Page 90 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

88 Yangon and around ACCOMMODATION
1 aCCoMModaTIon
As you’d expect, there’s a good spread of accommodation in Yangon, from backpacker guesthouses to five-star palaces –
although few bargains. The overall shortage of accommodation means that places can get booked solid days or weeks in
advance; reserve as far ahead as you can whenever possible. The downtown area is where you’ll find almost all the city’s
budget accommodation (including a burgeoning number of hostel dorm beds), as well as many mid-range places,
although very few upmarket options. Staying here has the obvious benefit of putting you right in the thick of things,
although pressure of space means that rooms are generally small (if not positively microscopic), while cheaper places often
lack windows and are located up many flights of stairs. Most of the city’s more upmarket options are found scattered
around the city’s modern suburbs north of downtown; the majority are cast in the generic international five-star mould
and singularly lacking in character, although there are a few honourable exceptions including a trio of fine old colonial
piles: the Strand, Savoy and Governor’s Residence. All the places listed have a/c, free wi-fi and include breakfast in their rates
unless otherwise stated.
DOWNTOWN Garden Guest House 441–445 Mahabandoola St
BudgET T01 253779; map p.64. You’ll not get more central than
Backpacker Bed & Breakfast 2nd floor, 38 Shwe Bon this long-running budget stalwart, right next to Sule
Thar Rd T09 263 728 438, Wbackpackerbnbyangon Pagoda. Rooms resemble wooden boxes and are shabby
.com; map p.62. Smart new hostel on attractive Shwe Bon but bearable; all are en suite (although with cold water
Thar Rd just east of the centre, offering deluxe dorm only in cheaper rooms) and rates are as low as almost
accommodation at super-competitive rates. The four-bed anywhere, although the general air of dinginess and
a/c dorms come with cosy curtained wooden bunks, each uninterested service doesn’t exactly warm the soul. $18
with their own reading light and socket, plus in-dorm Hninn Si Budget Inn 213–15 Botataung Pagoda Rd
bathroom and lockers. There is also a decent selection of T01 299941, Whninnsibudgetinn.com; map p.62.
private doubles (although most are windowless), plus Neat, clean and quiet little guesthouse (entrance upstairs
larger and smarter superior rooms with window for a on the first floor next to some seriously impressive
modest $5 surcharge. Dorms $12, doubles $28 plumbing and crazy wiring). Rooms share a clean and
Beautyland Hotel II 188/192 33rd St T01 240054, spacious bathroom, and are boxy and mostly windowless,
Ebeautylandtwo@gmail.com; map p.64. Pleasantly but good value at the price. $22
old-fashioned, homely and peaceful guesthouse (despite Mahabandoola Guest House 453/459 Mahabandoola
the very central location). The whole place feels a fraction Rd T01 248104; map p.64. Very basic, but as cheap as it
less cramped than other central budget options (although gets in Yangon (and with singles for just $6) – the
not all rooms have windows), and there’s a nice first-floor memorably decrepit staircase is almost a museum piece in
lounge and breakfast restaurant. $30 its own right. Accommodation is in tiny cubicle rooms (with
★ Chan Myaye Guest House 256 Mahabandoola a/c) – shabby but reasonably clean, and all sharing a
Garden St T01 382022, Wchanmyaeguesthouse.com; grubby bathroom. No breakfast. $12
map p.64. Excellent guesthouse right in the thick of the Mayfair Inn 57 38th St T01 253454, Emayfair-inn
downtown action with professional service and @myanmar.com.mm or Emaytinmg@gmail.com; map
competitive rates. Cheaper rooms are poky, with bunk p.64. Long-running guesthouse in a quiet side street in the
beds, shared bathroom and no windows; the slightly more heart of Yangon’s finest colonial district. Scores highly for
expensive en-suite rooms ($5 extra) are relatively spacious, its homely atmosphere, peaceful location and spacious – if
and some even have windows. There are also two state-of- rather sterile – tiled rooms (all en suite; hot water $5
the-art dorms with individually curtained beds, all with a/c extra), although service can be haphazard and there’s no
units, reading lights and sockets. Staying here will keep you breakfast. $25
fit too, with rooms are spread between the fourth and ★ Motherland Inn II 433 Lower Pazundaung Rd T01
eighth floors – and no lift. Dorms $10, doubles $25 291343, Wmyanmarmotherlandinn.com; map p.60 and
Cherry Guesthouse 278/300 Mahabandoola Garden map.62. One of Yangon’s best budget options – if you don’t
St T01 255946 or T09 534 0623, Echerry mind the inconvenient location a 20min walk (or short taxi
.gesthouse@gmail.com; map p.64. One of central ride) from the centre of downtown. Rooms are unusually
downtown’s most reliable budget options, on the fourth large, bright and peaceful (cheaper ones come with fan only
and fifth floors of a characteristically tall and skinny and shared bathroom), and there’s a well-equipped internet
downtown building with the bonus of an (oversubscribed) café, free airport pick-up for international arrivals (plus free
lift. Rooms are all en suite, although they’re as small as morning and afternoon airport bus shuttles), and an
you’d expect in such a central location, while cheaper ones excellent range of travel services. Rates include an excellent
lack windows. Good single rates ($18) too. $27 breakfast, either Western or Burmese. $25

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