Money (and cards) in Myanmar
 

Hi all,

Heading out to Myanmar in just over 2 weeks (eeep!) and wanting to clarify with those who may have been there more recently than the guidebooks were written ;)

I'm planning on taking brand new $100USD bills, but am worried I may 1)run out if I don't bring enough or 2) having too much cash on me, makes me a tad uncomfortable (I never have more than $20 on me at home, I'm 100% credit cards)

I'll be sticking to Yangon/Mandalay/Inle/Bagan, with only 3-4 nights out of the main cities- so ATMs should be somewhat easy to come by, correct? Will the exchange rate be horrible? (I know in the past the rate at the airport was atrocious, but it's no longer like this?)
Where CAN I use credit cards? My research is telling me I'll only be able to use them at high-end souvenir shops- is this still the case?

Thanks!

(And yes, I know I'm going at a super-hot time of year, but it was 'go now or wait to go anywhere for 6-7 months', so going now!)

Myanmar is perhaps the safest place I've ever traveled. I'm also someone who doesn't normally carry much cash, but carried thousands in with me last trip.

You want to exchange money at official bank exchanges as they now have the best exchange rates. You can find official bank exchanges at the airports and in downtown Yangon and Mandalay. (I know, this is exactly the opposite of what it was years ago!) Avoid black-market exchanges as this is the one place you may get ripped off (mostly by double-counting). Exchanging informally at hotels, shops, etc will generally get you a lower rate, though often not a terrible rate.

Credit cards are being accepted in more places, mostly hotels, some expensive restaurants (there aren't many in the whole country!) and some high-end shops. Often you have to pay extra to use a credit card.

Have a wonderful trip! Burma is a favorite of ours.

Thanks Kathie! Yes, I was reading a guide book from 2008(?) and thankfully got the 2014 updated edition as well- the old book essentially said "black market only"- good to know this has changed!

Nice to hear you felt safe enough to carry that amount of cash- that's helpful for me!

One question I forgot- is Burma similar to Cambodia in that taxis/tips/markets prefer small currency USD to the local currency? I'd like to be more prepared with singles and $5's this time around if so!

They have ATMs in Myanmar now? Wow, things have really changed.

Yup, thursdays, there are now ATMs in Myanmar! Amazing changes in such a short time.

No, Burma is different from Cambodia in terms of US cash. Locals want the local currency - kyat (pronounced "chat"). While foreign currency isn't the problem it used to be for locals, they can't spend it. If you have nothing but US dollars, they would likely accept the dollars, but they would prefer currency they can spend.

Perfect, happy to use local currency, just wanted to be prepared if they preferred USD- thanks again Kathie!

Don't buy Lonely Planet-as usual it is so out of date.
Much better is Rough Guide to Myanmar with really up to date (ie 6 months old) info.
Most hotels now take CC's, and kyat has overtaken $ as the currency of choice.
There are 8 Banks and 3 ATM's at arrivals in Yangon and ATM's are now everywhere but with a minimum charge 0f 5000kyat. Change your unused kyat back to & at Departures.
SS

Thanks Silverswimmer! The insight on the banks and the cover up for temples on the other post I was following was super helpful!

Hey needmore,

I snuck over here to peek at your thread 'cuz I'm going to be in Myanmar same time you are. Be landing in Yangon on the 14th May, so I'm borrowing this good advice for myself. I got such a hoot out of Silverswimmer's comment about LP, I have to agree about the out of date piece. While I use LP all the time for a lot of things I always have to check the "use by" date and remember that the listed prices are meaningless for the most part. Now that I'm already here, I'm stuck with LP. Sigh. But thanks for the great tip.

So needmore, this morning was out on one fine dark bay mare on the beach in Phuket, had a stride like a racehorse. My guide was kind enough to stay back, point and say "Go," which is a great way to earn a nice tip. Rules here: canter about forty seconds, rest, rinse and repeat. Just too hot to do more. Bonita had a trot like treading water. I have three more rides to go, and I'm taking her back out on all three. The last three canters I ditched the stirrups and just enjoyed the ride. You can relate, I'm sure.

Any suggestions from Kathie, Silverswimmer, thursdaysd, etc on best souvenirs from Myanmar?

Best to all and thanks for letting me co opt for a moment. Happy travels, horsewoman. jhubbel

Sorry, I quit buying souvenirs years ago. Just photos. I do seem to remember lacquer ware for sale. Oh, and I might have bought a sarong. Wiki has a piece on traditional crafts.

The one thing I brought back from Myanmar that i like most is a graduated set of 5 wooden monks. They are lovely, beautifully carved. It was very hard to find a set that was unusual and well-crafted, even 5 years ago.

Oh, I also brought home some textiles. From Inle Lake, there is a place that weaves with lotus fiber (only place in the world I've seen that!). And I picked up some textiles from a shop in Scott's Market in Yangon (on the second floor). I'll try to find the name of the shop for you if you are interested.

JHubbel- love the update!!

