Pristine Lotus Resort at Inle Lake?
Mar 28th, 2010, 08:02 PM
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Pristine Lotus Resort at Inle Lake?
Hi,
We are planning a 7 day/6 night trip to Burma for late April - to Yangon, Inle Lake and Bagan. We had been thinking to stay at Inle Lake Princess, when I saw a trip advisor posting about a new place to stay at Inle Lake- the Pristine Lotus Spa Resort. The place opened in November 2009 and looks nice...online anyways. Does anyone know of the place?
We are thinking to stay 3 nights at Inle Lake but am worried that 3.5 days/3 nights will be too much...any thoughts?
Many thanks!
We are planning a 7 day/6 night trip to Burma for late April - to Yangon, Inle Lake and Bagan. We had been thinking to stay at Inle Lake Princess, when I saw a trip advisor posting about a new place to stay at Inle Lake- the Pristine Lotus Spa Resort. The place opened in November 2009 and looks nice...online anyways. Does anyone know of the place?
We are thinking to stay 3 nights at Inle Lake but am worried that 3.5 days/3 nights will be too much...any thoughts?
Many thanks!
Mar 29th, 2010, 02:00 AM
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Based on the website and the 2 TA reviews, it is probably the nicest place on Inle Lake. The location is good too. I tried to do a search on whether the ownership is tied to the Government but came up with nothing. If this is a concern, you might look into it further.
We stayed 3 nights on Inle Lake and it was not too much. Click on my name to get to my profile page. There you will find a link to my trip report.
We stayed 3 nights on Inle Lake and it was not too much. Click on my name to get to my profile page. There you will find a link to my trip report.
Mar 29th, 2010, 02:25 AM
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Agree with Craig - it look nice and new BUT one of the most memorable thing about Inle for me was the beautiful sunset and this new resort is on the wrong side of the lake for that.
3 Nights in inle sound good but how many nights will you have for Bagan and Yangon?
3 Nights in inle sound good but how many nights will you have for Bagan and Yangon?
Mar 29th, 2010, 02:48 AM
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picture of the sunset - http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Travel/...034196_UHox2/1
Mar 29th, 2010, 06:07 AM
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I was at Inle in November, did not see this place. We stayed at the Inle Lake View, which we loved (and which is owned by a woman from Yangon).
Three nights at Inle is not too much. It's such an amazing place. Anticipate glitches in your travel (late flights, etc). Three nights at Inle is really two full days and two partial days, which is how much time we had there. But if you only have 6 nights in Burma... are you planning two nights in Bagan and one in Yangon? Two nights in Bagan is one full day, not nearly enough time there. Any way you can add an extra day or two to your itinerary?
If you haven't read my trip report, do take a look: www.fodors.com/community/asia/burma-at-last.cfm
Three nights at Inle is not too much. It's such an amazing place. Anticipate glitches in your travel (late flights, etc). Three nights at Inle is really two full days and two partial days, which is how much time we had there. But if you only have 6 nights in Burma... are you planning two nights in Bagan and one in Yangon? Two nights in Bagan is one full day, not nearly enough time there. Any way you can add an extra day or two to your itinerary?
If you haven't read my trip report, do take a look: www.fodors.com/community/asia/burma-at-last.cfm
Mar 29th, 2010, 06:35 AM
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Yes, I was delighted to stumble upon Kathie and Craig's trip reports- they have been extremely useful in our planning!
I wish we had more time in Burma, as well, but I am thinking of this as an introductory trip. We live in Bangkok, so a return is highly probable. We are traveling with our two little ones (5 and 3 years old) who are excellent travelers, but can tire of temples, especially in hot weather, after a day (though I'm sure they will be thrilled with the horse carts!). Thus, the shorter stint in Bagan.
So far, our trip is looking like this:
Day 1- 8:00 am arrival into Yangon. Overnight at either Traders Hotel or Savoy
Day 2- afternoon flight to Heho and transfer to Inle Lake. Overnight at Princess Resort or Pristine Lotus.
Day 3- Inle Lake
Day 4- Inle Lake
Day 5- afternoon flight to Bagan
Day 6 - Bagan
Day 7- Bagan. evening flight to Yangon and overnight at either Savoy or Traders
Day 8 - morning flight back to Bangkok
I am leaning towards Traders for the central location and being able to walk out the door to experience Yangon, especially for the children.
I am hoping to hear from someone more about Pristine Lotus, because it sounds almost too good to be true. I am concerned about the ownership, but not sure how to find that out.
Though you probably didn't see many tourist children in Burma, if you happen to have any ideas of activities more suited to children, please share!
I wish we had more time in Burma, as well, but I am thinking of this as an introductory trip. We live in Bangkok, so a return is highly probable. We are traveling with our two little ones (5 and 3 years old) who are excellent travelers, but can tire of temples, especially in hot weather, after a day (though I'm sure they will be thrilled with the horse carts!). Thus, the shorter stint in Bagan.
