Burma at Last!
Jun 24th, 2011, 10:21 AM
#101
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Internet access in Burma is sporadic. If you don't hear back from Min Thu in a couple of days, try again. He and I have been in recent contact about our upcoming return trip to Burma in November.
We have just firmed up all of our reservations with Santa Maria. I'm glad you found them as responsive as we did.
Enjoy Burma!
We have just firmed up all of our reservations with Santa Maria. I'm glad you found them as responsive as we did.
Enjoy Burma!
Jun 24th, 2011, 11:16 AM
#102
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I hope he isn't already booked the dates I need him. Hey - does Santa Maria require a credit card to hold the reservations? He hasn't asked for anything yet...just wondered how all that works? He is just finalizing all the rooms etc right now.
Also - does 260.00 per person sound right for the balloon ride in Bagan? I dont believe I saw a price in your write up. We are copying you and staying at the suite at the Hotel Tharbar Gate. It looked nice on the web
Also - does 260.00 per person sound right for the balloon ride in Bagan? I dont believe I saw a price in your write up. We are copying you and staying at the suite at the Hotel Tharbar Gate. It looked nice on the web
Jun 24th, 2011, 12:10 PM
#103
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No credit cards in Burma. Once everything is finalized, Santa Maria will ask you to do a wire transfer to a bank in Bangkok. You'll pay the balance upon arrival in Yangon in crisp, unmarked US dollars.
Yes, that price sounds right. We saved a significant amount by booking through Santa Maria. Of course, we saved even more because our flights were cancelled - lol.
Yes, that price sounds right. We saved a significant amount by booking through Santa Maria. Of course, we saved even more because our flights were cancelled - lol.
Jun 26th, 2011, 06:18 AM
#104
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$30 a day for horsecart and guide was the going rate in 2009 in Bagan
$260 for the balloon ride seems right. I think mine was a little more, but don't remember.
I never did a wire transfer, paid Santa Maria when I arrived in Yangon.
Enjoy your trip.
$260 for the balloon ride seems right. I think mine was a little more, but don't remember.
I never did a wire transfer, paid Santa Maria when I arrived in Yangon.
Enjoy your trip.
Jun 26th, 2011, 08:21 AM
#105
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Nywoman, Santa Maria started the wire transfer deposit the year after you and I went there.
We paid Min Thu $17 a day in 2009, but I'm sure it has gone up since then, especially since the dollar has fallen so dramatically against the kyat.
We paid Min Thu $17 a day in 2009, but I'm sure it has gone up since then, especially since the dollar has fallen so dramatically against the kyat.
Jun 27th, 2011, 06:17 PM
#107
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Thanks to all of you - heard from Min Thu - all is scheduled. Kathie we also ran into hotels being booked in January - were able to work around it.
Min Thu has offered up securing a taxi service from the airport in Bagan to the hotel. Not sure that is necessary - but happy to give him the biz. Any thoughts?
Min Thu has offered up securing a taxi service from the airport in Bagan to the hotel. Not sure that is necessary - but happy to give him the biz. Any thoughts?
Jun 27th, 2011, 06:34 PM
#108
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I'm glad you got all of your arrangements worked out. And I'm especially glad you were able to engage Min Thu. It isn't necessary to have airport pickup, but nice to have. Min Thu will pick us up in November when we are there. His price is the same as a taxi price.
I was surprised that hotels were booked, but I guess it's the impact of the release of ASSK.
I'll be interested to hear all about it when you get back!
I was surprised that hotels were booked, but I guess it's the impact of the release of ASSK.
I'll be interested to hear all about it when you get back!
Aug 26th, 2011, 06:01 AM
#109
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Hi Kathie
I am finalizing my trip and have gotten some quotes on transportation and such within Burma. Some of it sounds high...but curious what you think. I have just copied it from Zaws email.
1. Airport pick up service USD30
Yangon full day tour within the city USD60
2. Airport transfer from Mandalay airport to hotel USD30
3. If you do Mingun tour in the morning, there is sufficent time to visit a few places in Mandalay including Mahamuni Pagoda and to catch the sunset at U Bein
bridge in the evening. Otherwise, it is not possible to do both. Private boat to and from Mingun village USD50
4. Airport transfer from Mandalay hotel to the airport USD30
5. Airport transfer from Heho to Nyaungshwe boat jetty USD57
6. On 22 Jan, you are suggested to do normal boat tour on Inle lake (Without Inn Dein village) including floating gardens, Jumping cat monastery, Golden Buddha
and other highlights. Innn Dein village and five-day market is a suggestion on 23rd Jan. If you want to do some hiking on the morning of 24th Jan, you can ask
hotel reception when you check in. Actually there is no enough time to do hiking. I suggest you relax on the morning of 24th Jan.