Kathie- I'd love the name of the store in Yangon, as well as the one in Inle!

The store in Yangon is on the second floor of Scotts Market, Yoyamay Ethnographic Textile Gallery. The couple who owns it are very knowledgeable about textiles and we spent a long time talking with them.

At Inle Lake, In Phaw Khone is a teak stilt village on the lake. Spend some time watching the weavers and watch how they extract the lotus fiber from the stems. They also do silk weaving there. The lotus fiber scarves are fairly expensive because of how labor-intensive the fiber extraction is. But you won't find anything like this anywhere else!

You are all superb, and thanks. This is the kind of thing that most interests me. Kathie, you rock. The whole point is to find something unique, learn, and if possible, and appropriate, bring something back.

Kathie, if you can sprain your brain and think of where you found those graduated monks, I've got time to wander and look. My dear potter friend Jill, who put her kids through college and funded a mortgage or two with her work (and that's RARE for a potter), commented that we increasingly have little "sit" space in our homes. As in: on tables, shelves, window sills, etc. She now makes totems that hang on walls, which are eye poppingly gorgeous, tell a story and are unique. She has a point. I have a bare spot on my wall for one of her totems, and space for a very few other things. And "souvenir" is a very loose term. I should say "treasure."

The monks sound like those Russian dolls that fit inside one another. I'm intrigued indeed. Needmore, I hope this is valuable to you, too. Kathie- one more thing- just to make you laugh in empathy. The heat index today at 8 am must have been close to 100 degrees. After riding, I got outside for maybe an hour to hit the bank and pharmacy, and am hiding out the rest of the day. Oy.

So grateful to you all. Now I am so eager to get to Myanmar, but I do have a three day side trip to Chiang Mai coming up, landing just in time for Sunday Night Walking Market.

jhubbel, the monks were very hard to find. After two trips all over the country, I finally found them in Yangon at the gift shop at the Governor's Residence. There were some small ones that were interesting in a gift shop at the Strand.

I found some mass-produced ones at Scott's Market, but frankly, I was disappointed in Scott's Market - only the textile shop was worthwhile, in my experience.

The monks are solid wood unlike the Russian Dolls, and mine have finely carved borders on their robes, highlighted with a bit of gold. They range from 14 inches high to 18 inches high. They are lined up on my fireplace mantel, backed by framed thangkas.

I do know what you mean about no space more more things. I've been traveling for so many years and bringing home little treasures, my house is full.

Kathie,
Thanks again. I almost sold my house last year, dumped about 3/4 of my belongings when I didn't, and ended up decorating instead with all the treasures from my travels. House looks like a museum- the best kind. Ecuadorean tapestries, African ankle rattles, shark jaws, Nepalese puppets. And you can stop every three inches and tell stories for an hour, right?

LIfe is good.

lol, jhubbel, so true!

Kathie,

Currently looking at the very real chance of going west and seeing the coastal area. Where did you fly in, stay, how did you get around? Thanks.

Are you trying to get to Mrauk U?

To get there, you have to fly to SIttwe. You will take a boat from there (about 5 hours). In Mrauk U you will need a driver - we had a tuk-tuk the first day - the world's most uncomfortable tuk-tuk, and a windowless jeep the second and third day. Your hotel or guesthouse can arrange it.

However, take a look at this: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w...anmar&units=us

On average, Sittwe gets 45 inches of rain in June, and July and August are even wetter. I'm not sure if you could even get there at that time of the year. Talk with a local agent and see what they say. Many things in that part of the country simply close down during the (very) rainy season.

You're right. Not the time to go. Another year.

Thanks guys! Leaving in less than a week!

Got some brand new bills to exchange, but considering getting some more... just in case... I am a big shopper and a big tipper (which is easy in SE Asia!)

Have a wonderful time.

While I gave info on my purchases, I found less to buy In Burma than elsewhere in SE Asia.

That's good for my bank account Kathie!!

Guess that just means really big tips for everyone :)

"big tipper"
One bit of advice,think first. Here are a few of my words,posted elsewhere.
Tipping in Myanmar

Tipping can be an emotive and very personal thing and attitudes and amounts vary considerably between countries, and even nationalities.

This thread is specifically about the expectations of the Burmese who work in the tourism and service industries. I have consolidated information from hotel staff and management, drivers, travel Agents,restaurants and guides.

These figures are based on tourist and business hotels and not guest houses.

Also do note that many of the better hotels, and certainly the Irrawaddy cruise ships, now have a note on your arrival suggesting that tips be left in an envelope in the Gratuities Box at reception with the option of mentioning staff who have given exceptional service.

Group tours may include all tips, but the guide may expect extra, but certainly not on the scale that he would receive from a private tour. His tip, and that of the coach drivers would normally be by way of a group envelope system.

In the main tourist areas the tip expectations of the local Burmese is as follows but please do note that in some rural areas where tipping is not the norm, a generous tip could cause some embarrassment to the recipient.

