Mandalay Myanmar – Best Value Hotels and Guesthouses

There are many different kinds of accommodation in Mandalay to suit all budgets and tastes, although as with Yangon and the rest of the country be aware that you will be paying a premium for tourist accommodation compared to many other cities in Asia. The prices are similar on the whole to Yangon, with a basic double room and bathroom typically costing between USD20 and USD30 per night.

Budget

The Royal Palace is the largest and more centrally located attraction in Mandalay, and as such, most of the budget friendly accommodation is in this area.

There are a wide range of guesthouses, B&Bs, some hotels and basic hotels in this part of the city. Some examples of these include Ace Star Hostel with dorms from USD12 to privates for USD16 just south of the palace; whilst similar pricing but with slightly more expensive double rooms can be found at Dreamland which has famously helpful staff to help you organise your trip. Most budget options will provide free wifi although be prepared for blackouts, we had two in 3 days (2017).

Mid-range

For those with a slightly larger budget, the 79 Living Hotel offers a fab breakfast and is located conveniently near to the train station, perfect if this is your method of onward transportation. Rooms cost around USD40, so not cheap but reasonable value for money.

The SMART Hotel is another popular choice with couples and independent travellers who aren’t on a shoestring, breakfast is included in the USD70 nightly cost. Again, wifi can be iffy even at these prices and be cautious that you’re paying the right rates whether you’re paying in dollars or Kyat.

Top end

Like Yangon, Mandalay also offers plenty of accommodation for travellers who are looking to spend a little more and really treat themselves. It’s when you take this sort of step up in price that you’ll see a noticeable difference in standards and can expect a much more pleasant stay in the city.

These hotels won’t provide you with the same level of concern over whether you’re going to have a hot shower or not and most if not all have independent generators in case of power cuts. Directly facing Mandalay Hill and the Palace, why not try the Sedona Hotel which has a great location and combines modern and traditional Burmese architecture with Singaporean hospitality.

Choosing the area to stay in

It’s a fairly sprawling city so while much of the centre of Yangon is easily walkable, we found we needed to organise taxis much more frequently in Mandalay – and carefully so we didn’t end up paying to retrace our steps or go round in circles too much!

Luckily the grid system makes it easy to get around even for those who aren’t the best at reading maps, and whilst locals don’t often speak much English they will usually happily try to point you in the direction of your intended destination.

If you stay in a more remote area of the city, which isn’t a bad idea if you like your peace and quiet, consider how you’ll need to navigate to the main attractions in Mandalay and be sure to budget for this extra travel.

The city follows a simple grid system and is easy to get around but taxis can be tricky to get hold of, be prepared to take motorbike taxis instead unless you want to book in advance and pay a bit of a premium. Alternatively motorbikes and scooters can be hired from USD10 per day or bicycles which are a very budget friendly option at just a couple of dollars.