Paro

Hotel Gangtey Palace
Gangtey
Paro
Bhutan
Phone: +975-8-271301
Email: hgpp@druknet.bt
Stayed there: January 31st 2007
Rates: n/a – included in tour package

One word: wonderful. A beautiful traditional style building with comfortable rooms, hot water, soft beds, helpful staff, excellent food… OK, so there was no TV but given than TV should be the last thing on your mind in a country like Bhutan I’m not going to complain.
This was the first bathroom we’d been in for weeks (months, perhaps) that actually had a bath as well as a shower. The toilet had a padded seat, for crying out loud. Talk about luxury.
As with anywhere in Bhutan, organising things is usually done via the tour agent you have to use. Bhutan Trails plonked us here and it was more than adequate for our all-too-brief stay.

Phuentsholing

Hotel Namgay
Phuentsholing
Bhutan
Stayed there: February 3rd 2007
Rates: n/a – included in tour package

A surprise as we were expecting to cross the border this evening and stay in India. However, having a hotel instead of a guest house and also having it paid for was definitely a bonus.
It’s a nice enough place, with internet access in the lobby, TV in the room and a nice bathroom. No hot water, though, despite there being an actual bath.
Food in the restaurant is superb, and the staff are as polite and helpful as we’ve come to expect in Bhutan.
You can tell we’re getting closer to India (a couple of hundred yards, in fact) as the beds are harder than we’ve had in Bhutan!

Thimphu

Bhutan Trails’ manager’s house!
WWW: Bhutan-Trails.com.bt
Stayed there: February 1st and 2nd 2007
Rates: n/a – included in tour package

A cosy four-room chalet on the same grounds as their house, in the forest outside of Thimpu. Absolutely delightful. Tea and coffee are provided along with a water heater to make them up, the TV has about 40 channels, the bathroom has hot water and the beds are soft and snuggly.
Basically… what more could you need? Dinner was taken with the family in their front room and was a great variety of Bhutanese dishes. As an option, food can be taken in the chalet and less spicy cuisine supplied.
We had the option of this or a hotel in town, and we’re very glad we decided on the house option. They even have a traditional stone-heated bath on the premises which you can try out.