Hotel Aye Chan Thar

The pool is fantastic, and you also get big rooms, breakfast, and a reception desk with people answering around the clock, all at a low price for the country. The main hassle was communication. Staff didn’t speak English well, despite seeming to think they did. We had to go down to reception because ordering “tea” by phone wasn’t working. It’s a great place and that wouldn’t stop me coming back, but their English is something they should improve.

The ATM in the lobby caused us trouble. It declined withdrawals from two different credit cards, but when we checked online, the money had been taken from both accounts. Staff weren’t helpful and were quite rude when I asked them to call the bank. We only got the money back after contacting our own bank. The price was cheap, so there wasn’t a lot to complain about, but don’t be misled by the advertised four stars. It’s not a luxurious place. Service was horrible, and none of the staff seemed to speak decent English. The rooms had stains and holes in the walls, though the rest was quite clean. Breakfast was nothing special and was disappointing compared with what we’d had at cheaper places in Myanmar.

The rooms were comfortable and good, and the staff were very kind and helpful. I wasn’t sure the pool was really clean. May Pyi Taw itself felt like a strange experience, but I still think it’s worth a visit.

There’s a mountain backdrop, and we could swim freely at night. The hotel has two-storey buildings as well as bungalow-style ones. It’s a good hotel, but breakfast isn’t buffet-style.