Myanmar's SKY HOTEL Hlaingtharyar: Your Dream Stay Awaits!
SKY HOTEL Hlaingtharyar: My Myanmar Marvel (Or a Mildly Messy Meditation on Hotels)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the SKY HOTEL Hlaingtharyar in Myanmar. And let me tell you, writing a hotel review is… well, it's an experience. Especially when they want you to cover everything. From the individual-wrapped food options (bless their hygiene-conscious hearts) to the "exterior corridor" (which sounds way more exciting than it probably is).
Let's be honest: I, your humble reviewer, am a creature of comfort, a sucker for a decent cup of coffee, and slightly terrified of anything labelled "Asian breakfast" before 10 a.m. So, with that in mind, let's get messy with this review:
First Impressions (and a little panic):
Right off the bat: Accessibility: The website says they have facilities for disabled guests. That's great, a positive is always great. I personally don't need these, but it's always a GOOD sign for inclusiveness. They're also supposed to have an elevator, which is always a lifesaver after a long flight.
Getting Around & The Parking Predicament:
Getting Around: Airport transfer is offered. Thank goodness, because I'm pretty sure navigating the local transport after a 20-hour flight would've broke me, especially with a suitcase with a wonky wheel. They have a taxi service too which is a plus.
Parking: The hotel offers Car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site]. However, I suspect the "free of charge" part might be a mirage, especially in a bustling location. Also, they don’t seem to have information on if the parking is accessible.
The Room: A Sanctuary (Mostly)
Okay, let’s talk rooms. My room was a Non-smoking room (phew!). Air conditioning blasted like a miniature Arctic blast, which I actually welcomed, because, you know, Myanmar. Air conditioning in public area too, which is essential. The bed? The Extra long bed was a godsend. I’m a tall gal, and the thought of my feet dangling off the end gives me the heebie-jeebies. Blackout curtains? YES! I need to sleep!
Room Amenities – The Little Things That Matter (and the Big Ones I Pretend to Care About):
They’ve got all the usual suspects: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone (who even uses a bathroom phone anymore?), Bathtub, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker (Thank the heavens!), Complimentary tea (ditto!), Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale (judgemental, much?), Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. The one thing I did love? The Wi-Fi [free].
Internet Access: Let me keep it absolutely real here. The Internet [LAN] made me chuckle because who even uses a LAN cable anymore? Internet access – wireless is great, Wi-Fi [free]. The Internet services: is great to have. The free Wi-Fi in all rooms! is awesome, so is Wi-Fi in public areas.
Cleanliness and Safety – Because, Well, The World Is a Mess:
Okay, let's get serious for a minute. Travel in the post-pandemic world is weird. It's a minefield of sanitizing protocols and vaguely threatening signs. SKY HOTEL gets it started with the Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room (if you dare!), Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. They're also doing Professional-grade sanitizing services. And thankfully, the option to get Rooms sanitized between stays. The fact that the Staff trained in safety protocol, and that they have Sterilizing equipment is calming in these uneasy times. They even have a Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, and stuff like Shared stationery removed, which is all good.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – My Ultimate Test
This is where things get…interesting. The hotel has Restaurants, a Bar, a Coffee shop, and a Snack bar. They offer Room service [24-hour], which is basically a lifesaver when you're battling jet lag at 3 AM.
Let’s dive into the food, yeah? They had an Asian breakfast. I bravely tried a little bit (a very little bit), and it was… an experience. I’m more of a Western breakfast kind of gal myself, but they offer that too. Also, they offered a Vegetarian restaurant (nice) and Alternative meal arrangement (even nicer). They've got A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, and a whole bunch of other options: Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, and Soup in restaurant. Did I mention the Happy hour? Always a good sign. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent, and they have Desserts in restaurant.
Wellness and Relaxation – Trying to Chill Out (Mostly Failing)
Okay, the relaxation part of the hotel is pretty solid. I wasn’t expecting a spa in Myanmar, but they do have a Spa, and a Spa/sauna, and a Steamroom. And a Swimming pool [outdoor]. They have Massage. I didn't go in the pool, but I did see a Pool with view. They say there's a Fitness center, and a Gym/fitness, but I'm more of a "lying on a bed reading a book" kind of relaxer.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax:
They have Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Sauna, and the obligatory Swimming pool. And of course, a Gym/fitness.
