Agga Youth Hotel

In a city with a limited selection of hotels in all categories, the Agga Youth Hotel is a lovely find. Yes, it's part hostel -- as implied by the "youth" in the hotel's name -- but there are also private rooms, and the attention to detail (and spotlessly clean interiors) puts it a step above typical backpacker fare. Once inside, the lobby is set with rattan chairs and sofas and the interior is brightly lit. On one wall there's a collection of traditional Burmese hand puppets, as well as a display of handmade wooden dolls. An antique clock and a set of handcrafted lacquered cloth parasols, which are a popular souvenir from the Inthein region of Myanmar, also adorn the space. Lots of travelers hang out here, checking their email and trading travel tales, and it's a good spot for solo travelers to meet other wanderers. Despite being aimed at younger travelers, there are many older guests here as well -- in fact, the hotel's bargain rates give it plenty of broad appeal in a city where hotel rates are often inflated far beyond what's expected for this region.

Agga Youth Hotel is located in the west end of downtown Yangon. It sits on a quiet side street off of busy Anawrathra Road, and is in a less congested and noisy area of downtown (although it still isn't immune to the insane traffic jams that plague the city). There are dozens of local restaurants around the hotel, as well as lots of colorful street life. It's less than 10 minutes on foot to the night food market on 19th Street in Chinatown, where vendors and small restaurants set up shop every night, serving cheap barbecue and seafood, with plenty of ambience and local cheer. Overall, it's a convenient spot in terms of access to tourist sights, local life, eating and drinking, and ease of travel. It's about an hour from the hotel to the airport, depending on traffic of course.

Agga Youth Hotel has 38 rooms that come in a variety of sizes and shapes, though all at least include air-conditioning. While they are quite spartan and small, they are nevertheless clean, bright, and an incredible value in a city where even the most basic of hotels come at premium rates. The mixed dormitory, which has 12 beds, shares an external bathroom. The next categories are the Eco Single and Eco Double rooms, which feature only a bed, small stool, and cubby on the wall for storage. These rooms also share an external bathroom, and some do not have windows. Standard Single and Superior Doubles, Twins, and Triples all have an en-suite bathroom, plus a flat-screen television and a mini-fridge in the room. The Double and Twin Rooms have rattan chairs and tables off to one side, plus colorful cushions on the beds. The Triple Rooms are especially good for families or small groups of friends, as they feature a large double bed and one single bed plus lots more space than the other rooms. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi. There's nothing in the way of wall art, beyond colorful hexagons, and rooms are done in wood laminate flooring and have local fabric bed runners on beds. Bathrooms in all the rooms that have them are small, with just an open shower, sink, and toilet. Soap and shampoo dispensers are the only toiletries provided.

Agga Youth Hotel is a backpacker hangout, and its only facility is a rooftop restaurant, which is a pleasant hangout spot. The colorful loft-like eatery includes circular tables with green tablecloths, a patterned tile floor, and purple cushioned chairs. There are traditional instruments displayed, art prints on the walls, and views to the city outside. The restaurant serves free breakfast to all guests, and then remains open for lunch, dinner, and drinks the rest of the afternoon and evening, with a mix of Burmese and Western dishes on the menu. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.