THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 447

Destinations Kyaukme (daily; 1hr 30min); Lashio (daily; 4hr 30min); Mandalay (daily;
13hr); Pyin Oo Lwin (daily; 6hr 30min).
GETTING AROUND
By tuk-tuk A short journey around town ought to cost no more than K500.
Bybicycle MostofHsipaw'ssightsarewithineasycyclingdistanceofthetowncentre.Bikes
are available to rent from Mr Charles , Yee Shin and Lily the Home for K2000/day.
By motorbike It's possible to rent motorbikes from guesthouses around town, with prices
aroundK8000-K10,000/day.SaiPhaatthesouthernendofNamtuRd(daily7am-7pm)rents
out motorbikes for K8000/day.
ACCOMMODATION
Hsipaw Resort 29/30 Myohaung Village 082 80721, hsipawresort.com . Owned by
Amata Resorts, Hsipaw's most upmarket hotel offers twenty comfortable tartan-filled rooms
in pretty riverside bungalows with wonderfully comfortable beds. On the opposite bank of
theDokhtawadyRiverfromthet own ,thehoteloperatesafreeboatserviceandthere'sagood
hotel restaurant. Wi-fi available. $85
Lily the Home 108 Aung Thapye St 082 80318, lilythehome.com . Tucked away in
the middle of a quiet block, this family-run hotel is an excellent choice. The cheapest fan-
cooled rooms have shared bathrooms, but you don't need to pay much more to get an en-
suite room with a/c ($20). The hotel was undergoing expansion at the time of writing, with a
rooftop restaurant and 36 more room s o n the way - it remains to be seen if this will change
the feel of the place. Wi-fi included. $14
Mr Charles Guesthouse 105 Auba St 082 80105, mrcharleshotel.com . The most es-
tablished guesthouse in town, Mr Charles has had rather a monopoly on Hsipaw's tourist
business, offering a gamut of services including aggressively marketed hikes and day-trips.
There's a range of rooms on offer, with those at the cheaper end of the spectrum providing
better value than the o verp riced mid-range ones. The cheapest singles go for $9, and there's
decent wi-fi available. $20
Yee Shin Namtu Rd 082 80711, [e-mail] . This small guesthouse has
fourteen tiny rooms, most with little space beyond the beds. The rooms and (mainly shared)
bathrooms are clean and neat, all with hot water and wi-fi. The cheapest rooms are rather
cramped, but the $12 double s wi th fans and shared bathrooms are undeniably good value,
and single travellers pay half. $10
EATING AND DRINKING
While Hsipaw has plenty of appealing places to relax with a drink, the food options are less
exciting. In addition to the establishments below, Namtu Road is lined with inexpensive tea-
houses and small restaurants, and there are a few cheap food stalls in the main market.