Services and Conveniences – The Unexpected Perks (and the Annoying Fees):
Here's where hotels try to win you over with their "conveniences." They have a Concierge, which is always nice if you need help navigating a new city. Currency exchange. Also, Dry cleaning, Laundry service. Luggage storage. Safety deposit boxes (essential). Doorman. They've got a Convenience store. The Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Invoice provided. and a Cash withdrawal. Other things they have are Daily housekeeping.
For the Kids – Not My Department, But Maybe Yours:
This is where I'm going to be honest: I don't have kids. But, SKY HOTEL seems to be family-friendly. They have Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, and Kids facilities, and even Kids meal.
Services and Conveniences (Continued) – Business Travelers, Assemble!
For the business types (which I am not), they have all the usual stuff: Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, Projector/LED display, a Xerox/fax in business center, and Audio-visual equipment for special events. I just squinted at all of this from afar, a little confused.
They even have On-site event hosting, and Outdoor venue for special events, Indoor venue for special events.
Overall Vibe & Quirks:
The lobby was clean, the staff was friendly (though communication could be a little… challenging at times), and the whole place had a slightly dated, but charming, feel. It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was clean, comfortable, and did what it needed to do.
My Biggest Takeaway:
The SKY HOTEL Hlaingtharyar is a perfectly acceptable hotel, especially if you're just passing through, if your main goal is to sleep and maybe eat a decent breakfast.
Final Verdict:
I'd definitely stay here again. It's not perfect (what is?), but it's a solid choice. And the complimentary tea? That, my friends, is worth its weight in gold.
Now, for the Sales Pitch (Because Apparently I Have To):
**Don't Just
Escape to Fairytale Germany: Hotel Lohndorf Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the glorious mess that is my "trip" – and I use that term very loosely – to Sky Hotel Hlaingtharyar in Myanmar. Let's be real; I'm less "intrepid explorer" and more "slightly anxious human with a penchant for questionable decisions and questionable snacks." Here we go…
The Absolutely Unreliable Guide to Sky Hotel Hlaingtharyar (and Possibly My Sanity)
Day 1: Arrival & Existential Dread (Mostly at the Airport)
4:00 AM (Attempted): Alarm goes off. Actually hitting snooze is a form of art, and I’m a regular Michelangelo of snooze. I manage to, somehow, drag myself out of bed, resembling a sleep-deprived sloth attempting to cling to a tree branch.
6:00 AM: Airport Chaos. Yangon International. Oh, the joy. The air is thick with a stew of jet fuel, stale coffee, and existential dread. Finding my gate feels like navigating a particularly poorly signposted maze. I swear, I saw a family of ducks waddling towards baggage claim. Or maybe it was just a mirage caused by dehydration.
On the Actual Flight: Okay, so the flight itself was… a flight. Nothing particularly exciting happened except for the small child behind me kicking my seat with the relentless energy of a caffeinated ninja. I considered swapping seats with his parents until I remembered I'd booked the window seat and wasn't about to let go of my panoramic view, even if it was mostly clouds.
10:00 AM (ish): Arrive at Yangon. The heat hits you like a physical force. I felt like I was simultaneously melting and being cooked alive. Immigration was a breeze, thankfully. Though I did almost forget to pack any underwear (don't ask; I blame pre-trip panic).
11:00 AM: Taxi Tango: Finding a taxi. This is an adventure in itself. Negotiating prices feels like a high-stakes gamble. I spent far too long haggling over a few dollars, only to realize later that I'd probably overpaid anyway. My survival instincts, I think, are at play.
12:00 PM: Check-in (Attempt 1): Sky Hotel Hlaingtharyar. The outside… well, let's just say it has "character." The lobby is surprisingly nice. The check-in process, however, is an exercise in patience, due to a language gap. I'm pretty sure I ended up owing someone money. Or maybe I paid extra for a pillow? Who knows!
1:00 PM: The Room Reveal. My room! It's… well, it exists! Clean enough, but the window? Facing a wall. Okay, cool. I'll pretend I'm in a minimalist art installation. I'm going to sit here for a while and wallow in the fact that my first impression is a wall.
2:00 PM: Lunch Disaster (Happened near the hotel). "Restaurant" nearby, I thought. "Easy, quick, just a bite." Wrong, so very, very wrong. It was all shiny chairs and even shinier smiles until the soup arrived. It had a texture that can only be described as "questionable." I ate half of it. Felt sick. Decided to be a hero and drink the entire glass of water. Felt sicker. Decided to not be a hero and leave.
