The Crowne Plaza is decent for room comfort and their fitness room looks good, but there isn't much of a view from the rooms (construction site next door) and the location isn't as quiet. I checked there in May and the pool was under construction, but probably finished now.

Does anyone know a website for the Yunnan/Kunming Government Hotel off of Beijing Lu? I've driven past there many times and wondered what was inside the gate, I'd be interested to check that out.

Yep them Intercontinental buffets are top quality and everything about the place is made to be top quality, most nights they always have some one playing live music in the tea rooms (piano mainly) which gives it a nice vibe sitting looking at the waterfall they have. Really worth the extra journey to stay overnight :)

I think that's the one:

www.gokunming.com/[...]
"Zhenzhuang Guesthouse" but apparently no website

The government hotel shares the same gardens as the Zhenzhuang guest house, but it is at the north end of the gardens.
If you look on googlemaps the hotel lobby is about 100m directly N of the ZZ guest house (as shown on googlemaps), the arrow/pin on the map in the link is a little off.
Just walk in and have a look around. We were never challenged by the gate guards as we wandered in and out. The only people challenged were those in cars. If you are stopped it might be reasonable to assume that there is a closed conference on at the time.

I went to check out the government hotel. The basic room (单间) was 650rmb and the suite (套间) was 1250rmb in the hotel. They also have the rooms in the separate guest houses (the Zhenzhuang guest house) that are around 800rmb and 1500rmb for the basic room and suite. The rooms are nice, but you're paying for staying where the government people stay when they're in town.

We're leaning towards the intercontinental hotel, but did anyone find out more about that hotel near the north bus station (or possibly the north bus terminal) that Blue mentioned earlier?

The Intercontinental is really far out and has pretty much nothing around it. Very quiet and out of the city feel. It might be a bit assuming to expect every taxi driver to know where it is.

The Wyndham is closer and is next to the Nanya Mall. Looks nice on the outside, but never been inside. Maybe check trip advisor?

The AQUA (Wetlands) Resort (West of Songming).
They have the Ramada Hotel there which is modern, clean and there are a lot of facilities.
Horsebackriding, boating in the wetlands, 18 hole golf, driving range (golf), cycling, swimming pool with hot tubs (clean! because there aren't a lot of people) and fishing.

It's definitely quiet and remote. Just a little hard to get to without a car maybe. Best is to call to find out what the best way is to get there.

@AlexKMG being just a turning off dianchi lu I think most taxi drivers will know :) Not that much further along than if you going to the Wyndham, which I think is not quite as good!

That's the problem. It's on a turn off. Also, most of the guests arrive by official or private car, so not many taxis get the chance to go to the hotel. Throw in the mix the crap putonghua of Kunming drivers and their vague knowledge. I'm just guessing, so if you get a taxi there all the time with no problems, do tell.