Yangon Myanmar – Best Value Hotels and Guesthouses

Accommodation in Yangon is pricy compared to its South East Asian neighbours, making it much harder to find budget options unless you’re happy with something very basic. The situation is improving gradually, but if you’re looking for something on a reasonably low budget, be prepared for amazingly slow wifi and hygiene standards that aren’t the highest.

Whilst a decent private room in a guesthouse in Thailand may only cost USD15 per night, the equivalent standard in Yangon would likely be at least USD20-USD25 and probably wouldn’t include breakfast and may even only offer a shared bathroom. That said, whilst on a city break it’s not usual to spend much time in your hotel room, so it may be worth looking at the lower price brackets if you are looking to save money and taking some tours with your spare change.

Our top tip would be to find something with a window so at least you can try to get some fresh air!

Budget

You’ll find that most budget hostels and guesthouses in the city centre are in downtown which can be a little rough and ready, but is a great central location and near to plenty of eateries and bars. Most of the sights in this part of the city are walkable, meaning you’ll also save money on transport.

A veteran member of the budget club, 20th Street Hostel (No. 23, 20 Street Lower Block, Lathar Township), enjoys a great central location close to the Strand Rd. with friendly staff who are happy to help; good value for money around the corner from Chinatown.

Agga Youth Hostel (No.86, 12th Street, Middle Block, Lanmadaw Township), also in downtown, offers dorms from just USD8 and is extremely highly rated. It is designed for backpackers on a budget and rates include breakfast.

There are some properties a little further out of the city in Baham township along Kandawgyi lake, which is a nice area of the city and a lot quieter and more peaceful than downtown, whilst some may choose to stay much further uptown and nearer to Inya Lake. Here is where you’ll find many residential areas for well to do locals, as well as modern shopping malls and some good quality Western restaurants. If you do stay outside of the city in one of the more remote spots, it’s very easy and cheap to travel around by taxi. These can be arranged with your hotel, or just wander onto the street and more often than not you’ll find one within minutes that will happily take you to the tourist spots in the city centre.

For quieter atmosphere skip the downtown and try Yangon Hub (Aung Myay Tharzi 1): located around 6km outside the centre but also offers rock bottom prices for dorms.

Mid-range

The most promising areas for mid-range and flashpacker accommodation stretches around Sule and Shwedagon Payas. You can try Cherry Guesthouse (No.278/300, Maha Bandoola Garden Street, Upper Block), which is a step up from the backpacker’s end of accommodation options, but still remains quite budget friendly. It’s clean and recently renovated, located centrally in downtown.

Another convenient spot between Sule Paya and the riverfront, Aung Tha Play Hotel (No 74/80, 38th and Merchant Sts, Kyauktada Township) is quite quiet with larger than average rooms and located in a historic building.

May Shan Hotel (115 Sule Pagoda Rd) sits two steps away from Sule and is comfortable and clean with friendly staff. It’s a good value for money option.

Top end

Luxury hotels are typically located in old colonial buildings that have been remodelled, often situated on the river or offering lakeside views. Chains like Shangri La and the Savoy have made their way into the city in recent years and offer top quality accommodation.

The Strand (92 Strand Rd.), a tourist attraction in its own right, this colonial hotel boasts a stunning location on the river and has been completely refurbished. It offers complete luxury throughout from the rooms to the food.

Another great choice in the top-end category is Belmond Governor’s Residence (35 Taw Win Road; Dagon Township) sits opposite the Lao Embassy. While the view is not so amazing as the one offered by The Strand, it’s a beautiful old colonial hotel with scenic grounds, a pool and warm, friendly service – also popular for the quality of the wifi!

Savoy Hotel Yangon (129 Dhammazedi Road) is a good deal away from the centre, about one km northeast of Kandawgyi Lake. Located in another old colonial property that has been remodelled, it offers classic experience: there’s everything you’d expect from the Savoy chain with authentic charm.