So far, our trip is looking like this:
Day 1- 8:00 am arrival into Yangon. Overnight at either Traders Hotel or Savoy
Day 2- afternoon flight to Heho and transfer to Inle Lake. Overnight at Princess Resort or Pristine Lotus.
Day 3- Inle Lake
Day 4- Inle Lake
Day 5- afternoon flight to Bagan
Day 6 - Bagan
Day 7- Bagan. evening flight to Yangon and overnight at either Savoy or Traders
Day 8 - morning flight back to Bangkok
I am leaning towards Traders for the central location and being able to walk out the door to experience Yangon, especially for the children.
I am hoping to hear from someone more about Pristine Lotus, because it sounds almost too good to be true. I am concerned about the ownership, but not sure how to find that out.
Though you probably didn't see many tourist children in Burma, if you happen to have any ideas of activities more suited to children, please share!
Mar 29th, 2010, 06:45 AM
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I'm sure your children will love Inle lake! They'll be in the boat all day which will be fun for them. Take lots of sunscreen! The boats do have umbrellas you can use to help keep the sun off as well.
And I expect they will love the horse carts in Bagan. You are on and off the carts often, so they probably won't get too bored with the temples.
And I expect they will love the horse carts in Bagan. You are on and off the carts often, so they probably won't get too bored with the temples.
Mar 29th, 2010, 06:47 AM
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The Pristine Lotus is not on the lake. It is across the road and a bit north of the Inle Lake View Resort, where I stayed and which I recommend.
Pristine Lotus looks very upscale. We were told that it has ownership links to the Aureum hotel group.
Pristine Lotus looks very upscale. We were told that it has ownership links to the Aureum hotel group.
Mar 29th, 2010, 07:23 AM
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Madam Eks - welcome back and looking forward to your trip report!!!
hcs,
It will be very hot and dusty in Bagan so you might want to hire a car with a/c, I think I saw some, for day trips. Two little kids in the back of a cart going 5 mph in 40c + temperature can be hard on children.
hcs,
It will be very hot and dusty in Bagan so you might want to hire a car with a/c, I think I saw some, for day trips. Two little kids in the back of a cart going 5 mph in 40c + temperature can be hard on children.
Mar 29th, 2010, 08:59 AM
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eks, I'm also looking forward to the full report! So glad you enjoyed the Inle Lakeview.
No doubt Hanuman is right about getting an air-conditioned car part of teh time. The kids will love the horsecatrs, but maybe just early morning or evening. Of course, if you live in Bagkok, perhaps you and they are acclimated to those temperatures.
No doubt Hanuman is right about getting an air-conditioned car part of teh time. The kids will love the horsecatrs, but maybe just early morning or evening. Of course, if you live in Bagkok, perhaps you and they are acclimated to those temperatures.
May 2nd, 2010, 10:00 PM
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We had an excellent trip to Burma, so I just wanted to write to offer my appreciation to you all, especially Kathie and Craig. While I only posted one question, I read trip reports which greatly influenced our travel plans.
Special gratitude to Kathie, for her recommendation of Mintu (Horse Cart #54) in Bagan. After we settled down at the Hotel at Tharabar Gate (which we very much enjoyed) we went to look for a horse cart and driver. It just so happened that Mintu was one of the three horse carts waiting outside the hotel. He was so thrilled to hear that Kathie had recommended him and he was such a delight. So informed about the area and so eager to show us the best of Bagan. He was also unbelievably charming with our two young children, who would opt to stay with Mintu and Susu (the horse) rather than come inside the temples with us. At night, Mintu borrowed his uncle's car to drive us to restaurants and also drove us to the airport.
In reply to my original question, I can now report on Pristine Lotus. Here is my review:
All in all- Pristine Lotus was a terrific place for us to stay. The rooms are modern and beautiful. There is a small sofa and a loft space, which was perfect for our older daughter.
We really enjoyed the setting. While it is not on the water, it is a two minute walk from the local market and on the edge on the village. You can take walks which give you an interesting view of regular, village life. They also have their own pier directly across from the lodge, so you can easily access the canals leading up to Inle Lake. The views from the restaurant are of Inle Lake, and are quite spectacular. The grounds of Pristine Lotus are very nice and I imagine that once the vegetation grows a bit, it will be even more lovely. The waterfall creates a nice ambiance.
All the staff-from the general manager to the waiter- are so lovely. They easily made last-minute arrangements for us for both short canoe rides to all-day boat excursions. Our two children loved interacting with the staff and now consider them friends. We were luckily enough to be there during the water festival. Pristine Lotus's staff made daily food offerings to give to local villagers who walked/rode by to celebrate the new year. They invited us to participate which we happily did.
The food was excellent. The breakfast, which was included in the price of the room, was amazingly huge and the staff ever so attentive.
Pricing was a bit uneven, though all in all, we felt it was a bargain. You can get excellent rates booking through a local travel agency (and not through Pristine Lotus directly). We paid $95 USD for the first night and then $50 USD for each additional night, which we felt was an unbelievably good price, especially considering that a nice breakfast is included. The food and drinks seemed rather expensive ($10-$20 for entree), but the portions were large. The boat trips were relatively cheap, especially in comparison with other area lodges ($25 for full day). Also, taxi transport from the airport to the hotel was much cheaper than with other area lodges ($18 each way).
