How to carry money so it doesn't get creased etc.
 

What is the best way to carry US$ so that they don't get creased etc. I have always carried my money and passport in a pouch that attaches to my belt, so that the pouch is under the pocket of my pants. However, this does result in a crease (in both passport and money) from when I sit. I gather that the kyat is in pretty bad shape anyway so that I wouldn't need to worry about that, just concerned about the $US.

Iron it first. Try starch.

I have a long wallet that keeps currency flat. In Burma, you could carry it in an envelope in an outside pocket and it would be safe! Many people do put it in an envelope with a cardboard backing to keep it uncreased. When I'm out touring, I use a waist pack that is just large enough to carry US currency flat. I have one pocket for clean, crisp US currency only.

We'll spend a few days in Bangkok before we go to Burma, and we'll keep our Burma money in our hotel safe during that time, then take it out and put it into my wallet to carry to Burma. We'll pay most of our money to our agent on arrival in Yangon, so we won't have all that much US cash to carry around in Burma.

While the starch idea sounds messy, I do know of people who have ironed their US$100 bills - carefully, on low heat.

I used to know someone who ironed money.

Now, I have to ask. Is there a reason to want to keep it crease free? Or are one of you just my old friend? :)

In Burma, creased US currency cannot be exchanged for kyat or spent for hotels, transport, or admission fees. I know it sounds crazy, but it is true.

Yes - if you have a crease in a US bill in Myanmar it will be rejected by everyone. I've had almost pristine notes returned with a shy smile and a finger pointed at the minute crease. Kyat on the other hand are a different story ....

I used an envelope with a piece of cardboard each side of the $100 bills. I kept this in a long document wallet in my backpack. While you may not want to keep valuable documents in a backpack mine also contained a 5D Mk2 which is not a terribly cheap toy. I found Myanmar to be a very safe country.

You could get a neck pouch for your passport and cash. You can get one that has a pocket for the passport and another pocket for holding boarding passes and/or paper airline tickets (if they still exist). Just put the cash in the boarding pass pocket - long enough for currency. Should be wide enough for any paper currency considering that the thing is wide enough for a passport. This might work, but I haven't done it.

Actually, I have done it. I have one pouch that has a slot on the front for the passport and another for boarding passes. On the back is a zippered pocket for cash.

i kept it in an envelope and carried it in my carry on and then put it in the hotel safe until i got to burma

Thank you for explaining that to me. Maybe a little starch might work. Try it on a dollar and carry it around for a while. I'm tempted to try it myself.

If you decide to starch your dollars, LSky, let us know how it works!

ricksteves.com has a wonderful money belt that

keeps my USD flat and new with no tears even small tears.

This is a very big deal in some countries I have been to.

Moneychangers/banks/merchants do not take torn or worn USD

Usually carry $20 not $50 or $100 too much counterfeit.

You always get the best exchange rate for US$100 bills worldwide, in my experience. For Burma, take everything you plan to change to kyat in $100 bills (no CB series as that is the series that has most often been counterfeited). And, of course, if you owe your travel agent thousands, like we do, you'll want to take all of that in $100s. Also take a variety of smaller bills so you can pay everything in exact change, as you'll need US dollars for transport (other than taxis), lodging, meals in hotels, and all admission fees.

Just to be clear, by "no CB series" I think you mean no old small-face bills; take the newer big-face bills. I don't accept the small-faced bills from cashiers anymore.

Kathie-Can I not pay for hotel meals and boat transport at Inle with kyats. I was planning to change most of my dollars into kyats in Yangon on our first day so I would not have to worry about keeping the US bills in uncreased condition.

Shelly, hotel meals you'll need dollars. Some places might be willing to take kyat, but not necessarily at a good rate. Boats at Inle will take kyat, no problem. And Min Thu will take kyat for the horsecart/guide services. But you'll need dollars for admission fees (there is an admission fee to the Inle are, to the Bagan archaeological zone, etc. You will find that you spend more in dollars than in kyat, so don't exchange too much as you can't change it back.

i used my odd kyat to pay part of my last hotel bill...

our guide did most of our money exchange for us and we got a fab rate...

Bob, that was back in the really old days when the dollar was strong!

Hotels and guesthouses have to pay their taxes in dollars, so are reluctant to take kyat in payment. The financial system in Burma is both complex and bizarre.

kathie, i am the old days...

I have ironed bills before and especially back in the days when I used to travel to Africa in the early 80s and other more recent times to Africa. Each time that I travel, I don't leave home unless the bills are perfect.

I remember putting a piece of baking paper (NOT wax paper) over the bills and then ironing on top of the baking paper in order to not possibly scorch them which is the same way that I iron silk. In a lot of countries that I've been to bills have had to be in perfect condition. Every time I go to the bank, before leaving for a trip, I check each bill that the teller gives me. Happy Travels!