Hi!

I have not written to the guide yet; I plan to do so once I return to my home, and my travel notes, next week. But the hotel prices sound in line with those I received from the travel agent that I decided to work with--Sonny--recommended by a Burma "expert" on this forum, Gloria. After I began corresponding with him, I also had a few e-mails with Santa MAria and would have no hesitation using them--prices from each agent were not far from each other. I did have them break down the items line by line, but I am not sure that it is really necessary at this juncture, for you.

I have emailed [email protected] twice and have not had a reply. Emailed Santa Maria and while they came back immediately they were not able to get the hotels we wanted so didn't pursue it any further. At this point unless I hear from moe tomorrow I think we'll just go with the quote we have from Good News, even if the price for Kakku is way too high, since everything is confirmed.

Can you tell us where you changed money? Can we change about $10.00 at the airport just to pay the cab to the Savoy or do the drivers accept dollars?

The driver will accept dollars. Don't change money at the airport. Scott's Market is the best place, but anywhere in Rangoon will be better than the airport to change money. The airport uses the "official" rate of 6.5 kyats to the dollar rather than the rate you'll get elsewhere, something like 1000 to the dollar. Make sure that all of the US currency you bring is absolutely pristine. You won't want to change a lot of money. Much of the time you'll use IUS dollars.

I plan to change US$100 into kyat for two of us for a 10 day stay.

I plan to ask my Inle hotel (Inle Lake View) for a quote for a driver for a day to Kakku. It can't be worse than the quote from that agent.

Just to double check, if we need to pay the agent in US dollars, we should plan to bring the entire amount, plus some for extras (shopping, meals while in hotels, etc) in cash, new bills? And declare it all upon arrival?

The first time I was in Burma, obviously long ago, we were instructed to bring a bottle of Johnny Walker Black and a carton of 555 cigs; we exchanged these at the airport in Rangoon and that was all of the money we needed for the length of our stay. Too bad I did not write a trip report--I would be just finishing up the editing and getting ready to post by now.

Eks, you only need to declare the amount of cash you have as you enter Burma if it is more than US$3000 per person. And yes, all of the money must be perfect bills.

lol about your trip report, Eks. I have a friend to went to Burma at that time. He waited until he got to the hotel to trade his and had enough money to shop to his heart's content. BTW, I notice that despite all of Gpanda's threats about penalties, you were the most quoted poster in the new Fodor's Thailand book.

This information might be handy since you're both visiting Thailand first - Thai Baht is widely accepted in Myanmar so there's no need to convert the Baht back into the USD.

Thanks for the info, Hanuman. What kinds of places are likely to accept Thai baht? And would we be getting good value for the baht?

Kathie: You must be joking!? I did get an e-mail from them about being quoted..I cannot imagine what quotes they used!!(??) Wait until Panda sees this!! (What's black and white and green all over?)

Agent Hanuman: Yet another good tip. Yet another notation in your file.

Eks, I'm not joking. I was quoted two or three times, but I don't hold a candle to you! You are entitled to a free Fodors guidebook. You can ask for the Thailand book and see what you had to say.

Kathie,

From my own experiences anywhere that accept the USD for exchange will exchange Baht as well. The merchants seem to like the Baht as they buy a lot of goods from Thailand and for them they will not have to convert the currency, from USD to Baht etc.

Ok, thanks. We always get some baht on arrival at BKK as well as bringing back what we had left from last trip, so we'll have some to take to Burma with us.

So it takes a year to find the exact bon mot? Of course she was quoted, it took her forever to write her report. Even Bob would get quoted if he took that long.

Andy, you're just jealous because you didn't get quoted!

Of course, i'm jealous. It doesn't mean I'm not right!

lol, so true, Gpanda!

EKS I have the book and will happily show you when we meet.

(Ignoring green-at-the-gills furry thing):

Thanks! I am not going to ask for the Thailand guide because I have one from last year. So I would love to read the no-doubt eloquent phrases. I have not yet decided on another guide...it takes me forever to decide. You should see me with a restaurant menu!

Pandas do not get green. Ever! In my defense, I note that I was quoted in a previous Fodors guide. Of course, that was a timely report!

We've seen you with a menu. Not a pretty sight. Let's see. The trip report took a year to write. How long will it take her to choose a guide? Maybe she can spend her time on the two week Pandaw cruise deciding.

Bring your currency in perfect US dollars cash .... Baht can be exchanged in a few places but at a much inferior rate. Remember ... no Travellers Cheques, plastic or ATMs. If you have more than $2000 cash on arrival you should fill in a declaration form - it just means that should you still have lots of cash on departure you can take it out again! All fees to Travel Agents must be settled in US$.

$45 for an airport transfer in Yangon!! Do you get a military escort included?

Moving along here with the planning, I just received a "final" plan from the local agent. This plan call for a visit to Scott's Market in Yangon on Sunday. I just wanted to check here because I thought that I had remembered reading that this market was not open on Sundays! (travel agent says they are closed on Mondays, not Sundays)