GBP
Inle Princess Resort
PRICE: Punchy but doesn’t blow the budget
Inle Princess welcomes guests back time and time again. Renowned for its excellent staff, quality food and its beautiful location, it is one of the best on Inle Lake, Myanmar. Its location, with its own private canal entrance, is simply magical. It’s an enclave of tranquillity. Okay, it’s not the most modern but we certainly rate it for atmosphere and consistency.
The rooms consist of detached bungalows lined with woven bamboo walls spread out within easy walking distance of the reception and restaurant. Most have lake views and some have view over the grasslands towards the hills. Those with a lake view have an outside shower as well as internal bath whilst those with a hill view have a shower within the bath.
On the whole, the rooms are a little dated but you can be guaranteed is your own al fresco deck with a charming set of teak wood chairs, working aircon, crisp linen and super reliable service. Oh… and the evening cookie delivery is a delight! Oops, we’ve spoiled the surprise…
The restaurant is large and spacious and there is a delightful deck overlooking the private canal entrance to the hotel. A glass of Inle rose as the sun is dropping beyond the distant hills is one of those moments that will be etched into your Myanmar memories.
The food, by Myanmar standards, is excellent. Chef Than New Oo cooks up a feast using ingredients that are almost entirely locally sourced (unless you opt for the griddled Australian sirloin, that is). There is a wide range of Burmese, Thai and Western dishes, all of which are tantalising. The buffet breakfast out on the deck overlooking the lake is amongst the best we’ve had outside Yangon.
The newly built pool on the land side of the hotel is a treat. Cocooning oneself on the double day beds behind long muslin drapes is the ultimate afternoon siesta. Buffalo are often munching the long grass behind the pool, which makes for an unusual soundtrack for a nap.
Inle Princess Resort: The Gallery
Yonder Insight
Princess Resort has a range of super soul soothing classes from morning yoga in the teak pavilion to meditation in the spa which sits on its own island. This is a place to come for blissful relaxation and cleansing.
On your doorstep
By bike or on foot (or by car if you want to leave it to your driver) it’s a short-ish journey to swing into the Inle vineyard for the degustation menu. You’ll get a Chardonnay, Muscat Sec, Shiraz-Tempranillo and Late Harvest. We always add a glass of the Rose on the side as it washes down the mozzarella balls nicely (we can’t help but get a nibble too!).
