1

Why would you want to?
Ok its closer to airpirt but what about leaving your Hotel and heading downtown along the outside of the fort and also the big shopping market also all the mazdas hang around the Hotels in town for day trips to Mingun bell and day trips to sagaing Inwya and Ubein bridge and even Mandalay hill theres a reason for people staying in town plus the chouice in eateries

2

If this is your first trip to Myanmar, then as Monty says you might regret not being in the midst of Mandalay's active food scene .
Having said that Sagaing is a nice sleepy town and it's good to stay there to allow enough time to explore the pagodas properly, and it's a good base for Mingun and Ubein.
Happy Hotel is quite OK.Nb their superior rooms are only middle grade, I paid $18 for one last year. Even with price hikes your agent is being cheeky, and I'd ask for a suite for that price.
The restaurant attached to happy is good, and there's another nice one in town called Greenland, and a couple of teashops, but not a huge choice for eating

3

We are actually bringing our bicycles so plan on stopping into Mandalay later on in the trip on our way back from Inle. Sagaing seems like a good base to do some bike day trips.
Wow, $18 to $43 dollars seems like a crazy rate hike. I'll have to do some negotiating with this agent :)

4

In that case I think Sagaing would make an excellent base for biking from, and give you a chance to get used to Burma's crazy traffic before you have to brave Mandalay's roads. You could put your bikes on ferry and cross to Inwa, too
and BTW yes Sagaing is slightly closer to the airport. there's no shuttle minvan, but hopefully you'll get the bikes in a taxi.

5

Thanks Caroliine. Drives can't be any worse than the Sri Lanka ones :)

6

Saigiang is a good time, low key and a some great places to explore on a bike. But dont miss Mandalay, it really grows on you after 24 hours...