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Myanmar (Burma)/Currency and payment
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Question
Hi,
We are planning to visit Myanmar in November, flying from/to Bangkok. We have one more practical question regarding money: what currency should we bring to get our payments done? We live in Belgium so Euro's would be convenient but I don't know they are accepted? Are there any other possibilities to get cash like ATM, visa, ... ?
Thanks in advance,
Guy
Sorry to tell you this, Guy, but USA dollars are the non-official Myanmar currency. They must be new bills in near-perfect shape, not even creased much in the middle. $50 and $100 notes are best, and I'd bring many small bills, too. It's approx 1300 kyat to the dollar, and you'll need kyat to eat local, for little transport, etc. Hotels, train and plane tickets are mostly in dollars. Bet on not being able to use any credit cards, and DEFINITELY not any atms. Even traveler's checks are difficult to cash (at a bad exchange, mostly only in Yangon). You can use atms in Bangkok, but then you'll get baht for them (for use just in Bangkok). It used to be that the exchange on atms/credit cards was pretty good in Bangkok, but now that many of the banks in Europe/USA charge an extra fee for you to use your atm card or credit card internationally, they're generally not as good an exchange.
Have fun!
Nancy B
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Nancy B
Expertise
One of my all-time favorites. I`ve been there more than 10 times (for at least a month each time), done the tourist loop five times and travelled to several permit-only areas. Aside from the Yangon, Bago, Inle, Kalaw, Mandalay, Pagan, Pyay route, I`ve travelled twice to Sittwe, Mrauk-U and the Chin areas and then down to Ramree Island, Ngapali and Pathein. Been on the wonderful boat from Bhamo to Mandalay and sojourned in the south a bit past Moulmein. Most recently I trekked in the northern Kachin state, camped and stayed with the Rawang tribe, for 2 weeks on the way to Phonekan Razi to see the Himalayas from the east. I`ve taken nearly every mode of transport--trains, planes, buses, boats, bikes, oxcarts, trekking on foot. I can answer logistical questions about airfare, hotels, restaurants, trekking, trains, restricted/open areas and, especially, cultural/religious sites and their significance.
Experience
The world is a fascinating place and nothing reveals this more thoroughly than exploring faraway lands. I've got a penchant for the exotic, a friendly face and a true curiousity about the people, art and life.
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