Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Accommodation Choices
Some things to keep in mind:
»
A tax of at least 10% goes to the government no matter where you stay.
»
Stick with budget family-run guesthouses and minihotels, if you prefer the bulk of your
money to go local enterprises and people.
»
Top-end hotels can employ staff of 100 or more and often fund community projects.
»
Advance bookings are strongly advised for the busiest holiday season from December
through to February.
»
Staying at hotels that use local products can keep more of your money in the country.
»
Staying in a monastery is usually only possible at ones that run meditation courses for
foreign students (
Click here
)
.
»
Online accommodation rental operations, such as Airbnb (
www.airbnb.com
), do have
some listings for Yangon.
Family-Run Guesthouses
Often with just five or so rooms and a lounge, which are shared with three or four gener-
ations of a family living in-house, these budget-level guesthouses can be a highlight of
your trip, offering connections with local life and inexpensive deals (under $20 for a
double).
Most rooms come with a fan or some sort of air-conditioning unit, though electricity
frequently cuts out after midnight. Some guesthouses are better than others, however, and
like budget hotels, you'll find some with squashed mosquitoes left on the walls.
Budget Hotels
In many towns your only options will be a couple of four-storey, modern, 'Chinese-style'
hotels. In some there are dark cell-like rooms with a shared bathroom on the ground floor
(usually for locals only), and two types of nicer rooms on upper floors. Some have lifts.
Some keep their generators on 24 hours; others just for a few hours at night and in the
morning. Most cost $20 to $50 for a double.
Have a look before taking the higher-priced 'deluxe' rooms; they often cost an extra
$10 for a refrigerator and writing desk you may not use. Other deluxe rooms offer more
space, nicer flooring and maybe satellite TV.
