Living in Yangon for the past 5 years I have never thought I would stay 1 night at a hotel and not at 5* hotel as Wyndham Grand Yangon due to the high prices of a luxury hotel in Myanmar. Actually it’s my second time when I stay at an hotel in my residential town; the previous one was back on 2011 in Focsani while I stayed at Unirii Hotel in Focsani as did not wanted to stay at my aunt as wanted to experience a night at the hotel!
Having a local travel agency in Myanmar it would have been easier to talk with some partners and ask for a special rate for me and my wife for a staycation in Yangon for the Valentine’s Day. I have seen all the “special” offers they had added for this event and the prices were higher then the contract one’s and of course much higher than the price on Booking.com.
Wyndham Grand Yangon was not an exception. Their offer was 105$/per night for a Superior Room with Lake View or 148$ for a Lake View Room with Breakfast and V-Day Buffet Dinner or if you wanted a massage at their SPA the package was 200$ for a Lake View Room with Breakfast and V-Day Buffet Dinner plus SPA treatment.
Add 15% tax to the mentioned prices. I wanted to have dinner as well but this year the dinner prices at hotels and restaurants in Yangon have gone super crazy with offers going up to 120$ or 200$ /per couple – are you crazy guys? Not to mention the Sedona Hotel offer in Yangon which included a 30 min helicopter ride for the very cheap price of 9999$/per couple. In the end I have decided to go for a dinner at Parkroyal Hotel with the price of 45$/per couple since I have already eaten there and food was excellent.
Back to the Wyndham Grand Yangon Hotel review. I knew that prices on the official website should be lower; as I enter their website and wanted to make a booking or at least check their rates I got the surprise that in the 21st century of internet 3.0 and more their website did not have a booking system and only a form to make an enquiry!
Decided then to check the prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com as the latest is more popular in Asia and prices can be better. And the price I got on these hotel booking for Wyndham Grand Yangon was only 72$/night for a Superior Lake View Room with breakfast included for 2 persons. Compare with the above price and the difference is almost double! Ofcourse it was an non-refundable offer but still the price difference was huge and I decided to book it without hesitation!
Check in @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
I have done a few check-in for my tourists which visit Myanmar and the process does not takes more than 5 minutes in general (at hotels as Chatrium Yangon or Lotte Hotels Yangon – both 5* hotels in Yangon). Since I had some work to do in the morning and knew that the check in at Wyndham Grand Yangon starts from 2pm I have decided to arrive around 3pm and was expecting a fast check in and then to jump straight to the swimming pool. Being a Genius Member of Booking.com as well I have asked 1 day in advance for a late check out ( around 2pm instead of 12pm and it was approved quite fast).
Arrived around 3pm and the door-boy welcomed us and took our luggage and then we headed to the 4th floor where the reception of Wyndham Grand Yangon is located. One more couple with a kid was waiting to be check in and we handed our passport to the receptionist. After check in our copies we were told to take a sit and wait a bit – this is normal as they probably have to run other procedures in the system. Then a welcome drink and cold towels had been offer; drink was so so – not to much my taste. After 10 minutes of wait still no signs to be called to be given the rooms; the family with the kid had been accommodated and then it was our turn – even if up to 5 staff and 2 desks for check in were opened. As far as I realized only 1 person was quite qualified (as the 2 girls were asking question to her how to do things and he handle most of the tasks).
Then one girl from the receptions come to tell us that the room was ready but it would be a twin room instead of a King Size Bed as booked. We said no, as I was not planning to spend my Valentine’s night with my wife in separate beds! This a brand new hotel opened in Yangon and not even 5% of the rooms were booked for that night (I say few people at the breakfast next day and my assumptions can be almost correct) and was surprised that our room was not ready (at 3pm when we arrived) and then given a different room type. Not such a good first impression as I wanted to check as well the services for the future clients I might accommodate at Wyndham Grand Yangon.
After 5 more minutes we were called to be handed the keys – and the surprise was that we had been upgraded for the Deluxe Room with Lake View – with a walking in rate more than 140$/night and me paid only 72$ for the room on Booking.com! That was a suite surprise!
Room @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
The hotel has more than 8 elevators ( 4 on each side) so you don’t need to wait to much for one and when more travels accomodated it want be an issue. I remember when I was in North Korea, the hotel we stayed had only 1 elevator working and it could take up to 30 minutes to get up and down in the morning!
Room was not 100% ready – and when I mean ready the AC was not open to make it a bit cooler. In most of the superior hotels I have been it had been already open and had a nice feeling when you enter the room.
This double room has a fireplace, soundproofing and sofa as described on booking.com but I did not see the fireplace. Room size is 58 m² and it’s located in higher floor – our room was at 8th floor and view was great with the lake and partial view of Shwedagon Pagoda.
