Located beautifully right on the Irrawaddy River, in the middle of the ancient pagodas, this may be, for the money, the best place to stay in old Bagan. You can inexpensively rent a bicycle from the hotel and ride around the many pagodas, or you can just kick back at their pool, and even eye a pagoda, while cooling off, or, like I did, you can have the hotel arrange a driver for a full or half day to take you all around the area. Walking or horse-drawn carts are the other options to enjoy the marvelous sights the location has to offer. It does not end there. Go to their informative website for more information. The cheapest stay are the little bungalos which are a little worn, but are all air conditioned and supplied with TV and are all ensuite. The setting is priceless. The personnel treat you with all of the care and hospitality you can hope for. Unless you are a spoiled and never satisfied five-star traveler, this is the place to stay for you. I could not imagine going back there and not staying at the Thande Hotel. This time, since I traveled in April, their dry season, and definitely not the tourist high-season, I went there without reservations, however, were I to return there, I would contact them first and make reservations. Laundry service as well as Internet (best after 9pm) is available, as is airport pick-up and drop-off.

Fron Bagan I went to Mt. Popa(day-trip) with an English speaking driver, arranged by the hotel

NOTE: There are two Thande Hotels, this is the one you want, in Old Bagan