Related Burma Favorites Tips

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Favorite thing: Best exchangerates are for US $ in Yangoon
Only use US $ witch look freshly printed, no stains, no wrinkles etc.!!!
THIS MIGHT BE CHANGING SOON
Myanmar is a quite safe and very cheap country. If you prefer to stay in expensive Hotels, you should be able to use you creditcard there, and probably also for booking planes.
Hotels (some Hotels can be payed also with Kyat, sometimes correct exchange rate, somtimes with a small loss), Trains, some Boats and entrancefees for monasteries etc. have to be payed in $, the rest in Kyat, witch you change best in Yangon at the market (in a shop, not in the street!! new crisp $100 bills for best rates)
For security have some money (~$50-100 brings you back to yangon and some day´s to get things sorted out) hidden in you luggage, and some money ($, not Kyat) in a moneybelt.

Favorite thing: Ok I can answer this question. If you like your wine and we DO!! what we did is wrap 2 bottles each in the bubble wrap and packed it in our hand luggage. There is plenty of beer and spirits available but we found wine not so much...the only place where we were able to get a reasonable glass of wine was in the Sedona hotel in Mandalay. Perhaps the same applies to the Sedona in Yangon which we did not stay in. Maybe Sandra can answer this one. Would strongly recommend you also go to the Strand on a Friday night..see my tips. Hopefully, they still have Happy Hour on a Friday night.

Favorite thing: Mingalarbar and have a great time in Burma..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_of_Burma
Two airlines are flying since 2010.. Asian Wings with their two ATRs and Air KBZ which I think is related to a bank of similar name..
I have always wondered why none of the private airlines fly to Mawlamayne, whereas they all duplicate the same other routes. Myanma Airways (take your chance) flies to Mawlamayne but I would take the train instead.
I was supposed to fly to Rangoon on 19th, Paris to Bangkok on Thai continuing on to Rangoon. U Kyaw advised that it would be better to come in April as the hotel situation is less than optimal and things may be difficult. Definitely the prices of hotels have gone up from my visit a few months ago.
Please find U Kyaw, he is definitely worth knowing and is extremely helpful. More like a friend than a travel consultant.

so I thought to myself, If I cant have Rangoon, I will try and visit Salalah!

Favorite thing: Here ya go:
From the Burma Embasy site ,Canberra:
TOURIST VISA
Tourist visa application requirements

All Myanmar tourist visa are issued for a stay of up to 28 days and are valid for entry into the country within three months from the date of issue. Applicants can apply as independent travelers or be on booked package tours.

PAYMENT OF VISA FEES MAY BE MADE BY CASH, MONEY ORDER, BANK CHEQUE OR COMPANY CHEQUE (PAYABLE TO EMBASSY OF MYANMAR). NO PERSONAL CHEQUES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. IF MORE THAN ONE APPLICANT, PAYMENT CAN BE COMBINED IN ONE CHEQUE/MONEY ORDER.

REQUIREMENTS OT BE SENT TO EMBASSY(Per applicant)

1.Passport with at least six months validity and blank page for visa
2.ONE tourist visa application form
3.TWO recent passport size colour photographs
4.Departure date from Australia(or home country if not resident in Australia)
5.Dates of entry into and departure from Myanmar
6.Visa fee A$ 35.00 per person
7.Business hours contact phone number (in Australia or home country)

8.Self-addressed pre-paid envelope or courier satchel large enough to hold all passport, for safe return, i.e. Registered Post, Platinum Express (ordinary postage is not acceptable)

9.Confirmation of pre-paid package tour (if applicable)
Visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Myanmar. Sufficient time must be given for the issuance of visas and it is advised that applications should be sent at least four weeks prior to departure from Australia. If instructions are not followed in full, visa issuance will be delayed.

It is recommended that you take US dollars or Euros to cover expanses in Myanmar. Credit cards are not usually accepted at this time.

Or go here for more embassy info:
http://myanmarembassycanberra.info/?page_id=93

Favorite thing: Mingalarbar. First of all you would need the help of a travel agent based in Yangon to get you visa on arrival at Yangon airport.
Visa on arrival was instituted and then rescinded. but Visa available on arrival organized by travel agent MAY still be available. I am hoping that Mr Kyaw who is a regular at these forums sees this post and gives you an answer.
Less than one month ago I flew on MAI from Siem Reap to Yangon and it was visa on arrival but ONLY for that flight!
Tell your friends that currently any USD note with any mark or blemish will get a much lower rate of exchange. crisp notes with no central folding is what is preferred.
The visa situation in Burma /Myanmar is always fluid and only someone based in Yangon can give you the latest information.
good Luck and thank you for inviting all your friends to visit Myanmar, the friendliest people in all of Asia

Favorite thing: After reading through this forum I feel that I need to write my thoughts concerning tourism in Myanmar/Burma. I was born in Yangon/Rangoon and spent half of my life there before leaving the country. I still go there on visits at least once a year. In fact, I am going there again on 30th May to visit old friends and relatives.
Myanmar is unique in the sense that it has kept its culture and traditions intact, unlike neighboring countries where just about everything is geared for the tourist trade. For one thing, the government does not really encourage tourism so it is the least visited among all the countries in the region. Which can be an advantage for the tourist who wants to experience a place where people are genuinely friendly and hospitable to foreigners.
Although there are four and five star luxury hotels, do not expect to find hi-tech modern conveniences there. For me this adds to the charm of this magical and mysterious land. Having been to over 30 different countries, (and lived in several) I have grown tired of all the tourist traps which are abound everywhere.
In short, if you are the adventurous type and want to go back in time to the good old days, travel on the road to Mandalay in magnificent Myanmar!
PS. You can apply for a tourist visa anywhere where there is a Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. If you go in person it takes only 2 days.

Fondest memory: Being a native of Burma, first and foremost I miss my old friends and relatives of course. My best memories are of travels around the country, the beautiful scenery in the rural areas, the unspoilt beaches and the warmth of the people. The great Shwedagon in Rangoon which should be the 8th wonder of the world! I am still mesmerized by this centuries old pagoda everytime I see it.

Favorite thing: As for getting a visa it is really easy. We applied for ours in Bangkok, Thailand. We got to the Embassy before it opened. You can get a from down the road (look out for the yellow sign that says fax and photocopy). Do not use the forms that are available online as they are incomplete. You will need a photocopy of your passport, your passport, two passport photos and 810B. We collected our passport and visa a few days later. What isn't clear is how the visa works when you apply, but we know how it works now. Depending on where you apply, you will either get one month or up to 3 months in which you have to enter the country. The date is from when you applied. Once you enter the country you get 28 days in Myanmar.

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Favorite thing: At the moment you can get a tourist visa at the Embassy of Myanmar in 2 working days for 810 Baht, express visa on the same day for 200 more.
You need 2 pictures with white background ! and a copy of your passport.
Entrance for visa is at Thanon Pan near Sathon Nuea.
There is a copy and picture shop (a bit more expensive) a 50 meter towards Silom oad.
Get there with bus nr. 15 from Khao San, or with skytrain from Sukhumvit.