Fodor's Expert Review Rupar Mandalar Resort

Idyllic and full of local flavor, this resort is a ways from downtown but is a real oasis. Rooms are all rich, gleaming teak which lends visitors the feeling of bunking down inside an upscale tree house. Though rooms are well-proportioned, some bathrooms are teeny. Rooms on the main road are noisy, and some rooms' walls are on the thin side. The expansive grounds are lush and lovingly manicured, and the pool, after a hot day at Mandalay Hill and the Royal Palace, is a dream come true. The breakfast spread is served outside under the trees; around dinner time, there's a marionette show and dance performance.