THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 342

Sam doesn't lead as many treks as he used to. Their fees (K14,000 per person per day in a
group of five) include everything bar the Inle entrance fee.
ACCOMMODATION
There'sadecentenoughrangeofaccommodationinKalaw,withestablishmentsoftenfeatur-
ing a certain tree in their names - the town is locally famed for its pine trees, which grow on
thesurroundinghillsandoftenendupinhotelroomsintheformofcladdingandfurnishings.
At the time of writing, a few large, higher-end complexes were being built on the outskirts,
a good omen for a town more accustomed to hosting wealthy day-trippers from Inle. Wi-fi is
patchy across the board.
Dream Villa Zatila St 081 50144, [e-mail] . One of the nicer
places in the town centre, this guesthouse boasts a quiet, backstreet lo catio n, and wood-pan-
elled rooms with minibar. It is, however, a little dear for what you get. $45
Eastern Paradise Thiri Mangalar St 081 50315, [e-mail] . Poor value
since a recent doubling in price, this guesthouse has well-sized rooms, all with carpeting of a
sor t, and staff able to organize tours and the like. You'll pay $10 more for an upstairs room.
$25
GoldenKalawInn Natsin Rd 081 50311, [e-mail] . In near-direct
competition to the Golden Lily just down the road, this guesthouse has its adherents, but its
grungyvibe, weak-framed beds and prison-cell rooms ofte n see guests moving out after their
first night. Best viewed as a back-up option. No wi-fi. $12
Golden Lily Natsin Rd 081 50108, [e-mail] . A long-time
backpacker magnet, run by a charming Sikh family adept at organizing hiking tours to Inle
Lake. The cheap rooms and their shared facilities are decent enough, but do think about
stumping up double for one of the co mfy, nicely decorated en-suite rooms in the new block,
some of which have cute bathtubs. $7
Hill Top Villa Ward 3 081 50346. Higher-end, chalet-style accommodation out past the
train station - just aim for the red triangles on the adjacent hillside. The views are predict-
ably good, and the rooms nice enough, though b reak fasts are unfortunately mediocre - a pity
when there's next to nowhere else to eat nearby. $80
HoneyPine ZatilaSt 08150728, honeypinehotel.blogspot.com . There'spineallover
the place at this small guesthouse, whose carpeted rooms are up there with the best value in
town,allen-suite,andfeaturingtellyandminibar .Se rviceisn'tuptomuch,however,andthe
windowless single rooms aren't worth going for. $25
Pine Breeze Thittaw Rd 081 50459, [e-mail] . One of the town's
newer options, occupying a lofty position up a side-street just west of the centre - there are