Accommodation on Inle Lake can be extremely pricey. For those travelling on a budget, the town of Nyaung Shwe holds plenty of affordable accommodation options and also offers greater services and variety of stores and restaurants. Inle Star Motel is at the lower price end of accommodation and is located right on the river leading down to the lake. A less than 50-metre walk and you have many drivers who will willingly take you on a tour of the lake on their longboats.
The location on the river is great. However, as it is on the river, you get the full blast from the longboat engines. The longboats start early in the morning and continue from sunrise to sunset, so ask for a mountain view to receive one of the back rooms where the sound of the boats won’t fill your eardrums constantly.
The Inle Star provides a great boat tour with a personal local guide. For 18 500 Kyat ($18.50USD) you can take a full day tour starting at the time of your choosing. You’re advised to leave between 7 and 8am to make the most of the day. The time you return is up to the passenger: you can head home early or stay on the lake for sunset; it is a personal choice. Each longboat from Inle Star Motel has seats with cushions for up to 5 people. If taking the tour through Inle Star Motel, ask for Kyawthu.
The wifi at Inle Star is standard Myanmar wifi and works on and off. The power also will shut off regularly and is unpredictable during the day. This is not isolated to Inle Star Motel; the whole neighbourhood loses power.
An average breakfast is served daily on the roof terrace. You can choose from toast, eggs, cereal, pancakes and fried rice or noodle. The fried noodles are extra oily – the fried rice was definitely the better of the two.
The manager is predominately the only person who speaks English and is generally available if you need to organise anything. The motel does not have its own restaurant but you can order food through the motel to be delivered if you want a lazy night in after a long day on the lake.
All opinions are subjective to the writers personal travel experience. The writer travelled at her own expense.