Amata Garden Resort Bagan

The manager was the part of our stay we’ll remember most. After a very unfortunate incident outside the hotel, we told the staff when we got back that night. Not long after, the manager called our room and offered to talk. She understood the situation and helped us work through it from start to finish. It wasn’t her responsibility, and we wouldn’t have blamed her for not getting involved, but she went far beyond what we expected and made sure we could still enjoy our stay. Since my birthday was the next day, she also arranged a small surprise in our room. My husband and I were really touched by how much they cared. The room was very clean, the food was good, the pool was lovely, the massages were great, and everyone was welcoming and kind. We’d recommend the hotel to anyone staying in Bagan.

The hotel had only been open for four months, so everything was new. The staff were plentiful, friendly, attentive, and the service was great. There’s an outdoor pool, a pool bar with happy hour, and a restaurant on site. I tried a smoothie at the bar, but only saw the rest of those facilities. The gym still wasn’t finished, though the spa was open. It was pretty standard and didn’t compare with other nice resorts, but cleaner than another local spa I tried, so it could be a good option if cleanliness matters to you. Some of the finishing could be neater, like paint on the floor, but the service and overall cleanliness made me happy.

I don't understand how badly run hotels like this get such great reviews. I suspect they’re paid for. The hotel was really dirty, with a dusty floor and balcony. The bathroom had weak water pressure and flooded from the toilet. A friend in another room also had a flooding problem when draining the bathtub. We asked for our room to be cleaned, but it never was during our stay.

The location in New Bagan is ideal, and the resort is lush and newly built. It opened in November 2017 and has a restaurant, pool, gym, massage, and spa facilities. For a Bagan resort, four stars seems right. The bed was very comfortable and the room had enough space. Most rooms are twins, with only a few doubles. There are sunrise and sunset viewpoints, though the view from there isn’t good. The breakfast buffet was very nice. We’re vegetarian, so we asked the chef for a few extra dishes in the morning, and they agreed to prepare and serve them separately.