Kawthaung

Kawthaung’s accommodation ranges from backpacker to five-star, though offshore island options for now are limited to the latter. You’ll see Honey Bear – just about the town centre’s largest building – from a long way off. Its waterfront location and reasonable rates make it a good, though slightly noisy choice. Penguin is a clear favourite in the budget range, with strategically placed posters stretching all the way to Ranong. The functional Kawthaung Hotel is a good deal though like the brand new midrange Garden Hotel, location isn’t so hot.

The small tourist information office next to immigration had some hotel details when we looked but with limited rooms available it’s a good idea to reserve something from Ranong (or Myeik) beforehand. We found no jetty tuk tuks or moto-taxis pushing us in certain directions, so it seems there’s no commission system in place as yet. Maybe that will change as new options inevitably open up. Honey Bear and Penguin are the only hotels within walking distance of the jetty.

Around seven kilometres north of town to the west of what passes for a highway, and close to the airport, is the plush new Victoria Cliff Resort. In early 2016 the same guys were in the process of opening an equally fancy island resort on remote Nyaung Oo Pee Island. For now only expensive, all-inclusive, multi- day packages are available. Just off Kawthaung on Thatay Khun Island is the longstanding Andaman Club. Also know as the Myanmar Andaman or Andaman Club Resort, it’s a large golf and casino complex run by Thailand’s Dusit group. It’s not the Andaman’s most picturesque island and doesn’t even have a beach -- but that’s not what the punters go for.

All hotels in town provide basic tourist information and can help with onward travel information and reservations.