, though.

nice places in old town for 50-100 too.

In 10 years I have never booked a hotel here in China. Every time I go to Dali or Lijiang it never fails that I see a couple of foreigners with their 2 backpacks asking me where a certain guesthouse is. They walk around for hours looking for a place they have never been to and for which they overpaid. A lot of those guesthouses that advertise are so old and nasty and some have shared bathrooms. Why not spend a night at a new place that does not advertise. Also, never stay in the same place twice. During the day as you walk around ask the price of other places and then move very day so you can learn about different places.