best starting and ending point in Myanmar?
 

I haven't done my planning yet but I'm looking into flights from NYC. Should I book both in and out of Yangon? Mandalay??

It makes the most sense to fly into one city and out of the other. Note that Yangon has many more options for flights than Mandalay does. Also, many flights to/from Mandalay are not every day.

The usual gateway to Myanmar is Bangkok, though there are now other options. Note that if you are going via Bangkok, you will fly into Bangkok via the new airport, BKK. Thai Air and Bangkok Air, for instance, fly to Myanmar from BKK. Air Asia flies from the old airport, Don Muang (DMD). You should allow several hours if you need to transfer airports.

If you are going to Mrauk U, then I would fly into Mandalay and out of Yangon, or just fly in and out of Yangon. You need to transit Yangon to get to Mrauk U from anywhere, so deciding on whether or not to go to Mrauk U would make the decision easy. In my opinion (and I know Kathie's as well) , you should definitely go to Mrauk U. It is an amazing place. It was my Myanmar trip highlight and the one place I would go back to in Myanmar in a minute.

I flew in and out of Yangon. Yangon-->inle Lake-->Mandalay-->Bagan--> Mrauk U (via connect in Yangon)-->Yangon.

Boston is quite right, we need to know more about how much time you have and where eye re going to be truly helpful. For most people on a first trip visiting the "big 4", into one city and out of the other makes the most sense. If you re going somewhere like Mrauk U, that changes things.

Boston, you may be interested to know that we are headed back to Burma in November to do a Pandaw cruise on the Chidwin River. We'll be flying into Mandalay, spending three nights there before we are picked up and driven to Monywa to start the cruise. We will be flown back from Homalin to Yangon where we will spend another three nights. Can't wait!

If you are planning to go to Mrauk U then fly into Yangon then to Sittwe for Mrauk U and then To Yangon. Work North to Heho for Inle, then Bagan then fly out of Mandalay.
If you sre not doing Mrauk U then maybe fly into Mandalay and work South ending up in Yangon-saves backtracking
SS

Oh Kathie, I'm s jealous of your trip on the Chidwin. Two friends have recently done that trip. It's really special. You will enjoy seeing the images of Franc Leclerc from her journey. Her images are simply magnificent and will help you envision your journey before you go.

OXCARTS AND MORE IN RURAL MYANMAR:
http://franceleclerc.com/2014/04/13/...rural-myanmar/

IN THE MIDST OF A MIST IN MYANMAR.
http://franceleclerc.com/2014/03/23/...st-in-myanmar/

Have fun!

Thanks for sharing France's photos, Boston, they are lovely. We are very excited about this trip. We aren't going into Nagaland, though Pandaw now offers such a trip. Maybe next year!

Oops! Autocorrect strikes again. That should be Franc's photos...