bagan

going to bagan

which is the best old bagan or bagan

would like to be reasonably central to other hotels and restaurents and not off the beaten track

any recent visitors recommend a hotel with pool

regards

truey

bagan

There are basically three towns to stay in Bagan: old Bagan (closest to the pagodas, but more expensive), New Bagan (mid-range hotels, very quiet and friendly), and Nyaung U (more budget choices, more restaurants, but the furthest away from the pagodas).

I stayed in New Bagan during my first visit, met some people and their families there (souvenir vendors, horse cart drivers, restaurant owners) and have gone back and stayed there several more times. It%26#39;s so quiet that it feels more like a big village than a proper town. I enjoy it, but some visitors might like it more in Nyaung U or Old Bagan.

In New Bagan, the Thazin Garden Hotel has a pool. I think rates are only around $30-40 per night, and with so few visitors this year, you might be able to get an additional discount.

bagan

Kaday Aung, New Bagan but pool is not so well maintain when I visit last year . Price will cheaper than Thazin.

Treasure Hotel and another one which closed to Treasure also have pool and price are cheaper. I forget the name. If you really want to know, I will check and come back.

Nyaung U Thande also have pool in Nyaung U.

Hi Truey27,

When are you going? I hope I am in time. I would strongly recommend the Bagan Thande (note; NOT the Thande Hotel at Nyaung Oo; also known as the Nyaung Oo Thande) It is in the archeological Zone and on the banks of the Irrawaddy River; behind the Bagan Archeological Museum and happens to be next door to the Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel and on the other side is the Bagan Hotel. (I felt the Bagan Hotel, which gives an atmosphere of antiquity, but rather gloomy and notably set farther back form the riverbank) There is the Gawdawpalin Temple almost at the entrance of both the Bagan Thande and the Bagan Hotel. The hotel is not as plush as the new ones outside the archeological zone, but I got very good service and there is a swimming pool. The view from the garden is fantastic with the Irrawaddy River and the Tantkyitaung Mountains across. There is the Tankyitaung Pagoda on top (you could go there across the river - the hotel will help arrange the crossing - it did for us)The Bagan Thande is within easy reach of some main temples such as the Gawdawpalin (mentioned), Mingala Zedi - both within walking distance, and the Thatbyinnyu, which you might want to take a horsedrawn cart to it. Food at the hotel is reasonable to good; but good restaurants need to be reached by transport - car or horse-drawn carts.

Khayeethe

Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel is one of my favorite hotels ever. The service was like the Four Seasons: incredibly thoughtful and considerate, without ever being intrusive. The pool is a salt-water pool with a black bottom. It%26#39;s just beautiful to swim at sunset and watch the sun set over the pagoda across the river. You can get cheaper rates if you use a travel agent (we used Journeys Myanmar and were very happy). The room itself is not incredibly fancy but we found it very comfortable. The rooms are actually bungalows, spread out in gardens. Even if you don%26#39;t stay at the Sakura, be sure to eat here. It%26#39;s the best food we ate in Myanmar.

The location of the Sakura is great- it%26#39;s in the archaeological zone. We took a horse cart to the local town for dinner. Our horse cart driver spoke very good English and was extremely knowledgeable about the sights. His name is SEIN and he is horse cart #3 outside the Sakura. You may also run into a little boy biking around, named Lin-Lin--he also is a great informal tour guide. (We liked Sein and Lin-lin better than the guide we hired. The licensing process for guides is strict and expensive, so lots of people in Bagan study English and want to be guides, but few can afford to do so.)

Be sure to go at the full moon so you see the pagoda festivals.