Golden Island Cottages Thale-U Hotel
Thale-U Village, Nyaung Shwe, Southern Inle Lake, Inle Lake, Myanmar - See map
Get your trip off to a great start with a stay at this property, which offers free Wi-Fi in all rooms. Conveniently situated in the Southern Inle Lake part of Inle Lake, this property puts you close to attractions and interesting dining options. Don't leave before paying a visit to the famous Indein Village. Rated with 3 stars, this high-quality property provides guests with access to massage and restaurant on-site.
Highlights
Wellness
Everything you need for a rejuvenating retreat for both body and spirit.
Spa & Beauty
Massage
Eco & Adventure
Canoeing
Hiking
Facilities
Airport transfer
Bicycle rental
Car park
Shuttle service
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!
Front desk [24-hour]
Check-in/out [express]
Luggage storage
Serine Inle Lake Beauty”
The hotel is located mid-way down the east coast on Inle Lake - having traveled to Myanmar's biggest and most beautiful Inn Daw Gyi in Kachin State twice I wanted to avoid the mainstream crowds that throng around northern Inle Lake. For the kid of traveler who likes solitude, serenity and something special GIC Thale-U hits the spot perfectly - the location is tricky to reach by car (most come via boat which would be advisable for most) - I had driven up from Yangon via Napyidaw (not worth bothering with) so make sure have GPS handy to get you to the hotel. The hotel does have a simple guest house for your driver should you need it. The room (215) was outstandingly beautiful - the furnishings and finish quality excellent with a private balcony over looking the lake to the west (sunset). My only real complaint is the quirky gas water heating they used which was not ideal when the gas runs out and your in the middle of a shower! Also in Dec (to Feb) it is cold - low teens 'C, so make sure have some warm layers - the room itself has more than adequate cozy bedding. Wifi was OK too. NB: There are no TV's in rooms - great but some may feel lost for entertainment. Restaurant was very good IMO - not cheap but decent value for money and staff friendly and attentive on the whole. NB: For USD 430/person you can now take a balloon ride over Inle Lake - it's run by the same guys who do the Balloons over Bagan for half the price - why so pricey not sure, but if price dropped a little I'd be very tempted - and if your going to splash some cash this would be highly recommended.
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Exceptional”
My partner and I LOVED staying at Golden Island Cottages Thale-U!! The room and view was perfect. The dinners and Breakfasts were amazing that the staff couldn't be more pleasant, helpful and attentive. Above all of this, Golden Island Cottage is an initiative that helps youth in the community and you feel good about spending your money with them. We only wish we had stayed for more nights!! If we are able to make it back to Inle Lake again, we would definitely stay with Golden Island Cottage.
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Wonderful hotel, idyllic surroundings, thank you”
Really great hotel, wish we could have stayed longer than the four days we had, though was the most inexpensive of the hotels we stayed in in Myanmar. Idyllic positioning on lake within reach of Naunshwe, easy access by boat to the key pagodas, good positioning for bike trips around the lake, swimming off the front decks in the lake in the mornings or to cool down after bike ride, best massages my girlfriend and I have had which were remarkably inexpensive (Thai/Japanese style with real care and focus). Rooms were great - spacious, with wide verandas, long beds (good for tall people - am 6'4") and very clean. Worth slight premium for Delux room. Genuinely thoughtful staff treated us and all guests wonderfully, nothing was too much trouble. Food was very tasty (best veggie options and lake fish we found in the area) inventive fresh juice cocktails irresistible (vodka, fresh ginger and honey lemon was the winner). It is run as a social enterprise that provides employment for the Pa-O, the majority people on the east side of Inle Lake so represents the kind of ethical tourism worth supporting. lHad a wonderful stay - can't recommend it enough and really look forward to returning. Thank you GIC Thale U.
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Fantastic location, a so-so value”
I like to support these cottages because they're run by the Pa-Oh people, a group that has their own Self-Administration Zone. The location is wonderful - halfway down Inle Lake, and close to the artisan village and other sites. If you stay in Nyaung Shwe, it's quite a long boat ride to get to the southern end of the lake. But at the Golden Island Cottages, you're much closer. The cottages are beautiful - thatched walls, each with their own balcony on the water, and large bathroom with bathtub. Breakfast is OK - typical Asian offerings with an egg station, toast, jam, coffee & tea, and some pastries. You can order Shan noodles the night before, which I recommend - they were delicious. The Japanese massage was a great deal for the price - about $7.50 USD - and she came to my cabin. The one thing to highly recommend this place is that you can exit through the back of the resort, and walk through the village to a pagoda on the main road. This combination of land/water is really unusual, and is nice for those times when you want to get a walk in without getting on a boat to go somewhere. Some down sides are noise - the walls of the cottages are very thin, and people talking in the next cabin over sound like they're in the cabin with you. The boats on the lake still use very loud two-stroke engines, and one night there was a boat idling it's engine at midnight for over an hour. The bed was quite uncomfortable. We did manage to get thinner pillows delivered - for some reason, most Myanmar hotels include huge, very high pillows. Recommended sites: Indein Village, especially the pagoda with the stupas scattered about next to the walkway to the pagoda. The artisan village with silversmiths, parasol/paper makers, weavers - lots of restaurants in this area. Intha Heritage House - expensive ($25, I think) but it's very educational and includes a very, very good lunch. Paung Da U Monastery, especially if you manage to be there when the 5-day market is behind it. Also,
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Cute cottages run by locals!”
