Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

The Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake is one of Yangon's swankiest properties. Guests enter via a guarded security entrance and are greeted in a glittering lobby where gold lights and wall panels sparkle, while plush blue velvet sofas provide seating by floor-to-ceiling windows. There's even a piano for occasional entertainment. Colorful flowers placed here and there are a nice touch, while blue Oriental-style rugs inject a dose of color amid the sleek marble floors and a largely beige-and-gold color palette. 

The hotel's restaurants are equally elegant and upscale. Emporia features a large replica of a beautiful teak temple at its center, while the grand, soaring windows of this high-ceilinged space offer views of the pool outside. The colonial-style Lobby Lounge has throne-shaped rattan chairs out on the patio overlooking a lotus pond and Kandawgyi Lake, as well as plush sofas, rattan chairs, and a marble-paneled bar inside. 

Grounds are attractive and manicured as well, with tall palms dotting the courtyard and lovely swimming pool area. The property sees a mix of tourists and business travelers, and is one of Yangon's top luxury stays.

The Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake is located right next to Kandawgyi Lake, which is Yangon’s largest open green space and offers pleasant walking paths. While the lakeside road out in front of the hotel is full of fast traffic all day, the hotel is situated up a guarded driveway and is well insulated from city or street noise. The renowned Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon’s most famous tourist sight, is a 10-minute drive from here. While the Chatrium is not within walking distance of the downtown area (it's about a 10- to 15-minute drive), the hotel does offer a free shuttle service a few times a day -- though traffic in central Yangon can be pretty horrific. There are plenty of excellent dining options around the hotel, ranging from one of Yangon’s best Thai restaurants, to Vietnamese and many others. The international airport is about a 35-minute drive at the best of times, but travelers should budget up to an hour.

There are 300 rooms to choose from at the Chatrium, all of which are stylish, spacious, and full of modern amenities. Contemporary decor includes striped carpets, a mix of Impressionistic and abstract art, elegant sofas and chairs, and work spaces (a plus for the business travelers that pass through the hotel). Of course decor becomes more sophisticated the higher the category, and rooms like the Junior Suite that we visited had details like polished hardwood floors and funky purple velvet chairs. 

Beds come with down duvets and high thread-count linens. All rooms have flat-screen televisions with cable channels, minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, electronic safes, and free Wi-Fi, plus guests receive welcome fruit baskets and free newspapers. Turn-down service is also included in room rates. Bathrooms have both bathtubs as well as separate walk-in showers, and a full range of free toiletries is provided.  

The larger Club Rooms and Suites also provide irons and ironing boards, DVD players (in the Suites), and offer Club Lounge privileges, which include free happy hour cocktails, afternoon high tea, free snacks, and free local phone calls. Deluxe Rooms have large terrace areas, but they are unfurnished and those on lower floors lack views. Club Rooms and Suites have lovely views of the lake, but their balconies are tiny. The Deluxe Corner Room offers the best views, with a beautiful vista of the Shwedagon Pagoda in the distance -- the only rooms with these views, despite the hotel's claims. Suites are the largest and most luxurious option, with separate living rooms and larger flat-screen TVs in all rooms. The Royal Lake Suite also has a kitchenette and dining area. 

Befitting a luxury hotel, the Chatrium features three fine-dining restaurants. One can opt for Japanese at Kohoku, which has private traditional tatami rooms, indulge in banquet-style lazy Susan servings of sumptuous Chinese cuisine at Tiger Hill, or go for international offerings at Emporia, which is also the site of the superb breakfast buffet served free to guests every morning. For drinks, the Lobby Lounge offers both indoor and outdoor seating on a patio overlooking the lake, while Club Rizzoli has four private karaoke rooms. There's also a poolside bar serving drinks and snacks.

The hotel's large outdoor pool takes over the courtyard, with plenty of sun loungers encircling it. There are palm trees surrounding the pool, plus a cascading waterfall and a large kids' section. Adjacent to this is a large fitness center, equipped with an array of cardio machines as well as a weight rack and a decent selection of weight machines. There's also a spa that offers massages, facials, and other treatments in private rooms. 

The hotel is also equipped with a small business center, a large ballroom, and a selection of meeting rooms for group functions and events. Club-level rooms have access to the ninth-floor Club Lounge, which serves up free cocktail happy hours, afternoon tea, and other perks like free phone calls. A four-story car park completes the comprehensive facilities, and Wi-Fi is free.