Amazing Bagan Resort

Amazing Bagan Resort looks a bit like one of the surrounding temples that travelers come to Bagan to visit, making for a pleasant welcome. While the cobblestone entryway into the resort doesn't reveal much, the resort has a chedi temple tower fronting the main building, and there's a teak ox cart out on the lawn, paying homage to one of the most iconic symbols of Bagan. There are a couple of pools with large urns on either side as one walks in, and two dancer statues guard the front doors. These types of local details characterize much of the resort, which is one of the more polished in the area.

Once inside, the dark lobby is circular, with Moorish style frames surrounding the octagonal chamber, and stylish rattan chairs placed all around it. In the middle of the room, a series of traditional Burmese cloth and lacquer parasols rise up overhead, one on top of another. The reception desk is placed off to one side of the room. Despite the boutique feel of the property, the hotel sees a lot of tour groups, making the lobby a bit loud and rushed whenever a tour bus rolls in, and the hotel is full most nights during high season.

Amazing Bagan Resort is located just outside of Nyaung U, near the Bagan airport, which is about five minutes away by taxi. While the resort is convenient for arrivals and departures by plane, it's less convenient for sightseeing. One perk is that the Bagan Golf Course is right next door. The resort lies down a quiet dirt road that's a few miles from the center of Nyaung U, where the shops and restaurants are located. Guests have to pay the overpriced taxi charges from the hotel, or else rent a scooter or bicycle to explore. It also means an extra distance to pedal in terms of sunsets and sunrises at the temples in Old Bagan, which are a good half-hour away by bike (though only 15 minutes away by car). On the plus side, it is quiet out here, and far away from traffic congestion. 

There are 66 rooms at Amazing Bagan Resort. These are divided into Deluxe Rooms, set in the main building along long corridors, or else separate Bungalow Suites or Suites, set in their own buildings in the garden. The Suite Bungalows are particularly attractive, as they're done in traditional red brick buildings, which actually look like temples from the outside. These rooms, as with all the others, are nicely decorated with local touches. There are lacquerware lamps and tables, rattan seats and cabinets, ornately carved wooden platform beds, and wood floors. Some of the rooms look a bit worn, especially the Standard Deluxe category, where we saw a decent amount of floor scuffing. 

Modern amenities include flat-screen televisions, electric hot water kettles with free tea and coffee provided, safes, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms feature bathtub/shower units, and the Suite category rooms have sunken tile tubs and more modern showers. Suites and Bungalow Suites also come with fancier toiletries and a bowl with thanaka paste (the makeup and beauty cream worn by many women in Myanmar). Guests in these rooms also get their own bamboo sun hats and traditional Burmese sandals to wear while at the resort. The biggest drawback to the rooms is that they lack any type of balcony or terrace, although they do have large windows with views of the surrounding greenery. 

Amazing Bagan Resort has some of the nicest features that we found in Bagan, starting with the swimming pool. It's set in a lovely garden courtyard with ample sun and a shady area in the back for daybeds and sun loungers. The pool is big enough to swim laps and is fairly quiet much of the time, with most guests out exploring the temples during the day. The only sign of life is frequently the attendant at the hut that serves as the pool bar. 

For dining, the resort has several options. Mindon Hall restaurant is outdoors under a roofed area, and is the site of the free buffet breakfasts served to guests each morning. The restaurant is decorated tastefully, with thick rattan chairs, a brick floor, cloth lamp shades overhead, and a collection of handmade traditional Burmese puppets hanging on the walls. Some of these puppets are used in the adjacent Green House Coffee Shop, which puts on traditional performances each evening. While it's considered a separate dining area, the coffee shop and the restaurant actually share the same menu, which features a la carte items as well as an array of set menus (Asian, Burmese, and International) available for lunch and dinner. The resort can set up romantic private dinners on a small patio if requested.

Spa Thunka provides a small space for massages in a pleasant setting decorated with wood and parasols. The resort has a motley collection of old one-speed bicycles available free for guests. As Bagan is mostly flat, they are rideable, although the brakes aren't the best. The resort also has popular new e-bikes for rent, which really are scooters more than bikes, and a much faster way to get around. Other facilities at the hotel include a tiny business center in the lobby with three free computers, as well as a meeting room upstairs, and free Wi-Fi.