THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 405

to have a good look at both. This is a wee bit cheaper, especially for single travellers ($15);
som e rooms feature mirror panelling, and a few have surprisingly large bathrooms. No wi-fi.
$20
Queen 81st St, between 32nd and 33rd sts 02 39805, hotelqueenmandalay.com ; map .
Presentable mid-range choice located in the low thirties, a sort of no-man's-land just south
of the city centre. All rooms have bathtubs and wi-fi (i n the ory); their cheapest rooms are all
doubles, while the best are the $55 choices at the front. $45
Royal City 27th St, between 76th and 77th sts 02 66559, royalcityhotelmandalay.com ;
map . In a quiet area just east of the centre and south of the palace moat, this hotel has made a
decent stab at smartening itself up - all rooms are comfy enough, thou gh the corner ones are
particularly nice. Breakfast is taken on the rooftop, with lovely views. $35
RoyalGuesthouse 25th St, between 82nd and 83rd sts 02 31400; map . Small and ami-
able, this is the best of the area's budget choices, and usually the cheapest too, though you'll
pay $5 extra for an en-suite room. Common areas have been decorated with rare care (per-
hapsusingaRubik'scubeasacolourpalette).Wi-fidoesn'truntoallrooms,andnotallhave
windows,sodolookatafewifpossible.Theguesthouse'sye llow signisalittle hardtospot;
it's next door to Casper the Friendly Woodmachinery Trader. $17
SilverStar 27th St, at 83rd St 02 33394, silverstarhotelmandalay.com ; map . One of the
town's taller hotels, with eight full levels; rooms have wi-fi and all mod cons, while the ser-
vice is pretty good too . It's worth paying an extra $10 for one of the corner rooms, which
catch a lot of light. $45
Unity 27th St, at 82nd St 02 66583, [e-mail] ; map . It's hard to single
out a Mandalay cheapie for praise; this hotel has rough edges to smooth out, for sure, but
it's one of the more reliable choices. Plus-points include a lobby that feels like that of a
“real”hotel,afunctionallift,andanicelittlecoffeebaronthegroundlevel.Al sot hinkabout
splashing out on one of their suites ($40), which are large and well appointed. $25
OUTSIDE THE CENTRE
Ayarwaddy River View Hotel Strand Rd, at 22nd St 02 64945, ayarwaddyrivervie-
whotel.net ; map . A perfectly acceptable hotel for the price, with some rooms sporting great
viewsofthefamedAyeyarwadyRiver.They'vealsosomecheapsingles($55)wayupontop,
in quirky rooms with sloping ceilings; also worth mentioning are a swimming pool (open to
non-g ues ts), and the fantastic rooftop Ayar Sky Bar , which often doles out free sunset cock-
tails. $70
Emerald Land Inn 14th St, between 86th and 87th sts 02 26990; map . Good rooms in a
large complex some distance north of the centre - the surrounding area is charmingly local,
pleasing to the eye, and refreshingly tourist-free. Back on site, there's a good pool (though