.....
Introduction
Located about 30 minutes drive from the Myanmar airport, situated on the site of a former museum and overlooking the beautiful and scenic Kandawgyi Lake, the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel is a premier 5-star hotel in Yangon that offers modern convenience in this developing country.
Ambience
Ambience at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel is excellent. The exterior facade is modeled after the traditional royal Myanmar architecture, with tall spires and tiered roofs. The interior is grand and elegant, with touches of Myanmar style decor. Kandawgyi Palace Hotel is proud of their local teak, and their furniture and decor incoporates much of it. Furthermore, there is lush greenery set within their grounds, one of the most expansive I've ever seen in a hotel.
Room
I stayed in the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel Deluxe Room. Had a great view of the serene Kandawgyi Lake, and the room was comfortable. While there was free wi-fi and a large clothes cabinet, the lack of proper lighting in the room irked me. Another small point that I found irritating was the lack of handle to hang the handheld shower head. Otherwise, the room was properly equipped, and there was sufficient television channels for entertainment despite the notorious restrictions on broadcasting.
Food
Food at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel is above average, but not excellent. Much of their traditional dishes at Thiri Cafe are good, though when it comes to Chinese, Indian, or Western dishes, the taste is just decent. Fortunately, ingredients used are fresh, as Yangon is known for its large variety of fruits and seafood. I did feel that a slightly bigger range of local Burmese food might be better.
Service
Service at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel is hospitable, friendly and efficient. Staff took care of all our requests, and were always ready with a greeting and a smile. Kandawgyi Palace Hotel is one of the few hotels I've stayed in where I truely felt welcome during my entire visit. Excellent!
Facilities & Activities
While Kandawgyi Palace Hotel doesn't have much in the way of activities, those they offer are pretty good. There is a daily cultural show, as well as daily live band performances. While there is a lack of gymnasium, the swimming pool and expansive grounds make up for it, and it's easy to go jogging around the nearby Kandawgyi Lake. The conference facilities are good, though I found it odd that they had fake pillars in the middle of the conference room.
Tip: Kandawgyi Palace Hotel doesn't accept credit cards, only payment in cheque or cash by Myanmar Kyat or USD. Cash is preferred. If paying by USD, ensure the notes used are new and crisp. Be sure to carry a sufficient amount with you!
.....
.....
CONVERSATION