Sleeping in Mrauk U, Myanmar

Royal City Guest House

Minbar Gyi Road, Aung Datt, Mrauk U.
Ph: +45 98502400
      +45 43-24200~5 Ext: 50257
Email: rivervalleyrestaurant@gmail.com 
Website: www.newpalacehotelsittwe.com/

Through the friendly waitress at River Valley Restaurant in Sittwe, we booked a bungalow at Royal City Guest Hotel for $35/night.

The bungalow and site were nicer than the hotel room we’d paid $55 for in Sittwe, so we were happy when we checked in. It was clean and fairly spacious with a TV, minibar and small table and chairs.

While Royal City have lights 24 hours a day, they didn’t have 24 hour electricity. In the searing heat of a summer day, my boyfriend and I lie on the tiled floor in our underwear in an attempt to keep cool. Relief from the heat seemed impossible; we had a fan and air conditioner that weren’t working and a shower that only ran hot because the pipes were in the sun.

Breakfast was supposed to be included, but at around 7:30am the next morning, there were no staff to be found at reception. The outdoor restaurant didn’t look like it had been used in quite a while; the tables and chairs were stacked up and had dust and cobwebs on them.

I believe that this could be a nice place to stay in peak season when the temps are cooler, business is in full swing and service is a priority. I really got the feeling that we were the only guests there and that the staff were in a lazy low-season mood.

Room types and rates

Shwe Thazin Hotel

Given how hot we’d been at Royal City, we moved to Shwe Thazin, which has a generator and therefore 24 hour electricity. We struck a deal with Jack, the manager; because we were staying for 4 nights and had stayed in their sister hotel in Sittwe, we paid $55US/night instead of $60US.

This bungalow style hotel is relatively new and the gardens and fountain give it a fresh, relaxing feel. The rooms have air conditioning, TV, a mini bar and a spacious bathroom with a bath.

The restaurant is neat, clean and air conditioned, but not very atmospheric. There was usually BBC news on the TV and not much else going on.
The buffet breakfast was fairly standard – toast, fruit, eggs, noodles, fried rice, coffee, tea, juice.
Note: in low season there will only be a buffet breakfast if the hotel has a certain number of guests. Most days we just had eggs, toast, fruit, tea/coffee and juice.
Their menu offers Chinese and Myanmar dishes at reasonable prices, though the food is often oily and quite average.

The manager, Jack, speaks English quite well and is very helpful. He called around to compare airline and bus fares for me, calculating different routes from Mrauk U to Mandalay.
Having worked in hotels in Yangon, he ensures that a high standard of service is provided by the staff.

Golden Star Guesthouse
116 Min Bar Rd, Mrauk U
+95 435 0175
+95 9850 1664  
+95 43 09 4967 4472

Off the main strip but cheap and next to Happy Garden, one of my favourite restaurants in Mrauk U, Golden Star is a good budget option.

Electricity 5am-midnight

Room rates
Single   $10US no fan         $13US with fan

Double $15US no fan         $20US with fan

All room rates include breakfast

Kyaw Soe Guesthouse

28 Min Bar Gyi Street, Taung Yat Qr, Mrauk U
+95 435 0003
+95 9421 734 799

Almost hidden away at the southern end of the main drag, this family run guesthouse was recommended by a friend as a cheap, clean and bright option.

Electricity 5am-midnight

Room rates

Single $7US with fan              $10US with fan and breakfast

Double $14US with fan         $20US with fan and breakfast

All prices are shown in US dollars, but can be paid in Kyat at a rate of 1:1,000