Boat rental for normal tour USD40 / Five-day market visit plus Inn Dein village USD50
Boat transfer between Nyaungshwe jetty to hotel USD20 per way
7. From Nyaungshwe jetty to Heho airport USD57
8. Yangon airport to Strand Hotel USD30
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am finalizing my trip and have gotten some quotes on transportation and such within Burma. Some of it sounds high...but curious what you think. I have just copied it from Zaws email.
1. Airport pick up service USD30
Yangon full day tour within the city USD60
2. Airport transfer from Mandalay airport to hotel USD30
3. If you do Mingun tour in the morning, there is sufficent time to visit a few places in Mandalay including Mahamuni Pagoda and to catch the sunset at U Bein
bridge in the evening. Otherwise, it is not possible to do both. Private boat to and from Mingun village USD50
4. Airport transfer from Mandalay hotel to the airport USD30
5. Airport transfer from Heho to Nyaungshwe boat jetty USD57
6. On 22 Jan, you are suggested to do normal boat tour on Inle lake (Without Inn Dein village) including floating gardens, Jumping cat monastery, Golden Buddha
and other highlights. Innn Dein village and five-day market is a suggestion on 23rd Jan. If you want to do some hiking on the morning of 24th Jan, you can ask
hotel reception when you check in. Actually there is no enough time to do hiking. I suggest you relax on the morning of 24th Jan.
Boat rental for normal tour USD40 / Five-day market visit plus Inn Dein village USD50
Boat transfer between Nyaungshwe jetty to hotel USD20 per way
7. From Nyaungshwe jetty to Heho airport USD57
8. Yangon airport to Strand Hotel USD30
Thanks in advance for your help!
Aug 26th, 2011, 07:30 AM
#110
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The airport transfers that make sense to book IMO are in Mandalay and Inle. In both cases, the drive to/from the airport is an hour or more. We had our hotel book our transfer from the hotel to HeHo, and it was more money in Nov 2009 than Zaw's quote.
In Yangon, I see no reason to have an airport transfer as it is $7-10 getting a taxi in the taxi "line" inside the airport. Easy to do, not confusing and (remarkably) no scams. If you want a tour in Yangon, that's fine, but we didn't do it. You can use taxis to get you from place to place and it will be much less. Within Yangon, I see no need for a car and driver, but some people like to have it.
The trip to Mingun and U Bein sounds about right in terms of price. You certainly could get a taxi in Mandalay to do it for less, but for longer drives, I prefer a good car.
We had our hotel arrange our boat at Inle, and it's less than Zaw's prices, I think $25 a day. There is no need to use Zaw to get your boat and boatman at Inle. Are you staying somewhere that you need a boat transfer from Nyaugshwe? All travel agents will offer a boat transfer at Inle even if it is not necessary, as some people like the "romance" of arriving at their hotel via boat. Of course, there are hotels that do require a boat transfer. If your hotel requires a boat transfer, I'd let the hotel set it up. Also, I wouldn't do a "normal" tour of Inle, as it consists mostly of workshops and shopping. Read about the places, choose where you want to go. The highlight was the trip to the southern part of the lake, which will cost more and requires permit payment to the Pa O and a Pa O guide.
Have a wonderful time!
In Yangon, I see no reason to have an airport transfer as it is $7-10 getting a taxi in the taxi "line" inside the airport. Easy to do, not confusing and (remarkably) no scams. If you want a tour in Yangon, that's fine, but we didn't do it. You can use taxis to get you from place to place and it will be much less. Within Yangon, I see no need for a car and driver, but some people like to have it.
The trip to Mingun and U Bein sounds about right in terms of price. You certainly could get a taxi in Mandalay to do it for less, but for longer drives, I prefer a good car.
We had our hotel arrange our boat at Inle, and it's less than Zaw's prices, I think $25 a day. There is no need to use Zaw to get your boat and boatman at Inle. Are you staying somewhere that you need a boat transfer from Nyaugshwe? All travel agents will offer a boat transfer at Inle even if it is not necessary, as some people like the "romance" of arriving at their hotel via boat. Of course, there are hotels that do require a boat transfer. If your hotel requires a boat transfer, I'd let the hotel set it up. Also, I wouldn't do a "normal" tour of Inle, as it consists mostly of workshops and shopping. Read about the places, choose where you want to go. The highlight was the trip to the southern part of the lake, which will cost more and requires permit payment to the Pa O and a Pa O guide.
