The Sule Shangrila in Yangon, Myanmar
Marc and I arrived in Myanmar in the middle of the afternoon of December 24, 2016. I felt very worried when we arrived because I had read and researched very little for the trip. What I knew was that prior to leaving the United States, we had to have crisp US dollar bills since the Burmese money changers were very picky about the dollars they accepted. They wanted only new bills with no creases whatsoever. We were so careful not to dent our money in any way. We even wrapped them in cardboard so that they would stay as fresh and crisp looking as the time we got them in the bank in San Francisco.
Upon exiting immigration, we went ahead and exchanged $60.
We didn't realize that it was enough for our nearly three day stay in Yangon. We didn't really go shopping nor ate out in the restaurants. We used up all our cash for admission fees to temples and cab fares. Speaking of cab fare, the cab fare from the international airport to our hotel in downtown Yangon was 10,000 Kyat (pronounced Chat). In US dollars, it was equivalent to $10. Not bad for the nearly 40 minute ride.
I cannot praise Sule Shangrila enough. It is the most centrally located hotel in the entire city. It was the costliest of all the hotels we stayed in during our trip but it gave us the comfort, luxury, and safety we wanted.
The very beautiful lobby of the posh Sule Shangrila in the heart of Yangon
Me upon arrival in the hotel
The bed in our suite
A close up look of the Burmese painting that hung above our bed
The bar
The bathroom toiletries
Me on our second night in Yangon. Taken Christmas Day. Marc and I spent the entire day temple hopping. First order of the day was the visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda. I remember sleeping at 7:30 pm on this day since I was exhausted from all the sightseeing as well as the oppressive heat.
Shortly after check in at the hotel, we were asked if we wanted an upgrade for $30. The upgrade would grant us access to the Horizon Club where we could eat buffet style every afternoon and early evening. WE agreed and it was a very wise decision. We had superb food here at this lounge day after day.
Throughout our three day stay in Yangon, we had buffet breakfast in the hotel. I must say, the food here was plentiful, delicious, and clean. We had read horror stories of visitors getting sick after eating in local restaurants and we were very cautious. We decided to just eat in the hotel all the time. Every morning, I had my fill of the Mohingar which is my most favorite Burmese dish.
A partia view of the restaurant where we ate for breakfast. This was by the way the venue for the hotel's buffet lunches and dinners. On Christmas day, the buffet dinner here cost a whopping $55 per person.
This was one of the Burmese paintings that hung inside the posh restaurant.
