The 161-room Hotel Grand United (Ahlone Branch) is an mid-range property located on Yangon's west side, a 10-minute taxi ride from downtown. There are local restaurants and shops around, and the hotel runs a free shuttle to the city's tourist sights. Rooms are generically modern -- and Superior Rooms lack windows -- but all include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars. Junior Suites have large balconies with distant views of Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon's top tourist attraction and pilgrimage site. The hotel has a modern fitness center and sauna, a restaurant and cafe, and a game room, plus breakfast is free. Given Yangon's inflated hotel rates, the Grand United at Ahlone is a good choice, though travelers seeking something in the downtown area might want to check out the chain's Chinatown branch.

The three-pearl The Loft Hotel is one of Yangon's nicest boutique hotels, a 10-minute walk from most downtown landmarks. The 32 rooms are meticulously decorated using handmade bricks, local timber, and beautiful black-and-white photos. The higher-tier rooms feature a loft layout -- hence the hotel name -- and come with Illy coffee machines. Additions like an outstanding gastro bar that serves both Asian and French dishes are nice perks (so is the free a la carte breakfast). There's also also a sharp meeting room for any corporate guests in town. Travelers will be hard-pressed to find this much style in the same category, but the Inya Lake Hotel has way more features in a similar price range, though rooms are less stylish and it's way farther from town.

Hotel 51 is a modern 42-room hotel built in 2014 and located on one of the quieter side streets right in downtown Yangon. Just slightly east of the city center, this two-and-a-half-pearl hotel is near plenty of street life and restaurants. There are only two categories of rooms, Superior and Deluxe, and both are simple and modern, with laminated wood floors, sharp furniture, and amenities like flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning. Wi-Fi and a breakfast buffet are free, with the latter including Asian and Western options. Those willing to spend more money for a style upgrade may want to check out The Loft Hotel, which has a great restaurant and tons of boutique style.

On the scenic banks of the Irrawaddy River -- with killer sunset views -- the 127-room Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort is an upper-middle-range resort set amid Old Bagan's iconic temples. While some rooms are a bit removed from the hotel's main facilities, there are lovely garden and riverside bungalows and palatial suites as well. The resort has a large swimming pool overlooking the river, as well as a bar and restaurant. Other features include a cooking studio, an organic kitchen garden, mountain bike rentals, and free Wi-Fi, though the signal is spotty. Though many temples can be reached on foot, there are no dining options nearby. For something closer to restaurants, travelers might want to check out The Hotel at Tharabar Gate, though it lacks the scenic riverside location.