Some hotels room do have 2 separate rooms for lobby and main room; Wyndham Grand Yangon room is only one big room. Once you enter the room you have the sofa, a coffee table and few comfortable chairs. On the right side there’s a small dressing room which is quite big – comes with chair, mirror plus a scale. A Safety Deposit Box and Iron are located as well in this room plus the sleepers and the bathrobe. It’s very useful for girls this room as it has space do to the makeup. There is a space to put your luggage as well – you had a small one (10kg) and it fit very well in that place. Usually we put our luggage in the main room which can take out of the space – smart idea to add a place for the luggage!
The bed is located in the superior part of the room; close to the window. We had a king size bed. Being a new hotel the mattress is new and in a great condition. It’s was not soft and not to hard in the same time. The bed is big enough for 3 person if you are coming with a kid who will sleep in your bed. Each person has a set of 3 pillows (one for decoration and 2 for sleeping – I did not notice any difference for the sleeping pillow – both was a bit soft but I had a good sleep with it). Lines was clean and with good quality.
A vintage clock was next to bed and fitted the room style as well with the pictures (both in the main room and the bathroom). Room does not comes in too many bright color (grey, black white and orange are the main dominant colors in the room)
AC and Lighting System @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
On the other side it’s a great system and on the other side is not such a smart system as it wants to be. The AC is position and cover inside the wall it the direction is in the whole room not only directly to the bed. The Air Condition does not have a remote to be stopped or change the temperature; you can only do in from the buttons which are located next to the door. So let’s say that we want to change or turn it off in the middle of the night we have to get of the bed, open the light and change it; a remote would have been more useful.
You could have put in Auto or a special program the AC but there was no instruction on how to use it; I have encounter almost in all the hotels I have stayed before – the lack of instruction for smart items as if you all have it at home!
The lighting system is a smart one – 4 buttons can change the lighting style in a different way and it’s located very close to the bed and you don’t have to move it to much. On the same time, the buttons for bathroom are a bit hard to be found as they have the same color as the walls – took me some time to realize where they are. The reading lighting it’s located in smart way close to each person bed.
Even if it’s not positioned as a business hotel in Yangon, the room has a well a desk for work where you can put easily the laptop and well it has some stationary materials as well.
Room comes with a huge TV (it’s a brand I did not encounter before) and has more than 30 TV channels from BBC to HBO, chinese or korean plus Netflix. Regarding the later, I tried a few times to connect it and it did not work as it was not connected to the internet.
Room Amenities @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
2 bottle of branded water are provided on arrival. They have the room temperatures and were a bit to warm; secondly not sure what water supplier they use but water was bit too suite for my taste. In the same place a box a peanut is located. Being in the same location as free water and no other sign next to it we assumed it was free of charge; but at the check out they made it pay for it in the first instance – then they change their mind and did not ask for money.
The room has a small fridge as it serves as the mini-bar. Being a 5* hotel the mini-bar is a joke! Few cans of Sprite, Cola and a local mineral water as well in the can. No wine, no anything else! Plus we ran out of the water quite fast and even if we wanted to pay for it.
An Espresso Machine was present in the room with 4 capsules. Compared with the Gold Smith Residence I stayed I Siem Reap which had as well the same machine, this time it come with a manual on how to use it. I liked more the coffee made here compared with the previous hotel I have stayed in Cambodia.
Bathroom @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
Bathroom and toilet included the bathtub was a great surprise in terms of design and usability. There are 4 separate area for each one. The bathtub close to the window (not sure if the bed location as people might see you from outside or other building next to the hotel), the shower area then the washing area with 2 sinks ( smart option since they are 2 people to be accommodated in the room and in the morning you can fight for the sink – first time when I see 2 sinks in one hotel) and the toilet which is separated with the glass from the other areas.
Free toiletries as shampoo or soap are provided – but only 1 tub for each one; so if you want to have 2 or 2 showers in one day you run out quite fast. Two big toiles are provided along with 2 small one’s for face. A nice basket it’s located in the shower area where you can put it after being used
The bathtub is great in terms of photoshotting as well. Again no bubble soap is provided. Being a new hotel the bathtub is new and very clean (probably we were the first one to use it!)
Shower room was not separated with glass from the bathtub area and only on the other side. It was not possible for water to slip over to there due to the shower gutter. It has 2 shower time – I tried both and I enjoyed more the one with the water flowing from above. Water pressure was great the the water was heating very fast and it was quite hot. There were no hooks to hang the towels (which were on the other side) and there was no small to put the shampoo or the soap – maybe in a spot were the bodyscrub cup was located but it was not design for this purpose. One detail I did not like was the thing that being too big, it takes time till the shower area gets warmer; usually I like to take shower in steam as well and in this case would have been practical close to 0 chances.
Breakfast @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
Breakfast is served every day from 6.30am to 10.30am in the SPOON restaurant located on the 4th floor – same floor with the reception and the swimming pool. I liked the idea of having it available till 10.30am and many hotels do have it till 10.00am only and sometimes we just want to sleep more.
