Places to Stay - Top End

The small Surma Valley Rest House (t. 712670) in the town centre on Shah Jalal Rd, above a modern department store, has 12 units with rooms for Tk 1200/1100 with air-con (Tk 900/800 with fans). Rooms, which are modern, large and truly first-rate, have satellite TVs, telephones, minibars, comfortable chairs, big beds and tile bathrooms.

The modern Hotel Polash (t. 718811, 718309), on Airport Rd, has a travel agency and one of the city's best restaurants. The hotel is well-run and comfortable, with large airy rooms. It has air-con rooms with TV for Tk 650 to Tk 750/Tk 850 to Tk 1000, including breakfast, plus 15% Value Added Tax (VAT). It also has rooms with fans for Tk 400/550, and more economical units for Tk 200/300 and Tk 300/400.

The Hotel Holy Side (t. 722278. fax 722279), close to Shah Jalal's shrine, is a new multistorey hotel; all rooms have air-con, hot water and satellite TV. Singles cost Tk 650 and Tk 850 while doubles range from Tk 800 to Tk 1700. There's also a restaurant here.

The Parjatan Motel (t. 712426) is spacious and modern, but it's well out of town on a hill just south of the airport and is thus quite isolated. It has rooms with fan for Tk 500, rooms with air-con and TV for Tk 1000 and a decent but un-atmospheric restaurant. It can also arrange car rentals.

Best of all is the lovely Laakatoorah Tea Gardens Guest House (t. 712600). Located just north of town in the Laakatoorah tea estate, it has two large nicely furnished guest rooms with air-con (Tk 450 a room). You can reserve by calling the manager's office (t. 716016). It features a front porch with wicker furnishings, a comfortable living room with sofas, TV and library, and a dining room where you can eat fairly cheaply.