Page 35 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

AccommodAtion BASICS 33
ACCOMMODATION PRICES
Rates quoted throughout the Guide are for the cost of the cheapest double room in high
season (november to February), excluding peak-period spikes such as over christmas and
new Year and during the thingyan Water Festival. different places give room rates in either
dollars or kyat (or sometimes both), and we’ve quoted prices throughout in the currency used
by the establishment itself.
Rates at most places include all relevant taxes and service charges, although some
top-end places quote pre-tax rates and then add on an additional fee – typically a ten
percent service charge and a ten percent government tax. if in doubt, check when you book
or check in.
Breakfast is normally included (see p.34), and all places listed have free wi-fi unless
specifically stated otherwise. Single room rates, where available, are normally around
two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of a double room.

clean, even at the budget end of the scale. Bagan) there’s plenty of accommodation and you
Air-conditioning is provided in the majority of can afford to pick and choose (assuming you
places (including most budget options) except for reserve ahead). in smaller and/or less touristed
destinations up in the hills (Kalaw, for example), places there may be only a handful of options, if
where it’s not generally needed. Some places give that. Given all this, it pays to reserve in advance.
you the option of taking a room with or without a/c most places are now available to book online on
(usually costing around $5–7 per night extra if you one of the major booking websites (most
opt to have it turned on). many places offer the commonly Booking.com and/or Agoda). it might
option of taking a room with either twin or double also be worth a look at Airbnb, although most of
beds – those with double beds are often a bit the places advertised on the website are just
cheaper. Hot water is also the norm except in the conventional guesthouses and hotels.
very cheapest places, while free wi-fi is provided if you’re arriving somewhere as a walk-in guest it’s
pretty much everywhere, although it’s often erratic. often worth bargaining, especially in budget
national power shortages can be a problem in guesthouses (although you may even have some
some more remote destinations, with electricity joy at mid-range places), particularly in low season
only available for set periods (typically 6am–6pm, or if you’re staying several days.
although in some places electrical cuts may
happen in the middle of the night). most, but not Budget accommodation
all, mid- and top-end places have their own genera-
tors – and therefore 24-hour electricity. in budget Budget accommodation aimed at foreign visitors is
places you’ll have to do without electricity during mainly in family-run guesthouses or smaller
outage hours. hotels. Rooms typically cost between $15 and $30
per night for a double room. At the lower end of
Booking accommodation this price range, you’ll probably be sharing a
bathroom (possibly with cold water only), while
Where you stay will depend a lot on where you some cheap rooms lack air-conditioning and can
are. in larger tourist centres (Yangon, mandalay, be pretty shabby. For around $20–25 per night, you
can usually find somewhere reasonably clean
TOP FIVE BUDGET and comfortable with an en-suite bathroom and
GUESTHOUSES hot water.
Chan Myaye Guest House, Yangon
See p.88 Mid-range and expensive
Motherland Inn II, Yangon See p.88 accommodation
Galaxy Motel, Hpa-An See p.156
Myanmar Beauty Guesthouse, most mid-range accommodation ($50–100 per
Taungoo See p.184 night) is in functional concrete-box hotels. Rooms
Ostello Bello Bagan, New Bagan tend to be larger and with a few extra trimmings
See p.225 (perhaps a fridge, safe, satellite tV and writing desk),
and there might be an in-house restaurant and

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