For those contemplating a visit to Burma in April, we all loved being there during Thingyan (Burmese Water festival). There was a feeling of freedom and happiness that seemed unusual. In Inle Lake, children were waiting in canals and on bridges to splash those going by in boats. In Yangon, young adults dressed in black were in the back of pick-up trucks hugging on their boyfriends/girlfriends while getting doused in water from the water stations. There were few foreign tourists and many Burmese tourists, particularly at temples and pagodas, creating a festive atmosphere. One drawback was that everything in Yangon was closed, including most shops and restaurants outside of hotels.
We all thought Burma was a very special place. Despite the difficulties in making travel plans, the trip was very smooth and easy, even with young children. And while it was hot in April, it was still a relief compared to the sweltering heat of Bangkok!
Special gratitude to Kathie, for her recommendation of Mintu (Horse Cart #54) in Bagan. After we settled down at the Hotel at Tharabar Gate (which we very much enjoyed) we went to look for a horse cart and driver. It just so happened that Mintu was one of the three horse carts waiting outside the hotel. He was so thrilled to hear that Kathie had recommended him and he was such a delight. So informed about the area and so eager to show us the best of Bagan. He was also unbelievably charming with our two young children, who would opt to stay with Mintu and Susu (the horse) rather than come inside the temples with us. At night, Mintu borrowed his uncle's car to drive us to restaurants and also drove us to the airport.
In reply to my original question, I can now report on Pristine Lotus. Here is my review:
All in all- Pristine Lotus was a terrific place for us to stay. The rooms are modern and beautiful. There is a small sofa and a loft space, which was perfect for our older daughter.
We really enjoyed the setting. While it is not on the water, it is a two minute walk from the local market and on the edge on the village. You can take walks which give you an interesting view of regular, village life. They also have their own pier directly across from the lodge, so you can easily access the canals leading up to Inle Lake. The views from the restaurant are of Inle Lake, and are quite spectacular. The grounds of Pristine Lotus are very nice and I imagine that once the vegetation grows a bit, it will be even more lovely. The waterfall creates a nice ambiance.
All the staff-from the general manager to the waiter- are so lovely. They easily made last-minute arrangements for us for both short canoe rides to all-day boat excursions. Our two children loved interacting with the staff and now consider them friends. We were luckily enough to be there during the water festival. Pristine Lotus's staff made daily food offerings to give to local villagers who walked/rode by to celebrate the new year. They invited us to participate which we happily did.
The food was excellent. The breakfast, which was included in the price of the room, was amazingly huge and the staff ever so attentive.
Pricing was a bit uneven, though all in all, we felt it was a bargain. You can get excellent rates booking through a local travel agency (and not through Pristine Lotus directly). We paid $95 USD for the first night and then $50 USD for each additional night, which we felt was an unbelievably good price, especially considering that a nice breakfast is included. The food and drinks seemed rather expensive ($10-$20 for entree), but the portions were large. The boat trips were relatively cheap, especially in comparison with other area lodges ($25 for full day). Also, taxi transport from the airport to the hotel was much cheaper than with other area lodges ($18 each way).
For those contemplating a visit to Burma in April, we all loved being there during Thingyan (Burmese Water festival). There was a feeling of freedom and happiness that seemed unusual. In Inle Lake, children were waiting in canals and on bridges to splash those going by in boats. In Yangon, young adults dressed in black were in the back of pick-up trucks hugging on their boyfriends/girlfriends while getting doused in water from the water stations. There were few foreign tourists and many Burmese tourists, particularly at temples and pagodas, creating a festive atmosphere. One drawback was that everything in Yangon was closed, including most shops and restaurants outside of hotels.
We all thought Burma was a very special place. Despite the difficulties in making travel plans, the trip was very smooth and easy, even with young children. And while it was hot in April, it was still a relief compared to the sweltering heat of Bangkok!
May 8th, 2010, 08:43 PM
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jules39- We were coming from Heho airport and arranged an airport transfer (car) from the airport to Pristine Lotus. If I recall correctly, it took about 30-40 minutes.
We did arrange lake tours through the hotel after we arrived. It was a very easy process and the hotel very helpful. We usually spoke with the manager before breakfast, decided the plan, and by the time we finished breakfast, the boat was waiting. The hotel supplied umbrellas (for the sun) and water. Of course, arranging transport the day before probably makes it easier for everyone, but the hotel staff was very accommodating.
We did arrange lake tours through the hotel after we arrived. It was a very easy process and the hotel very helpful. We usually spoke with the manager before breakfast, decided the plan, and by the time we finished breakfast, the boat was waiting. The hotel supplied umbrellas (for the sun) and water. Of course, arranging transport the day before probably makes it easier for everyone, but the hotel staff was very accommodating.
