Gem of the lake

“We just returned from a four night stay at the Inle Princess Resort. What a treat! This resort, which sits on the northeast corner of Inle Lake, is locally designed, owned and run. And it shows, from the local crafts that are made on site to the quiet efficiency and welcome of the staff. We arrived via Heho airport by road (about 60-90 minutes and ~$50 US). The road entrance is modest, giving no clue of what lies behind the low key security gate. The grounds are spectacularly but sympathetically landscaped, with stands of bamboo framing lotus filled lagoons. The rooms are absolutely unique in design. You might want to avoid the Mountain rooms only because they are a bit smaller with less spectacular views. Any of the other rooms will exceed your expectations.
The dining is lakeside, serving a mix of excellent local and Thai style fare and goreng. The views from the restaurant patio are tranquil, with boats approaching the jetty required to row (almost always Inle leg oar style) with engines off. The pool is otherworldly. We spent a good deal of our time exploring the lake. One of the lessons we learned was that the locally sourced goods in the crafts shop at the Inle Princess are not only superior quality but are priced very fairly.
I am lucky to travel widely. The spa is the finest with the kindest and most skillful (Shan) therapists I have encountered. The setting alone will draw you out of your highly strung world.
A couple of words of caution to high maintenance travelers. The hot water can run out quickly, so shower efficiently (many rooms have private outdoor showers). And service (e.g. by the pool) can be slower than you will find at Four Seasons. They just don’t rush. The food and drinks are wonderful. So relax and enjoy.
There is simply nowhere remotely like the Inle Princess. If you are looking for a slice of Myanmarese heaven on earth, this is it. If you are looking for chain resort style service, stay somewhere else.”