Grace Hotel 1
by the TopOfHotel team
Grace Hotel 1 is a budget guesthouse that sells its central location above all — step out the door and you're at the restaurants and market, about 0.2 miles from the town centre, with clean, simple, well-priced rooms aimed at backpackers who just need somewhere to sleep before heading out.
Grace Hotel 1 is a budget guesthouse that sells its central location above all — step out the door and you're at the restaurants and market, about 0.2 miles from the town centre, with clean, simple, well-priced rooms aimed at backpackers who just need somewhere to sleep before heading out.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a small guesthouse dropped right into the middle of a cool hill town — that's Grace Hotel 1 on Nan Myaing Street in Pyin Oo Lwin, a place that was a British colonial summer retreat and stays comfortably cool for most of the year. The rooms are guesthouse-simple, leaning on cleanliness and the basics rather than any kind of fancy decor. You get a flat-screen TV for the cool evenings, a work desk for spreading out a map and planning the next day, and a bed for resting after a long day on your feet. The feel is friendly and local, nothing flashy, but it does its job well as a cheap place to sleep for people who plan to spend most of their time out rather than in the room.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay here is simple but complete, at a price that's very easy on the wallet. Every room has free Wi-Fi for checking maps, booking tours or video-calling home, plus a flat-screen TV and a work desk so the room is good for more than just sleeping. The real edge isn't anything inside the building — it's the location, ringed by good restaurants, coffee shops and a market just a few steps from the door. There's no need for a big in-house dining room when the whole neighbourhood is your kitchen, and for a backpacker watching every dollar, being able to walk to good local-priced food beats paying extra for upscale facilities.
Location and getting there
The clearest selling point is the central location on Nan Myaing Street, only about 0.2 miles from the town centre — a few minutes on foot. That means restaurants, the market, coffee shops and convenience stores are all within walking distance, with no time or taxi fare lost getting into town the way you would from a place on the edge. Being this central also makes it easy to set out for the area's highlights: the Kandawgyi National Botanical Garden with its lake and flower beds, Anisakan and Dat Taw Gyaint waterfalls, the Peik Chin Myaung cave, and the coffee and strawberry farms the town is known for. Flag down a three-wheeler or a motorbike taxi from the centre and you're off.
Things to know before booking
To help you decide, a few honest points. First, this is a budget guesthouse, not a hotel or resort, so the facilities are just the basics — no pool, no spa, no upscale service. If you expect a high level of comfort, set your expectations to the price you pay. Second, the Trip guest score is fairly low, around 3.6, which says the room and service standard is ordinary for a cheap guesthouse rather than polished — think value bed, not a place that wows. Third, with the central spot on the street, some rooms that face the main road can catch daytime noise from the shopping area and traffic, so if you're a light sleeper ask for an inner room. And don't forget the mountain nights here turn cold — bring warm clothes, since budget rooms usually have no heating.
Our take
Looking over the details and real reviews, Grace Hotel 1 sells "central location, rock-bottom price and the basics covered" honestly, without trying to be more than it is. If your trip picture is backpacker travel — out the door each morning for local food, then a full day at the botanical garden, the waterfalls and the coffee farms, back only to shower and sleep — this is a good-value, convenient pick, with a low starting price and a spot you can walk everywhere from. If you want a luxe room, a pool, a spa or a quiet resort feel near nature, this isn't it, and you'd be better off with a higher-end place in town. Overall we give it 6.8/10, best for backpackers and budget travellers who value location and price over luxury.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Central location on Nan Myaing Street, only about 0.2 miles from the town centre — walk out the door to good restaurants, the market and coffee shops, with no need to waste time or money on a ride.
- Rooms start at around $17 a night, one of the cheapest options in town and excellent value for backpackers and travellers on a tight budget.
- Every room comes with a flat-screen TV and a work desk, handy for planning your trip in the evening or doing a little light work before heading out to explore.
- Free Wi-Fi in every room makes it easy to check maps, book tours, or call home while you travel.
- A convenient base for the main sights of Pyin Oo Lwin — the Kandawgyi botanical garden, the waterfalls, the caves and the coffee farms — because being right in the centre makes it simple to set out.
- This is a budget guesthouse built around the basics, not a hotel or resort — there is no pool, no spa and none of the upscale facilities you'd find at the pricier resorts in town.
- The Trip guest score is fairly low, around 3.6, which reflects a basic, run-of-the-mill standard for room and service; set your expectations to match the price.
- Because it sits in the middle of town on the street, some street-facing rooms can pick up daytime noise from the shopping area and traffic — if you're a light sleeper, ask for an inner room first.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Pyin Oo Lwin
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Insider Tips
- Walk around Nan Myaing Street from early evening — several of the better restaurants and coffee shops are within walking distance of the guesthouse, so you can skip taxi fares.
- If you come in winter (November to February), pack warm clothes: nights in the hills of Pyin Oo Lwin get colder than many people expect, and budget guesthouse rooms usually have no heating.
- If you're a light sleeper, ask up front for a room that doesn't face the main street, since the central location picks up some daytime noise from the shopping area.