Mingalar Inn

We were happy with the stay and the service. The staff were friendly and helpful, and when we arrived early in the morning without a reservation, they got us a free room straight away. You can also relax by the pool after checkout.

The breakfast was really good, and the small pool area was quite nice, with lots of plants. We chose the cheaper standard room. It was clean but dark, cold, and worn. The pricier rooms by the pool looked newer and nicer. There was no air conditioning, though in February that was okay. WiFi worked well, and staff were friendly and helpful during our stay. You can rent an old, worn bike for 1,500 kyats, but it has no lights, so be careful if you're riding back after sunset. There were lots of warning signs around the hotel, including one saying not to bring other guests to your room 😃. The hotel arranged a boat tour for us at 5 am. Setting off early was great, and the first part of the trip was five-star. The last part dragged on for hours as we visited touristy handicraft workshops and pagodas, which we didn't care for. It cost 25,000, and the hotel packed us breakfast to take along, which was really nice. It was a good, okay place to stay, though the checkout on departure day was a disappointment. While we were out for a short walk, they checked us out at 10:30 pm without asking. The signs said checkout was at 11:00 pm, and our luggage was left in the hall. They did let us wait in the entrance room until our taxi arrived, which we appreciated.

The pool is open until 7 pm, with plenty of loungers in the sun or shade. It's a nice way to cool off during the day, though the water gets too chilly after 5 pm. Our room was private and comfortable, and the location made it easy to walk around town. Staff were very friendly, and most understood English quite well. They offered several night bus options, including a cheaper one with the same service. We paid 20,000 kyat for a VIP night bus to Yangon, compared with 26,000-28,000 from other companies. I don't know what travel agencies charge, but booking through the hotel seemed like a good price. Laundry is available for 3,000 kyat per kilogram. Nothing to complain about.

The standard rooms were dark and musty, and we had to switch rooms because the toilet was broken. Junior suites might be nicer, but they cost twice as much, so this didn't feel like the best value around. On the plus side, the pool looked nice, though the water was quite cold. Staff were helpful, and breakfast was pretty good.