Hotel by the Red Canal

A real little oasis of charm, and a standout among Mandalay’s otherwise rather undistinguished hotels. The whole stay was a delight. If you can, ask for one of the ground-floor rooms facing only the waterfall stream. I’ve stayed in very few rooms that felt so welcoming. Thanks to everyone there, especially during these difficult times for Myanmar visiting.

The price is outrageous for what you get. The Wi-Fi barely works, and the ads don’t match reality. There was no welcome fruit basket or proper amenities. Don’t let the appearance fool you. On the first day, my room had a bathtub with the shower handle built in, so it couldn’t be detached. It barely came up to my chest, and I had to sit in the tub to wash my hair. The next day they moved me to a room with a shower, but the pressure was so weak it felt like water from a toilet spray handle. There were way too many mosquitoes, and breakfast was completely inedible, with no real food. For what they charge, you’d think they could serve real butter, but it was only cheap margarine. The woman on night reception was one of the worst parts of the stay, careless and with no sense of service. Worst hotel at this price level. Avoid it.

Nay Kay Zin at the Spice Garden restaurant was so kind. She’s very professional and gave excellent customer service.

We only planned two nights in Mandalay, but Hotel by the Red Canal made us want to stay longer. It stands out for its distinctive design, spotless cleanliness, wonderful hospitality, and 5 star facilities. We’d heard some places in Myanmar could be a little strange and not very clean, so we didn’t arrive with high expectations. There’s complimentary tea and coffee in the lounge, a sunset cocktail experience by the pool, and free water refills, which help reduce waste. The location is great too, close to the largest book pagoda and other landmarks. We’ve only good things to say and highly recommend it to anyone exploring Mandalay. We’ll definitely be back. Thank you hotel by the Red Canal :)