My girlfriend and I decided to explore Inle Lake and we stayed here for 3 nights. The cottages are cute and clean and have a bathroom and a patio facing the sunset. They have great service and food/drink options and prices are reasonable. The staff were marvelous (Especially Eng at the front desk who had excellent English and helped us with several travel arrangements). We weren't quite prepared for how isolated we would be in a cottage on the water-you can walk to a village (great place to get photos of the rice paddies) or get a boat to go anywhere else. We took a boat tour each day and got to see a lot of local artisans (blacksmith, parasol, boats, silver, silk/lotus/cotton weaving) as well as the floating gardens, a monastary, In Diem pagoada, and the local fishermen at sunset . This is a great quiet place to stay on the lake and it feels good to be giving your money to locals and not to a resort that is destroying the ecosystem!
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One of my best stay in Myanmar!”
It's my second time in Inle, and it's still very nice. I chose to stay around the lake for a some time and then in Naung Shwe also. Although you can totally get cheaper hotels in Naung Shwe and get day tour on a boat, staying in hotels around the lake is a completely different experience. Basically most of the hotels built around the lake, so no doubt most of them have great view. The rest comes down to travel distances, facilities, room cleanliness, staff and such. Everything here is nice, food also, but the reasons I chose this hotel are: 1. It's relatively cheaper than the other 2. (very important) It's located somewhat in the eastern part of the lake, so it's save half of the traveling time compare to the hotels in the very south. 3. (also very important) They have quite a big private water entrance, so you don't have to worry about the boat engine begin too noise and run back and forth near your room. At night I could see so many stars right above. Everything is just great!
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Amazing location in Inle Lake”
Out stay was too short in Inle Lake. The hotel was just beautiful and an amazing location to explore the Inle Lake area. The sunrise and sunsets view were amazing. The staff were super helpfull and friendly. We were travelling with small children and they amazing with the kids. The food at the hotel was also quite good. Amazing stay.
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Great location and hospitality!”
Best hotel facility we staid in so far in Myanmar. Very nice cottages, clean room and bathroom. Amazing views over the lake and the sun set. You can do trips by boat or bike into all different directions. The staff was very friendly and their hospitality was great. I was only missing good recommendations what we could do off the beaten track. Last but not least, I suggesti to pay cash, since the hotel charges more than 10% for credit card usage.
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fabulous time at heaven-like villa”
we stayed 2 nights at the villa facing excellent lake view. The location is serene and good for photography in the dawn and evening sunset. We walked around the village behind it and people greeted you along the way. it is definitely a good choice if you want to stay away from the busy and noisy part of the lake. there is no other choices of restaurant around it but the hotel restaurant cooking is decent with reasonable price. We like the deep fry lake fish which is a popular dish recommended by the staff.
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Beatifull stay on the lake.”
Rustic but nice and clean bungalows on stilts in the lake. Location is close to the main spots at the inle lake. The views at sunset and sunrise are beatifull. Hotel restaurant was OK. No other choices available without boat ride. For a 2-3 nights stay I would clearly give my recommendation.
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Perfect stay!”
We were a group of 7 and loved our stay at GIC! The bungalows were very clean and comfortable and the staff extremely helpful. They arranged boats for us, as well as tours (lake, trekking, vineyard), making our stay both relaxing and fun. The food at the restaurant was delicious too! It might not be the newest or fanciest hotel on the lake, but the atmosphere was wonderful and we couldn't recommend it more!