Restaurants and bars-small change from the bill up to 1000kyat
Room cleaning/housekeeping- $1 per room per night
Hotel porter-1000kyat on luggage delivery, and on departure.
Official airport porter-1000kyat
Driver per day -$5 or if exceptional $10
Private Guide-$10 or $20 if exceptional, per day

It is not normal, or expected, for taxi drivers to be tipped.
When looking at the tipping expectations of the Burmese it is useful to measure the amounts against their earnings. There is a deep concern that tipping, of amounts that may seem normal or even modest to some nationalities, could be excessive. This could distort the labour market whereby those in the tourists industry earn more than qualified professionals such as doctors and teachers. This has happened to other countries with developing tourism with doctors and lecturers becoming guides leaving a severe shortage of qualified staff, to the detriment of health and education in those countries.

Spout over, now to the figures-

Weekly earnings in Myanmar.

High School Teacher $100, Private School Teacher $250
Doctor in State Hospital $150-200
Office worker from $80
Room Cleaner (house keeping) $25 Bell Boy/Porter $30
Guide $50 a day ,maybe works 2 days, maybe 6 days-very seasonal.
Driver $15-20 a day
hope this gives some food for thought
SS

Great post, Silverswimmer. It is really unfortunate (to say the least) when Americans export their tipping culture to places it does not belong. It is a pretty sad culture to start with - I wish we could pay service people a living wage and get rid of tips altogether.

I like tipping for great service. I don't see anything wrong with that.
I leave large tips in the U.S. and elsewhere. I get it from my dad, we were staying at a private home in the DomRep that had a butler. My dad left a generous tip for the week. Freddie (yes, I remember his name 20 years later!) said "Thank you, I will be able to buy my children milk this week, we appreciate that so very much"

One small gesture can make someone's day/week/month.

Leaving a 100% tip on a $6 bill (something I've done) is not going to make everyone want to be a waiter. And $6 will mean a lot more to that person than it will to me, and yes I feel guilty leaving a small tip, like 10% on a $6 bill.

I've also been on a number of group tours that outlined that guides expect a tip, and give a guideline. I feel really horrible when people don't tip because they don't at home (Aussie's mostly IME) and the guides make a lot less than they expected. I was once on a 17 day tour in Africa when an Aussie and a Canadian decided the guide and driver would prefer a card over the recommended $10/day tip(trip organizer was out of Aussieland oddly enough!) No, they would prefer the $340 girls....just because you think they *should* make a living wage mean that they are making one!

No need to hate on Needmore because she said she likes to tip.

So, you want Aussies to follow the local custom, but you're not willing to?

I hate people who screw up other peoples' culture because they think theirs is better. What part of "when in Rome" is too hard for you?

This has been discussed ad nauseam on Fodors' forums. For a post explaining the bad effects of tipping in the wrong places, see: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...omment-9155591

No, I want people to tip when expected to. Stiffing people who work hard, in industries that are tip-based, is to me, incredibly inconsiderate. Just because you believe they *are* making a living wage does (because they do in your home country/you don't believe in tipping) it mean it's true.

I've spent a lot of time in Western Europe and know that tipping there is not as necessary- rounding up on a meal, a few $ extra for a tour guide, etc.

I sometimes travel with my parents on some small river cruises- both companies we've gone with makes Aussie's pre-pay all of their tips, because they would ignore the recommendations and leave nothing. So it seems Aussie's are bringing their non-tipping ways with them as well...

Anyway, when I'm in a 3rd world country and I receive exceptional service? Yes, I will tip a generous amount. Always have, always will.

Whoa. Calm down everyone.

I am fully aware of tipping guidelines/appropriate-ness. I may have misspoken(written? haha), I am big on tipping (I would hope to be a big tipper, but don't like making others fell uncomfortable). I think a job well done should be recognized, but within the guidelines of what fits the country/region norm.

A friend once chastised me for leaving the change from a bill at a cafe in Vienna- it was 3 euro on a 17 euro bill- he told me to pick up the 2 euro coin as they 'don't need the money'. I did, but did I agree that the waitress couldn't use the money? No. But I also understand there are differences, and I adapt to the norms as best as possible. But would my friend have hated me for leaving it if I had? No.

Sorry y'all misunderstood, but I'm well-traveled and like to try and keep my impact on local culture as small as possible. It's true, I'm American and we do come from a tipping culture, but I do my best to remind myself when traveling that what would be a normal/large tip at home may be too large in country X, and make the person uncomfortable- something I would never want- that's why I picked up the 2euro coin.

Now, off to pack!

needmore - thanks - yes, your post did come across rather differently!

foggybridges - so, you are unhappy when someone under-tips. I am too. But why can you not see that over-tipping is bad, too? Most of the people in the world could use more money, that does not make it a good idea to give it to them when it is not the local custom. It distorts the local economy and may elicit a quite different reaction than the one you are shown. (The Chinese call tipping "the stupid foreigner tax" for instance, but they won't say that to your face.) Throwing money around because you have more of it is not attractive behavior.