As mentioned not to many people were checked during my stay (maximum 10 rooms) and more or less the exact number of table were occupied in the morning and 80% of them were locals – probably due the the special offer they had for the Valentine’s Day. Some minor flows with the breakfast which I will write below.
The breakfast area is huge and in the first place you get the feeling that there are many itimes to choose from due to the huge space which food category is allocated. After putting some things in my plate and finished one round of the room I asked my wife as a joke – and what do I have to eat? As my plate was half empty. It was difficult to see where the egg station was and took me a few minutes to locate the juice area. I got the feeling that the breakfast is catered more for Asian people rather than Westerns in terms of food options.
The main area of food is located in the middle of the room.
Hot stationary food – beans, mushroom, tomatoes, bacon and sausages. It’s a great idea to be non-stop cooked – meaning the food is still warm and taken. When I wanted to take some sausages there were not and later I was not that hungry to take a few. Then the bacon has the same problem – it run out quite fast and not replaced within the next 5 minutes – and this only with a few guests accomodated in the hotel. Beans pot was again not too full but decent so I can take a few spoons.
Egg Station and the menu was put in the corner and not easily to be spotted. You can select from different kind of egg and a selection of extra things to be added. The omelette I have order was OK but i had better ones in the past.
Meat selection was very low – thin pieces for turkey ham or salami; plus sushi for breakfast not sure it’s for everyone. Tried a few pieces and taste was decent; my friend who makes and sales sushi in the streets in Yangon does better sushi I can tell you!
Indian and curry area; quite a few options for the asian market and not my type of food for breakfast.
In one pot boiled eggs were located; did not see it only at the end.
Bread area – good bread and quite a lot of options in terms of bread.
Fruit area – did not try it as I was already to full at the end.
Tried all the cheese and the selection and tastes was good. Had a muesli Yogurt as well and with a very good taste.
The milk and cereal area – basic cereal which can be found in supermarket and not a healthy option with yogurt for example. 3 options for milk (low fast, fat and cold) but only 1 was available and the other one run off milk and were not replaced as fast as it should be.
Sauce area for the noodle station.
It was impossible to find out where to open the door for this cookies!
Generally speaking the breakfast was OK; not great or exception. Taste was decent but it lacked something for each food I have tried. Plus some items were not available and we arrived around 9am at breakfast. This area can improve more to make you feel like you are staying in a 5* hotel.
Swimming Pool @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
From the initial photos of the hotel and knowing its located I had the impression that the swimming pool is located on the top of the hotel but it was not and the location is only at the 4th floor. Would have been a great addition of the hotel to have a infinity stunning swimming pool maybe compared with Marina Bay Sands. It’s a big swimming pool but not that deep – only 1,2 meters. A towel has to be taken from the Gym area and there are around 8 chairs. At the corner there’s bar and the view can be great in the evening.
Water can be a bit cold in the morning but in the afternoon it’s getting much warmer. Not only the hotels guests are allowed to the swimming pools but the person accommodated in the service apartments next to it. Usually family with kids tend to stay in this kind of places; now not to many people are renting the place but in the future I think it might get crowded.
Gym can be used as well for tourist who book this hotels. Gym is not that big but it’s decent equipped and one personal trainer is there. Hotel does not have a SAUNA – as few hotels do have it in Yangon ) or close to 0 as far as I know)
SPA @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
Spa is located on the 4th floor – most of the facilities are located on 4th floor. Did not have time to try and to see how good it is. Prices are decent for a 5* hotel with an massage starting from 40$/hour.
Room Price @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
There are 5 room type category which can be booked online at Wyndham Grand Yangon Hotel:
Superior Double This single room has a sofa, fireplace and air conditioning. Price start from 120$/night.
Deluxe Double 46 m². Price start from 150$/night.
Club Deluxe Room – 58 m² . Price start from 170$/night.
Additional benefits:
– Complimentary coffee & tea, soft drinks and snacks from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
– Complimentary evening cocktail at executive club lounge from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
– Complimentary use of meeting room for 2 hours per day at Executive Club Lounge (maximum 10 pax and non-accumulative).
– Complimentary one way airport transfer (pick up or drop off) for Club Rooms.
Club Deluxe Suite – 95 m². Price start from 190$/night.
Additional benefits:
– Complimentary coffee & tea, soft drinks and snacks from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
– Complimentary evening cocktail at executive club lounge from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
– Complimentary use of meeting room for 2 hours per day at Executive Club Lounge (maximum 10 pax and non-accumulative).
– Complimentary two way airport transfers (pick-up and drop off) for Suite Rooms
Executive Suite – Price start from 280$/night.This suite has a sofa, air conditioning and soundproofing and 110 m².
Where to book Online @ Wyndham Grand Yangon
You can find the best prices & real time availability for Wyndham Grand Yangon Hotel on Booking.com