THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 182

(a kind of pick-up truck attached to a motorbike) cruising the streets, and you may also be
able to rent a bicycle from the Shwe Thazin hotel.
ACCOMMODATION
Theincreasingnumberoftourists,businesstravellersandaidworkerspassingthroughSittwe
means that accommodation can often be surprisingly difficult to find - this is definitely one
place where it pays to book ahead. The shortage is compounded by the fact that many of
the guesthouses along Main Rd (including the Golden , Mercedes and Prince guesthouses)
aren't licensed to accept foreign guests. In addition to the places below, the long-running
New Palace Hotel at the north end of town (5 Main Rd; 043 21996, newpalacehotelsit-
twe.com ) may have reopened by the time you read this, following renovations. Breakfast is
included at most places below (unless specifically stated), but nowhere except at Kiss and
Royal Sittwe currently has wi-fi, or any other kind of internet.
KissGuesthouse 145MainRd(oppositetheoldclocktower) 04323451. Simplebutcheap
option, with basic but reasonably clean and comfy tiled rooms with attached bathroom (cold
water only), alth oug h rooms close to the road are a bit noisy. Currently has the only wi-fi in
the town centre. $20
MyaGuesthouse 51/6 Bowdhi St 043 23315. Sittwe's best-known budget guesthouse, al-
though one that's grown increasingly fat and lazy thanks to an easy flow of foreign custom-
ers. The simple rooms, with a/c and attached cold-water bathrooms, are adequate but over-
priced (although single rates are dec ent value at just $20), while service is indifferent and
reservations aren't always honoured. $30
Noble Hotel 45 Main Rd 043 23558, [e-mail] . So-so mid-range hotel
bang in the heart of town. All rooms come with a/c, TV minibar and safe, although they're
looking dat ed a nd aren't great value for money. Acceptable, but not as nice as the nearby Sh-
we Thazin . $50
Royal Sittwe Resort 3km south of town 043 23478, royalsittweresort.asia . Sittwe's
most upmarket option - although the workaday resort-style complex hardly sets the pulse ra-
cing.Theold-fashionedandratherplainroomsaren'tparticularlygoodvalue,andtherestaur-
ant is humdrum, although a fine location overlooking the Bay of Bengal and a priceless (but
errat ic) wi-fi connection partly compensate. Free transfers from airport/boat jetty included.
$105
ShweThazin 250 Main Rd 043 23579, shwethazinhotel.com . Central Sittwe's plushest
option, with comfortable and well-furnis hed a/c rooms at a fairly reasonable price, plus de-
cent service and a good breakfast buffet. $55
Strand Hotel Strand Rd 043 22881. Not quite open at the time of writing, this new place
promises a handful of bright modern rooms for a price most likely in the region of $75