Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6pm to 6am. More upmarket places have their own generators, although even then additional
power may only be available from around 1pm to 4pm. Most places slash rates or close en-
tirely during the rainy season.
Belle Resort
Main Rd (opposite Shwe Ya Minn) 042 42112,
belleresorts.com
.
Chaung
Tha'smostappeallingplacetostay,rathermorestylishthanprettymuchanywhereelseinthe
village and at a very competitive price, with attractive
bu
ngalows set around peaceful gar-
dens overlooking the sea, plus a spa and smallish pool.
$76
HillGardenHotel
Outside the village 09 4957 6072,
hillgardenhotel.com
.
Peaceful re-
treatfromthebeachsidehubbub,setamidfieldsa10minbikeridefromthevillage.Therustic
wooden cabanas come with either shared bathroom (cold water only) or en-suite (hot water
extra $10); fans are provided on request, but sea breezes mean y
ou
don't really need them.
There's a small beach nearby, and bikes available for K1500/day.
$15
Hotel Max
Main Rd 042 42346,
maxhotelsgroup.com
.
A cut above everywhere else in
townbarthe
Belle Resort
-althoughbizarrelyatacheaperpricethanmanyotherlessappeal-
ing places, and excellent value overall. Accommodation is in a cluster of white chalets set
amid Chaung Tha's attractive gardens close to the beach, all spacious and attractively kitted
out with plenty of wooden furniture. Fa
cilit
ies include a spa, medium-sized pool, and a nice
restaurant complete with billiards table.
$70
Sea&See
Main Rd 042 42399.
Near the top end of the village, this place is as cheap as it
gets in Chaung Tha, offering simple but clean and bright rooms with shared bathroom (cold
water only) - although the mat
tresses
are uncomfortably thin. Friendly service, but not much
English spoken. No breakfast.
K15,000
Shwe Ya Minn
Main Rd (opposite the Belle Resort) 042 42126.
Chaung Tha's only real
budget guesthouse for foreign visitors, which fortunately is pretty good. Rooms (a/c $10 ex-
tra) are small and simple but perfectly comfortable, with decent mosquito nets and not too
hot, and there's also reliable wi-fi and a goodbreakfast included in the price (K2000 fornon-
guests). There'salsoagoodattach
ed
restaurant
,andtheprofessional staffcanarrange awide
range of boat trips and excursions.
$25
EATING
As you'd expect, Chaung Tha majors in seafood, with a string of restaurants down the road
with identical signs and near identical menus (although hardly any of them ever have prices
on-check before youorder). Foodisn't particularly cheap (around K4000-5000fora whole
fish) but ingredients are fresh and portions consistently huge. If you fancy eating
on the
beach
, there's an enjoyable little mini-village of wooden shacks under massed umbrellas on
the beach just north of
Hotel Max
with dozens of small stalls selling freshly grilled fish and
seafood alongside traditional curries.