3:00 PM: Recovery Mission. My new best friend, the hotel bed. Conquered it quickly.
5:00 PM: Failed Exploration. Tried again to explore the local area. Immediately felt overwhelmed. There are so many people, so much noise, and so many smells. I retreated to my room.
7:00 PM: Dinner (Take Two). Managed a small bag of plain chips. Victory.
Day 2: Finding the Joy (and Maybe Some Local Culture)
7:00 AM: Breakfast (Maybe): Remembered the hotel's complimentary breakfast. It was a buffet of mystery meat and weird fruit. I stuck to the toast and the slightly alarming coffee, which had the consistency of motor oil.
9:00 AM: Attempted Tour (Failed): Booked a local tour around some of the temples. But the traffic was horrific, and it was hard to fight off the desire to sleep. So I ended up getting out a few miles from the first temple, hoping to walk around.
10:00 AM: The Temples!!!! Holy smokes, you guys. The temples! Just breathtaking. The golden pagodas. Beautiful. The carvings, the feeling of peace. Yeah, I'm a tourist, but I'm in awe. Took about a million pictures and probably still didn’t capture the magic.
1:00 PM: Lunch (Redemption!). Finally, a good meal! Found a small café away from the main tourist route. Delicious noodles! Actually felt like I was experiencing something real.
2:00 PM: Back to the hotel for a Nap. My body is rejecting the time difference.
4:00 PM: Local Market Madness: Visited the Hlaingtharyar Market. A complete sensory overload! The smells! The colors! The noise! I bought some fruit. I can't identify any of it, but I'm pretty sure one was dragon fruit. I may be allergic to dragon fruit. Time will tell.
6:00 PM: Dinner (Simplified Again): Another bag of chips. At least I'm consistent. Watched some mindless TV in my room.
8:00 PM: Journaling and Contemplation (Maybe): Attempting to summarize. My brain is fried. I think I need to get out of the room tomorrow and walk again
Day 3: The Unexpected Encounter (and the Slow Fade Home)
8:00 AM: Breakfast of Champions: Cereal and fruit? A revolutionary idea.
9:00 AM: Accidental Adventure (Again!): I wandered. Just started walking. Met a local kid who knew some English. Ended up playing a game of something. The feeling of connection was nice.
11:00 AM: Hotel Check-Out: The goodbyes are always the hardest.
12:00 PM: Headed to the airport: The trip ends here, in the airplane. I spent 3 hours on the plane and then landed.
2:00 PM: Home!: Home is not the same. The chaos is a bit less, but the memories will continue to linger.
Reflections & Ramblings:
This trip wasn’t perfect. It was messy, unpredictable, and at times, deeply uncomfortable. But that’s life, right? I learned a lot, mostly about my own limitations and my ability to survive on processed carbohydrates. I experienced moments of pure awe and moments of pure panic. I still don't know what half the stuff I ate was, and I'm pretty sure I didn't pack enough underwear. But hey, I survived. And that, my friends, is a victory.
Would I go back? Absolutely. Maybe. Probably. Once I've recovered from the jet lag and the questionable soup… and found my way home.
Bremerhaven's BEST Kept Secret: Im-Jaich Boardinghouse!
Myanmar's SKY HOTEL Hlaingtharyar: Your Dream Stay...*Maybe*? A Messy, Honest FAQ!
So, Sky Hotel, eh? Is it actually...sky-high? Like, does it have a rooftop bar with panoramic views of shimmering pagodas?
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because expectations versus reality? That's the whole game with Sky Hotel. "Sky" is a bit of a *stretch*. It's...a tall-ish building in Hlaingtharyar, which is a *vibrant* (read: bustling, sometimes chaotic) industrial suburb of Yangon. Panoramic views? Let's just say you'll get *a* view. Maybe a glimpse of the hazy city skyline. Think more "sky-adjacent" than "sky-high." Roof top bar? Nope. (Wishful thinking on my part, trust me). I was picturing something out of a movie. Reality was... different. More like a bar *nearby* selling local beer. Which is delicious, by the way. Always a bonus.
Okay, real talk: Is the location...convenient? I'm picturing battling traffic for hours just to get *anywhere*.