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Not enough value for money”
It was the 10th time I have visited Myanmar, last time in this hotel 2008. A sharp increase of money making efforts but no increase in value is what I had to observe. I couldn't shake off the freling of getting ripped of at the InleLake and in the hotel itself. The hotel offers boat service, you will need their boat if you don't organize it before you arrive. The problem, ever changing rules what is included in the price and what not. It has been sold like „20000 per day, you can go everywhere on the lake". Not so bad but not true. I took their boat in the morning 2hrs and at sunset for 2hrs only. With changing explanations ("you can go only into one direction, not first time to the right and then later to the left" and similar, not included if you want to go to this or that village, etc) the front desk attempted to charge 2x20000, which is about 40USD. Unpleasant experience. The hotel itself is in great location and staff is friendly. But the price is in no way justified, even if other hotels are same expensive, internationally compared the value is not enough. No reason to pay double or triple the price of Thailand in a country which was the cheapest travel destination in Asia. Food extremely overpriced too, in the hotel and also outside. Food taste in the hotel is not great! Breakfast toast and eggs with some fruit salad. Ok for a 2star hotel, not OK for a 4star. Wifi present but not connected to internet! They do have a 3G GSM WiFi hotspot for own use, but they are reluctant to topup the prepaid, so u normally won't be connected. I asked to have internet access and they helped out with their hotspot a few times, which was nice but a stable internet connection is a must have. No aircon, no TV inside cottages, they do have TV for own purpose. Aircon was in May not necessary, the nights were cold. Good hot water, large bath tub. Tip: Get the boat transfer from the hotel's office in the city, one way is 12000, otherwise the boat operators will charge for the transfe
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Clean and comfortable”
It was a comfy and cozy place. The room was just as shown in the picture. Everything was clean. They provided umbrellas in the room in case of wet weather. We arrived in the early morning and expected to wait in the lobby till check in but they kindly guided us to our room and even provided breakfast. The location was a little far from the main town but it was perfect for the view of both the mountains and the lake. Bird watchers would enjoy this accommodation with trees full of birds just right by their main building. Brrak
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A big thank you to the staff for our stay on Inle Lake. Arrival or departure by boat. ”
Pros: celebrated our wedding anniversary and birthday here - their kindness was outstanding - cake, singing, gift. Easy access to the lake activities. Fantastic mountain lake views. Romantic setting. Only downside would be the shower fixing, had to hand hold.
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Thank you very much for enjoy our service and left us your constructive comments on our property. hopeful seeing you again.
Delightful”
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at GIC. Sitting on the verandah with a book in hand in the evening was the best! There is no A/C, but we didn't need it, even in hot April. Perched over the lake, the rooms are very spacious and comfortable. One has a choice of breakfast - traditional Pa-an or Western; we had both, which were very good. I would recommend it to anyone.
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One of the best places I have ever stayed ”
Absolutely breathtaking place to please your soul. Stunning sunrises and sunsets over the lake. Bit remote but definitely worth it. Accessible only by the boat. Cool welcome ceremony. :) One of the best places I have ever stayed. Not many tourists. So enjoy it before they discover it. :) attentive staff and really good cuisine - curry was yummy.
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Beautiful hotel on the lake next to bird reserve”
Wonderful opening the curtains in the morning and looking at the lake, boats and fishermen!The room was huge, had tea kettle, stocked minifridge and bathroom had a tub. The views spectacular! It should be 4 or 5 star rated.The reception is helpful and can get you boat rides and airport transfers.
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Great Anniversary Getaway”
We had a great time at GIC 2! I had stayed here before and wanted to take my husband the minute I set foot there. Everything was great, from location to service to quality. The only reasons I didn't give 5 stars in cleanliness is because there are a lot of mosquitoes that like to get in the bathtub after you use it, so you can't really use it again unless housekeeping comes. We were only there for one night so couldn't use it again in the morning before we left, but had we stayed another night they would have cleaned it for us. If you're not a bug person, though, it's something to keep in mind. Facilities didn't get 5 stars because the wifi didn't work in the hotel rooms, and it barely worked in the lobby/restaurant area. However we were there to get away from it all and relax for a night and were not inconvenienced by this. Someone may want to call and check on this before staying, because the first time I was there the Internet did work well in the hotel rooms. Overall, great stay for your money and BEAUTIFUL location that you won't regret!
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Peace and quiet”
We loved this hotel. We stayed here for two nights and then spent more nights in the town. Our two nights here were great. The hotel is peaceful and you can easily spend a whole day on the deck watching the lake. We ate here (because there's not really anywhere else to go) and the food was fine,not amazing but fine. The breakfast was one of the better ones from our whole stay in Myanmar. The rooms themselves could do with a bit of updating but are clean and comfortable. We would go back to this hotel, for sure.
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Nice view and relaxing”
All of the cottages have fabulous sunset view. It was also amazing seeing so many birds live behind hotel. Felt close to the nature. The cottage inside was better than it looks on pictures. Very clean. However, it was too hot to fall asleep without air conditioner in May. There were some insects too.......
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