Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon

The Inya Lake Hotel gives an exclusive first impression, as it lies up a gated private drive right along the Inya Lake. However, there's a slight letdown as the main building appears -- it looks like a throwback to the days of drab Soviet-style architecture, as it's just a long plain white building with no real local appeal. Unfortunately, this first impression speaks volumes about the hotel, which has left its glory days far in the past. Upon stepping inside, things are a bit more interesting, though still quite dated, with pink granite pillars and heavy wooden accents. Parquet floors, natural rattan sofas, and stylish art pieces -- including gold figures of traditional dancers, a traditional lacquerware cabinet, and patterned metalwork -- at least gives the hotel a bit of character. The real appeal lies outside, as the hotel is built on the edge of Inya Lake and has pleasant paths meandering throughout its green lawns. Plenty of trees provide shade from the heat and there's lots of green space where the hotel hosts functions when the weather is nice. This is one of the larger outdoor spaces in the Yangon hotel scene, and certainly among the greenest properties to be found in town. It's mostly used by business travelers, though some tourist couples and families stay here too.

Inya Lake Hotel is located about halfway between the international airport and downtown Yangon -- it's a 20- to 30-minute drive to either destination, though that varies with traffic. It's a convenient spot to stay for those who have an early plane to catch. The hotel is bordered by peaceful Inya Lake, which is tree-lined and offers a pleasant place to escape the city heat and noise. You won't be disturbed at night here, so it's a nice retreat from the city's clamor. Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon's most famous attraction, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel, and as there isn't good public transport, you'll be forced to rely on taxis here. There aren't any mini-markets or convenience stores around the hotel, and it's a 10-minute walk just to reach the main drag, but fortunately there are some restaurants and bars just by the hotel along the lakeside. In fact, L'Opera -- Yangon's top Italian restaurant -- is right next door. 

There are 185 rooms at the Inya Lake Hotel, all of which are spacious and include large furnished balconies -- some overlook peaceful and tree-lined Inya Lake. Remaining rooms overlook the garden. The rooms are a bit worn out and need an update. Decor includes parquet floors and simple wood furniture. White walls are sparingly hung with paintings of landscapes or simple still lives, and colors skew toward warm tan and gold tones. There isn’t a whole lot of cabinet or closet space, but there is plenty of floor space to spread out, making some rooms feel a bit spartan.

Rooms are furnished with a desk, along with either a chair or small loveseat depending on whether one has a standard Superior or Deluxe Room. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs and cable channels, air-conditioning, electronic safes, minibars, electric hot water kettles, and free Wi-Fi (which is extremely slow). Bathrooms are spacious and done in white tiling. Some of the grout work was a bit sloppy in a few rooms that we visited, and all include shower/tub combos and wall-mounted sinks with just a bit of separate counter space. Rooms like the Junior Suites have separate showers and bathtubs.

The best rooms are the Junior Suites (along with one Presidential Suite), which have a large sitting area, office space with a desk in the foyer, and a separate bedroom. There are TVs in both the bedroom and living room. The hotel also has a series of one- and two-bedroom apartments, aimed at the longer stay crowd -- a bonus for the many business guests staying here. These have full kitchens with a microwave, stove, full refrigerator, and utensils, pots, pans, and other kitchenware. 

Inya Lake Hotel makes up for its lack of surrounding facilities by providing plenty of its own. The Orchid Cafe serves international buffets for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner, and also does a popular Sunday buffet brunch. The breakfast buffet includes an egg station and both Western and Eastern menu items -- unfortunately, it's not free with standard room rates. There's a small deli and pastry shop in the lobby, and sandwiches and other small meals are available at the Country Club Pool Bar and the atmospheric Inya Lakeview Bar, which has rattan chairs and large floor-to- ceiling windows that look out toward the lake.

Despite its somewhat worn style, there are a number of nice wellness features here. The hotel has a country club that's made up of two well-maintained outdoor tennis courts, a small gym with a nice selection of cardio equipment and weight, a sauna and steam room, and a freeform swimming pool with a large section for children. The tennis court, gym, and pool are also used by residents of Yangon who buy memberships.

The hotel has a large ballroom, several meeting rooms, a beauty salon, and a selection of souvenir shops located just off of the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but the signal isn't reliable.