Shwe Kaung Kin Motel

The room was clean and great, with a comfortable bed. The toilet was fine, but the shower only dripped hot water. The people are quite nice, though despite the booking listing saying “we speak your language,” their English is pretty bad. I’m not complaining, but don’t advertise something if it isn’t right. We arrived early in the morning on a morning bus and they let us in for a fee of 10.000, which felt a bit too much to me. It’s a fine little place, but overpriced for the quality you get. Maybe that will change in the future.

The location worked well for getting around: it’s about a 5-10 minute drive from the airport and another 10 minutes or so to Nyaung-O’s business area. There’s a road of restaurants nearby, though most places in town close around 10 pm. Shwe Kaung Kin was much better than I expected, with welcoming, helpful staff and a clean room. Water pressure was fairly weak, and breakfast came with instant 3-in-1 coffee or tea, which was my one reservation.

The setting is quiet and rural, tucked among trees, with only the cocks making noise in the morning. It’s a little way from Old Bagan, so arrange an e-bike at reception. They’re cheap, and if the battery runs low while you’re out, call and they’ll bring a replacement right away. What really made this place for me was how kind and helpful everyone was. It felt almost like staying with family. The hotel was clean, towels were changed daily, and the room had hot tea and a comfortable bed. Breakfast on the rooftop was generous, especially the Burmese option. I’d absolutely stay here again when I come back to Bagan.

The family running this little Bagan hotel are lovely hosts, and they made things easy even though their English was basic. It’s clean and comfortable, with a simple but nice breakfast, and you can rent e-bikes for 10K a day. Restaurants and cultural sights are all within about 10 minutes. There’s no WiFi, so you’ll have to settle for birdsong instead.