[Jackanory]

Hello folks. Interested to know if anyone on the forum has been to Yangon recently and if so which hotel they opted for? Heading there early in 2017 and currently booked in at the Shangri-La but noticed the The Strand will have reopened by then and was considering a switch to the former. Looking in the GBP200-300 p/n range so not considering the Governor’s Residence. Any feedback of recent visits much appreciated. Thks!

[Ardmarnoch]

Hi
Yanon hotels are in short supply, bit of a wild west atmoshpere, and prices are whatever outrageous sum they can charge.
A few months ago I stayed at the Savoy in Yangon, which was by Yangon standards a reasonable price price. Classic old hotel with views of probalby the most fabulous Wat in Asia. Not down at the harbourfront – but then the centre of town is busy and very noisy, and you cannot see the water for the big ugly warehouses. The Savoy is much more peaceful especially if you ask for a pool view room. Great restaurant in the hotel and reasonably priced by any standards for good French style cuisine. Book a table for dinner on the old classic “days of the Raj and colonies” balcony overlooking the pool.
Had lunch at the Strand and both the service and food were reasonable, but the hotle itslef is nothing to write home about. Strand is far nicer and in a better location.

[Ardmarnoch]

Correction – the STRAND is far nicer!

[Ardmarnoch]

You can see I am just of a long flight… Lets get this right…. the Strand is far nicer, in a good location for getting to the sights of Yangon yet hand for the city centre. And good value. Rooms may not be as modern as Traders/Shang, just much more classic. Recommend.

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Jackanory

[Mazin26]

Do consider the recently refurbished Parkroyal Yangon.

[AnthonyDunn]

Personally, I always tend to check out trip adviser but, yes, the Strand is very much improved from when my Snr Management last visited it in the mid-1980s when black dust came out of the shower head… We were there in December 2015 and it is a very pleasant place to stay at these days albeit that it is considerably more expensive than almost all other hotels around Rangoon.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, if time allows, you must try a ride on the circle line train (allow 3-4 hours) which will take you all around Rangoon including past the vast fruit and vegetable market to the north – at which point the train will suddenly be filled with the produce of one of SE Asia’s most verdant countries.

Are you just going to Rangoon or elsewhere? For work or leisure? Happy to offer advice and recommendations after having spent nearly a month there Dec15-Jan16.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Jackanory

[Jackanory]

Thanks Anthony. The Strand has some decent rates through LHW at the moment for when they reopen later in the year so is working out the same as the Shangri-La. We have 4 nights in Rangoon then heading to Ngapali for 5 or 6 nights – booked the Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa for this part of the trip. Did you to make it to this party of the country?

[Gregory]

Hello,
With regards to your interest in Yangon hotels..
Over the last 8 years I’ve been involved in developing Myanmar Tourism and it’s here that I put my hand up to having a vested interest in the tourism industry. My company specialises in arranging Custom Tours of Myanmar. So, putting that that aside for a moment, I visit Myanmar 4 or 5 times a year and have travelled extensively throughout the country, so I’m very familiar with all available accommodation options. I do not have anything to gain by offering you my opinion except the knowledge that I’ve passed on accurate and current information. I’ve stayed at all the major hotels in Yangon and I’ve visited most of the other worthwhile sites whether they be 3, 4 or 5 star. My recommendation for BUSINESS travellers is the PARKROYAL. This is centrally located, but the primary reasons I stay there consistently are:
* It is always clean and tidy
*The hotel offers “RELIABLE” HIGH SPEED CABLE internet
*The food selection is excellent
*The staff are extremely well trained
*The pool and gym facilities are first class
*The meeting areas are very well designed and positioned to maximise your benefit
*Comparitively speaking the room rates are well priced.
*It’s within walking distance of Scott’s Market and other shops
That’s it really..
The SHANGRI LA having been recently refurbished is over-priced and over crowded (especially at breakfast times when you often have to wait for a seat). The STRAND is way over-priced and located in a remote corner close to nothing of interest (also no pool). The GOVERNOR’s RESIDENCE is way over-priced and really just designed for tourists going on a “Road to Mandalay” river cruise (all owned by the same company BELMOND). That’s also located our in the suburbs close to nothing of interest. There are other choices such as the SAVOY (slow internet – old rooms), the SEDONA not too bad as a business hotel. The new MELIA will open this month and that looks really good HOWEVER the rooms rates appear very high. There’s also the NOVOTEL, but again that’s just a tricked up IBIS (over-rated & over-priced). For first time visitors wanting a real feel of traditional BURMA, I highly recommend the Kandawgyi Palace. It’s superbly designed and placed in a luxurious tropical garden setting looking out over the lake. Business travellers from Thailand may be familiar with the CHATRIUM brand. That’s also a great business hotel but it is quite isloated, you need a car (taxi) to go anywhere. So, that’s my recommendation my friends..
I “choose” the PARKROYAL because it is consistently good.
Travel safe..

[AnthonyDunn]

Jackanory 29th July 2016 at 06:48

Sorry, we headed in the opposite direction: up to Bagan on the original shake, rattle and roll ride courtesy of Myanmar Railways. We were warned “very, very bumping…” Then onto Mandalay by Ayeyarwaddy river ferry and then deep into Shan State before flying down to Inle Lake for a trip to one of the most stunning places on earth. For railway buffs, it is a trip back into the past – with matching track bed.

I’ve still got the smell of freshly sawn teak in my nose from a visit to a boat yard on Inle Lake where they were making long tail boats. I was sorely tempted to buy one for USD 1600 (plus lord only knows what transportation costs…) for tearing up and down the Thames.

For anyone contemplating an itinerary around Burma, I could not do better than recommend you contact Ms. Thiri Kyaw at [email protected] She put together an excellent itinerary for us and everything worked out splendidly.

[Swissdiver]

Was last month at the Governor’s Residence: had a great experience (and I am very demanding). This is a fabulous hotel, even at that price.
I’ve also tried the Kandawgyi Palace, on the eponym lake: this is a decent option when on holidays bit probably not enough functional when it comes to work. And it is far less expensive.

[Author]

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