Bagan and Inle Hotel ?
 

Let me begin by saying, Hi Craig... I am using your agency in Myanmar.


I wanted to stay at the Inle Princess and tharabar gate in Bagan, but am being told that they are booked out. The hotels that were offered were the Thiripyitsaya Sakura River View Hotel (River Front Suit) and tThande River Side Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Room.

In Inle Lake, there is the Inle Lake View
Resort with Junior Suit Room.

I have read all Tripadvior comments on these hotels .... and am not crazy about any of them.
Craig I read yours six times ......
Does anyone have any other suggestions? I want luxury hotels .... but I think I am up a creek.
Thanks
Bette

Bette, glad to hear you are using Santa Maria.

Gloria from this forum stayed at the Bagan Golf Resort about 7 years ago and found it to be nice. There is just one review of this on tripadvisor but its a good one. We did stop there on the way to our balloon ride and it looked fine from the outside. The Aureum Palace where we stayed is not even listed on tripadvisor - I have notified them of this but to date they have not added it to the site. Everyone from Fodors that has stayed at the Aureum thought it was great.

Having been there and pretty much seen what is available at Inle Lake I can tell you that Inle Princess and Inle Lake View Resort are it as far as upscale accomodations are concerned.

Craig I didn't think you liked it very much, the Aurium ..... or am I making that up? And you are right, it's not on tripadvisor. Did you like the Aurium? You sure didn't sound like you liked the Lake View Resort .... and other people didn't give is such great reviews.

Oh now I remember where I saw the Aurium Palace .... the folks at Tripadvisor ( forum) refer to it as a monstrocity in the middle of the temple area. That doesn't sound too good to me. Didn't get any feedback about the actual hotel though......

I think those people are confused and think that the very ugly watch tower, which is right next door, is part of the Aureum.

From the balloon ride we all thought how out of place it is and how it inappropriately dominate the skyline.

Bette - From our Myanmar trip report on this site:
"The Inle Lake View Resort is a nice place – not 5-star, but quite comfortable."
And with regard to the Aureum:
"All-in-all though it is still probably the nicest resort in Myanmar and for $235/night including breakfast, tax and service it was still quite a bargain."

While I did point out some flaws in both hotels, it is fair to say that I liked them.

The Inle Lake View Resort is the top hotel at Inle Lake on tripadvisor. Most of the negative comments are about the tour groups and the price of the food.

I agree with Hanuman - the tower in Bagan is right next door to the Aureum. The resort itself blends well with its surroundings.

Please realize that in Myanmar the tourist infrastructure is not on the level you might find elsewhere. Thus all is relative when it comes to hotel reviews.