Thanlwin Guest House

The Thanlwin Guesthouse is akin to staying in a private local family home. Set in a pleasant small garden in a quiet residential estate, the small white building is a peaceful retreat from the bustle and traffic of central Yangon. As the rooms are small and basic, most guests congregate outside in the garden area, which serves as the hotel's restaurant and reception area, and is set with traditional parasols and paper lanterns over a long wooden table. There are some rattan loungers and chairs to relax on here, and travelers trading information and stories are a common sight. The vibe is intimate and relaxing, and there is no pretentiousness here. It's an easy place to kick up one's feet and feel right at home. Most of the guests are couples, friends, and singles on a budget, though families stay here too. 

Thanlwin Guest House is located about halfway between the international airport and downtown Yangon, and is a good choice if one wants to stay away from the crowds and chaos of the city center. It sits on a quiet side street in a residential estate, but there are some small eateries within a 10-minute walk from the property. The guesthouse is not convenient for downtown, though, as it's a 20-minute, traffic-congested taxi ride. Major sights like the Shwedagon Pagoda are a bit closer and take 15 minutes to reach by car. Yangon International Airport is a 20- to 30-minute drive if there isn't too much traffic. 

There are only nine rooms at the Thanlwin Guesthouse, so it is best to book well ahead, especially in high season. Rooms here include private Twin, Queen, and King Rooms plus basic four- or six-bed dormitories (the four-bed dorms are single gender, while the six-bed dorm is a mixed dorm). The look is simple, but bright -- helped in part by lots of windows plus the white and warm-wood tones that dominate the rooms. Beds are large and comfortable, and decor is limited to large color photos of Burmese ethnic minorities above the beds. Hardwood parquet floors are a nice touch, and white walls are spotless. 

Rooms here are basic in terms of amenities -- none of the rooms have TVs, safes, or hot water kettles -- but they are air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi across all categories. The King Room offers a couple of chairs and a small cabinet and mirror. Both the King and Queen Rooms have a small desk, but that's about it. The dorm rooms have bunk beds, as well as large storage lockers for each guest. Each bunk has its own private reading light. Housekeeping services all of the rooms daily. 

Bathrooms are fine enough -- Queen and King Rooms have their own en-suite facilities, the others share a bathroom. They are wet-room style bathrooms and we did spot a bit of dirty grout in the King Room bathroom that we saw. Towels, soap, and shampoo are also included, even for the shared bathroom facilities. 

As the Thanlwin Guesthouse is a tiny guesthouse in a family home, it doesn't have space for many extras. There is a pleasant outdoor common area, which is where the family serves up traditional Burmese cuisine. On Sundays, the owners serve mohinga curry noodles, and other mornings they have noodle dishes from the Shan State. Other popular items include traditional tea leaf salad and Burmese desserts. The restaurant serves free breakfast to guests, which includes French press coffee and Indian-style tea, and it's also possible to order lunch and dinner here. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Staff can offer assistance with concierge services.