I am beginning the planning for a trip to Rangoon, Bagan and Mandalay, part of a long trip. I have looked at the Trip Advisor reviews, but have some questions.

We need air conditioning and either no stairs or a lift in the hotel. And would like the hotel to be well located if possible.

In Rangoon I have narrowed the places down to the Governor's Residence and The Strand. We are leaning toward The Strand because it seems better located to the center of things. True?

I want as much comfort as possible, learned in India my DH is much happier and enjoys the places much more, if we have a comfortable place to stay. This will be a trip celebrating our 50th anniversary so I want it to be special.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

We love the Strand. And it is right in the city. Staying at the Governor's Residence, while lovely, would feel to me like not being in Yangon. That said, Yangon is relatively compact, so the taxi rides to places you wanted to go would only be an extra 10-15 minutes from the Governor's Residence.

We stayed at the Rupar Mandalar in Mandalay, which we really liked. Everything is more or less on the same level... I do remember a couple of stairs to a section of the restaurant.

Bagan, I think your best bet might be the Inn at Tharbar Place. If walking is an issue, you will want to ask for a room toward the front of the property. And there is no better location than being right at the Tharbar Gate.

Are you going to miss Inle? I can imagine that it would be a difficult place to visit for someone with mobility issues.

I have two trip reports here, from 2009 and 2011 which may be of assistance to you.

Thanks Kathie.

I was hoping you would respond! I have used the great reports and suggestions from you and others on our 2009 and 2013 trips to Cambodia and India. We are not into the temples like you are, but your information has helped me to pick ones we have really enjoyed.

My mobility issues are forcing me to be very careful in what we try to do. After reading and looking at pictures, looks like I can manage what I really want to see. I will reread your reports.....it is overload until I kinda get a plan going.

I had already picked the Inn at Tharbar Place and will go with The Strand....sounds like our kind of hotel....historic.

Will check out Rupar Mandalar in Mandalay. A few steps are OK, two flights are not!

Do you know any thing about the Mandalay to Bagan river cruise on Paukan's "1947 Pandow". It is overnight and the internet information sounds really neat, just a taste. I am not up to a 10 day river cruise with rustic shore conditions, but this sounds good.

Which airline for the short hops. We will do Bangkok Air into Mandalay and out of Rangoon I think anyway.

The overnight cruise should be fine. There will be steps on the old teak river boat, you might ask them how many.

While the domestic airlines are pretty much same-same, we felt Air Mandalay had the best service. But your agent will book you on the most convenient flights for you regardless of airline.

Have a wonderful trip. I'm so glad I've been able to help you with your planning to other places!

Thanks again Kathie.

I read though your reports again last night and looked at the pictures. I had read the reports before, but now that I am planning, they are very helpful. We are photo nuts and have lots of fun when traveling trying to get those special pictures that tell the story. The pictures are great!

Think we will also give Inle a miss. Looks very interesting, but I know I couldn't manage getting in and out of the boats for several days. Mandalay, Bagan and Rangoon will give us a nice taste.

I made some notes about Mandalay based on your report. We will be skipping the horse cart ride there also!!!I Know using a car in Bagan will give us less of the experience...but these are the little take offs to continue to travel to the more exotic places around the world.

As soon as I get my general outline finished I will send it to a couple of the TA's recommended here. The trip is a little over a year away, early 2015, but the river boat is already listing its 2015 dates.