if you are thinking of going to Yangon (Rangoon) and need accomodation for a short period consider staying at this hotel it is a good option

The Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (pronounced kan-dogee ) is located in Yangon, Myanmar it is impressive building built from teak and crafted in traditional Burmese design The hotel is really an extension of the old British rowing club building which is still joined onto the new building, now used as several restaurants.

The view from the kandawgyi is quite beautiful, you can get a room with a view of the always shimmering Swedagon Pagoda (It is interesting to observe this golden pagoda at dawn and sunset because the different light gives a changing perspective of this remarkable structure), if not you will have to settle for a view of the Royal lake which is pleasant enough .

The grounds of the kandawgyi are not extensive, but because of the tropical park land surrounding , give the impression of great space and freedom. The swimming pool is modest and for some reason little used by guests. My one attempt to swim here was made difficult by a children’s birthday party (regular events on Sunday) which included horse rides traveling past my pool side chair and an umbrella which didn’t supply any shade, suffering this for a while I gave up and began to see that the pool in this Hotel is more a decorative feature, rather than something adults maybe interested in actually using.

The entrance and foyer are particularly impressive , finely crafted timber beams and tiles blended with traditional art and pottery , giving a very classy opulent appearance. The lobby is a great place to sit and read the local papers which appear to be 90 % propaganda and10% news, drinks and cocktails are absurdly expensive so if you are keeping any sort of budget, you can get a much cheaper drink out the back in the cheaper restaurant.

Food is a big deal at this Hotel and it was here I had the best Western style food that I consumed in Yangon . Breakfast is a feast, it begins at 7 A.M and I found it a real delight to come down early in the dawn light and sit outside, a smorgasbord of many different dishes and a huge assortment of fruits and cereals are prepared with great care daily. I had an elaborate omellette cooked to my specifications by the skilled chef most mornings. The breakfast staff are very friendly and will take any opportunity to improve their English in conversation with guests.

Where the kandawgyi falls down a little is at the level of cleanliness and service to the rooms themselves. The staff are very cheerful and pleasant to deal with but tend to be a little slack in replacing used items. One morning I was returning from breakfast and saw a half naked angry Frenchman yelling at a couple of girls ,the girls themselves had big grins on their faces as the guest yelled " No nescafe’, no towels, no flowers, no fruit in my room, fix it please " That is not to say the rooms are dirty they just have a look of neglect, unfortunately everything perishes very quickly in the tropics, if a very high standard of maintenance is not kept .

I liked this hotel, its short comings are equaled by its many advantages some of which are price, currently 70$ (April 2001) per double for a deluxe room , superb breakfasts, the food in general is excellent , nice tropical ambiance, string quartet on weekend, extremely bright friendly staff and my favorite the views which set off this accommodation as a real experience. I would happily recommend it for a short stay in Yangon.


Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb