The OP might consider pre-booking if they decide to go a little off the beaten track to someplace that has few licensed hotels for foreigners. One never knows if a Paya Festival is going on nearby. We went to Shwebo last January and there happened to be one at a temple just outside of town and everything listed in LP and Rough Guide was booked solid. We stared to worry since it would mean a 3 hour ride back to Mandalay or the same on to Monywa. Our taxi driver asked around and finally found us a hotel, but it was right across from the bus station on a busy road used by not only the buses but freight haulers going through town. It was really noisy, even during the night and especially very early in the morning when all the buses started rolling. The room was surprisingly nice for the money though.
None of the places in Shwebo are very good. I stayed at the Win GH, that was a bit noisy also, room was ok but overpriced for what it was. I had a similar problem Thursday ok but Friday booked up, other GH looked bad and even more expensive, I went onto Monywa but still had problems there getting a room. I saw that Hotel by the bus station looked ok from the outside.
If I am able to nail down a proposed schedule, I will try to pre-book some places to stay. Still not sure when I will be leaving.
The hotel in Shwebo by the bus station is the Pyi Shwe Theigha. I stayed there earlier this year. It is ^mid range^ really, but was good value for money. The reason I chose it was because I was arriving at the bus station at 3 in the morning and they had promised to keep the reception open until I arrived (which they did). I stayed 3 nights but they insisted on only charging me for 2 because I arrived so late at Night!
re #10 - the likelihood of that happening is quite slim, and unless their itinerary is set in stone and they know exactly where they will be and when then it is not much point. Is not even worth worrying about.
Book accommodation for first nights arrival then simply phone ahead a couple days as you go...is really quite simple.
The hotel in Shwebo by the bus station is the Pyi Shwe Theigha. I stayed there earlier this year. It is ^mid range^ really, but was good value for money.
Yes that is the place and our room was in the mid-range area, but only $21.00/night. I remember it had an oddly spelled name (Theiga). For a clean room with air-con, TV and a good sized room that's quite good in Myanmar. The staff were really nice and they all came out to say goodby when we left. Still, very noisy.
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