Have a wonderful time!
Aug 29th, 2011, 04:14 AM
#111
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Kathie you are soooooo helpful. We are staying at the Inle Princess Resort -does that require the boat transfer?
We land in Heho at 9:10 am on 1/22...then leave at 2:55 PM on 1/24. Do you think that allows enought time to do the southern part? Originally we had planned to do that..but decided we didnt have enough time. We want to see the stuff listed above on 1/22...but his other ideas for that day are a silk weaving place, blacksmith and cheroot making...none of which interest me. Would it be too much to do what is listed...as well as Indein and 5 day market all on 1/22? then southern part on 1/23?
We land in Heho at 9:10 am on 1/22...then leave at 2:55 PM on 1/24. Do you think that allows enought time to do the southern part? Originally we had planned to do that..but decided we didnt have enough time. We want to see the stuff listed above on 1/22...but his other ideas for that day are a silk weaving place, blacksmith and cheroot making...none of which interest me. Would it be too much to do what is listed...as well as Indein and 5 day market all on 1/22? then southern part on 1/23?
Aug 29th, 2011, 04:23 AM
#112
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I'm not Kathie but the answer is yes a boat transfer is necessary for staying at the Inle Princess. About 30 minutes through the canal then the lake and then another canal.
All the places you've mentioned like the weaving, cheroot factory etc. are all tourist traps. I would spend the time at a morning market and Indien temple instead.
All the places you've mentioned like the weaving, cheroot factory etc. are all tourist traps. I would spend the time at a morning market and Indien temple instead.
Aug 29th, 2011, 06:58 AM
#113
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Hanuman is quite correct, of course. He and his family stayed at the Princess. Hanuman, did your travel agent arrange the boat transfer or did the hotel arrange it? And I'm assuming that the Princess arranged your boat and boatman, correct?
chichi, you'll have half a day on the lake on 1/22 and half a day on the lake on 1/24, as well as a full day on 1/23. Here is what I'd recommend: After settling in at the Princess, get out on the lake on 1/22 and visit some of the places that interest you: we liked the Golden Boats temple, we even stopped at the Jumping Cat monastery to see their beautiful collection of old Buddha images, and had a fascinating talk with one of the monks who had just listened to Obama'd ASEAN speech on the BBC that morning. The five-day market rotates through 5 different places. The one I would avoid - even on a non 5-day market - is the floating market. What a zoo! If you love markets, you could even get to two different ones - one on 1/22 and one on 1/24. I would go to the southern part of the lake, Sankar, on 1/23. Get out on the lake at dawn, and plan to go to InDien on 1/24. If you get there early, you'll have the place to yourselves.
I'm very interested in textiles, so we did go to the silk weaving shop. The extraction of lotus fiber and the making of textiles from it was fascinating. I've never seen this anywhere else in my 25 years or so of SE Asian travel. This was the only workshop we visited.
chichi, you'll have half a day on the lake on 1/22 and half a day on the lake on 1/24, as well as a full day on 1/23. Here is what I'd recommend: After settling in at the Princess, get out on the lake on 1/22 and visit some of the places that interest you: we liked the Golden Boats temple, we even stopped at the Jumping Cat monastery to see their beautiful collection of old Buddha images, and had a fascinating talk with one of the monks who had just listened to Obama'd ASEAN speech on the BBC that morning. The five-day market rotates through 5 different places. The one I would avoid - even on a non 5-day market - is the floating market. What a zoo! If you love markets, you could even get to two different ones - one on 1/22 and one on 1/24. I would go to the southern part of the lake, Sankar, on 1/23. Get out on the lake at dawn, and plan to go to InDien on 1/24. If you get there early, you'll have the place to yourselves.
I'm very interested in textiles, so we did go to the silk weaving shop. The extraction of lotus fiber and the making of textiles from it was fascinating. I've never seen this anywhere else in my 25 years or so of SE Asian travel. This was the only workshop we visited.
Aug 29th, 2011, 07:13 AM
#114
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Kathie and Chichi,
Yes I informed the Inle Princess of our arrival time at the airport and they arranged for a taxi to pick us up. Once at the dock the boatman will be waiting for you and he will be your boatman until you leave.
Enjoy your trip!
Yes I informed the Inle Princess of our arrival time at the airport and they arranged for a taxi to pick us up. Once at the dock the boatman will be waiting for you and he will be your boatman until you leave.
Enjoy your trip!
