Myanmar plans
 

Hello Myanmar travellers
We are in the stages of planning our trip to Myanmar for February 2007.
We have 2 nights Yangon, 3 nights Mandalay, 3 nights Bagan, 1 night Kalaw, 3 nights Inle Lake.

We had looked at the Princess or Lakeview Resort at Inle Lake but they are a bit pricey. Has anyone stayed at a different hotel at Inle?
The other hotels the local tour agency have booked are the Summit Parkview in Yangon, The Mandalay City Hotel in Mandalay, the Thande Hotel Old Bagan, the Hill top Villa hotel in Kalaw. Any comments on these?

Has anyone done the 1/2 day trek from Kalaw to the Palaung hill tribe?

Would you recommend Kalaw at all or add one more day onto Inle Lake?
I should mention that our focus is seeing the local life and people, doing a bit of shopping and not seeing more than a moderate amount of temples.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
regards

Let's see, where to start...

In Yangon, I loved the Kandawgyi Palace. I've also stayed at the Summit, which is nice enough but very much in the 'could be anywhere' style. About the only thing going for it is it's next to a branch of my restaurant. ;-)

I've been to Mandalay three times, and have no idea where the Mandalay City Hotel is. The Mandalay Hills or Sedona is where you want to be.

I like Mandalay more than most people here do, I think, but even I would say three nights there may be too much. I'd take another night in Bagan or Yangon.

Michael,

I'm thinking of spending a couple of nights at the Kandawgyi Palace but I've read somewhere(Tripadvisor?) that the rooms tend to have a smell to them due to the proximity of the lake. Did you find that to be the case or is the lake "smelly"?

Thanks in advance.

Nope, no smell at all. I suppose if you were there at the height of the hot dry season, around April to May, things might get a bit stinky, but I've never heard about it. I had an odd room - it was up the lift, down a breezeway, then up a flight of stairs and down the hall - but the view was fantastic and the room was very nice. It had a swiss chalet feel to it, but the wood was decorated in Burmese style.

The Kandawgyi (gotta say it with a southern accent - can-dawwgee) seems to be one of those places that people love or hate. I think it had changed management not long before I stayed there a year ago, so some comments may depend on when they were written.

About your question re Myanmar hotels, I have stayed in the Mandalay City Hotel. It was fine- good location and a pretty setting. I would stay there again. I definitely would not want to be at the Mandalay Hill - maybe the Sedona would be okay.
In Inle Lake I stayed at a Paradise hotel in Nyaung Shwe one night and at thier other property, a Paradise, 'in' the lake. I had asked to stay at the Golden Island Cottages, (they were booked) which I visited, and where I stayed was very similiar. However, I was disappointed being 'in the lake'. They run on generators which meant a mandatory bedtime, exploring was limited, and the solar hot water wasn't hot. I don't particulary recommend either of these places - in town in the bungalows was okay - but I have not read about or seen recommended anything else that enticed me. However, I LOVED Inle Lake and would return - in spite of mediocre lodgings.

It sounds like you have a great trip planned. I agree with Michael - I might stay 2 nights in Mandalay, although I liked Mandalay, and add a night to Yangon.

Be sure to do a trip report and share your information. I intend to go back sometime in 2007 and would like to have more information from those who have experienced it.

Thank you for your remarks everyone. We appreciate any information we can get.
When in Mandalay, what tours did you do? We have a recommendation on the suggested itinerary of full day to Mingun, full day to Pyin Oo Lwin and a full day tour of the three cities of Amarapura, Inwa and Sagaing. I have read that doing these last three cities in one day is too much. Do you agree?
I think we can forego Mingun but what about Pyin Oo Lwin.It looks interesting enough as an example of a former British hill station.
Thanks again, and look forward to any other suggestions anyone can give.
regards,

Hi Keldar,

I'm a guy from Burma working in Travel industry.My recommendation to you is the resonal Hotel in Yangon is Knadawkyi as it has nice view,reasonable price, accessabel to the major place,very unique asia(Burma) style.

I hope 3 nights is Mandaly is somewhat too much for you, but you can explore more.Mandaly City is the new one and it's so cool.

My recommendation to Bagan goes to Bagan Hotel or Tharabar Gate so both have very much 13 century style, may be somewhat pricy.

Staying in the Hotel in Inle lake give you the unique mingle feeling to the nature and inhabitant life.

I'm not certain if it's the same 1/2 day trek you are considering, but we did a 1/2 day trek in Kalaw this summer. It was fascinating but very challenging (ie more than just a walk). We did the trek after landing in Heho. We did not spend the night in Kalaw but rather continued on (back) to Inle Lake after trekking. I think I would recommend this rather than spending the night in Kalaw.