Convenient? Well, it depends on *what* you're convenient for. Hlaingtharyar itself is a work in progress. You're not exactly stumbling distance from Bagan’s temples. Getting into the main tourist areas of Yangon? Yeah, expect a bit of a journey. Traffic is legendary. I’m talking *hours* sometimes. One time, I swear I aged a year in a taxi, inching forward at the pace of a particularly lethargic snail. But, and this is a big 'but' you *can* get a sense of the ‘real’ Myanmar here... you know, away from the glittery tourist hotspots. Plus, it's a good place to start your adventure if you are looking for a more local experience. You will have to sacrifice the luxury of being in the heart of town, for the adventure.
The Rooms! Tell me about the rooms! Are they clean? Are they... cockroach-free? Asking for a friend... (it's me, I'm the friend.)
Alright, let's dive into the rooms. Cleanliness? Generally, yes. I mean, they aren't *sterile* – remember where you are! - but they're definitely on the cleaner side. They seemed to be making an effort. Cockroaches? *Deep breath*. Look, let's just say that Southeast Asia and its insect population are… acquainted. I did *not* see any during my stay in the room, and I did a pretty thorough inspection after reading some online reviews. However, in the hallway? Let's just say I carried a can of bug spray like it was a designer handbag. Just in case. It *really* depends on your tolerance. Pack some earplugs too; local life is *loud* with some street dogs barking all night, which got a *little* old after a while.
The Wi-Fi! It's essential. Is it reliable enough to, you know… actually work? Can I upload Instagram-worthy photos of my adventures?
The Wi-Fi. Ah, the eternal struggle of the digital nomad. It's... *variable*. Let's put it that way. Sometimes it's blazing fast, perfect for streaming and uploading. Other times, it's slower than a herd of turtles. Instagram? You *might* get your photos up eventually. Don’t count on it the second you see something beautiful. The best advice is to download a VPN, which also helps with privacy. I remember one time, trying to video-call my mother, and the connection cut out mid-sentence. She thought I'd been eaten by a tiger. (She worries.) So pack your patience, and maybe download those photos *before* you get there.
The Food. Is the hotel breakfast decent? Or is it just a sad pile of mystery meat and lukewarm coffee?
Breakfast. Okay, here's the thing: breakfast at Sky Hotel is...an experience. It’s not *Michelin-star* goodness, okay? But, for the price, it's perfectly acceptable. Expect a mix of local dishes – maybe some noodles or rice porridge - and some (often slightly sad-looking) Western options like toast and eggs. The coffee is, well, coffee. It does the job, but don't expect a barista-level experience. One morning, the "fresh fruit" was… less than fresh. Let’s just say it had seen better days. I stuck with the noodles after that. They were delicious, so I *couldn't* complain. Always be prepared for the unexpected! At least it filled the hole in my stomach, unlike my expectations.
The Staff! Are they friendly? Do they speak English? Are they generally helpful or do they just give you blank stares?
The staff are absolutely one of the *best* things about Sky Hotel. Most of them speak at least some English, and they're genuinely friendly and *trying* to be helpful. They have smiles as wide as the Irrawaddy River. They really are brilliant. They may be a bit shy, so give them some time. They went above and beyond to help me find a taxi, get directions, and even just to chat about the area. They are the absolute best part of the hotel. Embrace the people! A smile and a little patience goes a long way, and you will be rewarded.
Okay, so, overall... would you recommend Sky Hotel? Is it worth the hassle?
Okay, the million-dollar question! Would I recommend Sky Hotel? *It depends*. If you're on a tight budget and want to experience a less touristy part of Yangon, and are willing to put up with some (minor!) imperfections, then yes, absolutely. If you're looking for luxury and pristine perfection… maybe not. Realistically, it's what it says on the tin. No fancy frills or thrills. It's a perfectly decent, clean, friendly hotel that, if you don't look for perfection, will be fine. This isn’t the Four Seasons. This is real life. And to me it was a great experience with the best people. So Yes! I would go again. (Maybe with a can of that bug spray, though…)
What's the best part of staying at Sky Hotel Hlaingtharyar?
The *people*. Hands down. The staff. The incredibly kind locals I met wandering around Hlaingtharyar (who, by the way, are some of the most welcoming people in the world). Forget the fancy frills or the perfect Wi-Fi. The heart of Myanmar is in its people, and Sky Hotel puts you right in the thick of it. That's something you can't just buy. You *experience* it. And that is invaluable. One moment stands out: I was completelyWorld Of Lodging
