The Place
The Savoy is a charming small hotel with 30 large and comfortable rooms, situated in an old colonial house with a modern wing. There’s a view of the Shwe Dagon Pagoda from the dining room. The place is quiet, in spite of being on a street corner, beautifully furnished with interesting old furniture, and the service is excellent: the smiling staff are eager to please. There is a lovely black marble swimming pool, an oasis of calm after a day of sightseeing. The restaurant is pleasant, the menu Asian fusion, and the wine list offers a reasonable choice. This is good value for money, and small enough not to attract big groups.
For those looking for a guide, our reporter Cessa Moore strongly reccommends the Majestic Mandaly Tourism Services (not Government backed), and their owner and chief guide, Aung Kyaw Lynn, based in Yangon. ‘Lynn takes great care of his visitors’, she says ‘and can tailor your journey to suit each customer. He is a delightful companion… whether it is temples, ballooning, trekking in northern Burma or relaxing at the beach, Lynn will arrange it all.’ Unlike larger agencies, Lynn travels with his clients rather than passing them from one guide to a next. He can be contacted via email at aklynn.mm@gmail.com.