pattyroth

That's reassuring, Pook. I was getting a little nervous about this late date. Surely they aren't all booked up.

silverwool

I'd like to also add my support for more time at Bagan and Inle Lake at the expense of Mandalay. Be prepared for the fact that 'private cars' may not be terribly modern.

pattyroth

Sounds great, silverwool! Now if we can just get through to the travel agency! (I plan to call as all my emails are being returned.)

cestgaston

Hi Patty,
just checked out the forum and read about your planning.We are arriving on the same dates than you(Jan.27).We found that The Savoy,in Rangoon, would be a nice place to start and finish the trip(rooms$150.00/through their site/The Strand without the price,according to LP...)
Air Asia is definitely the best(cheapest) airline to get you to, and out, of Rangoon(booked thru their site) from KL or any big cities in Asia.
We are staying2 nights in Rangoon,fly to Bagan/3 nights,Bagan to Mandalay,by boat/2 nights,Mandalay(and around)/3 nights,return to Rangoon/drive to Kyaitkyo/1 night there,then drive to Bago/1 night and return to Rangoon at the Savoy/1 night and fly out to BKK.So 12 nights in Burma total(I count by nights as ,to me,it is the most important part of any trip:a good night sleep).
The hotels we are staying in were recommended by our TA (Shwe Yoo Travel & Tours)http://www.travel-myanmar.net/index.htm. They were very helpful in the planning.
Of course, we have not been there yet(although counting the days...)but I checked all the hotels with Trip Advisor and everything is checking out OK.(Was able to request no smoking quiet rooms).We are using a local guide for the drive to Golden Rock and Bago who came highly recommended by Fodorites and who seems like a really nice fellow [email protected]
Hope this helps.Good luck and perhaps see you in Rangoon...

pattyroth

Thanks, cestgaston! We will check out the Savoy--tomorrow, I'm calling the TA. That would be too funny if we'd be there at the same time! We can't use Air Asia as their time schedules just don't work for us with our other flights. They're a LOT cheaper than Malaysia Air, but cost us too much in time. I'm thinking we will have one night in Yangon, then three nights in Bagan, two nights in Mandalay, Inle lake three nights and finishing up with two nights in Yangon. Hope to have some of this settled by end of the week.

cestgaston

We definitely have to have a drink(or two...) if you are staying at the Savoy.

pattyroth

Itinerary update: More time in Bagan and Inle lake! Has anyone stayed at these hotels? Parkroyal Hotel in Yangon? Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort in Bagan? Sedona Hotel in Mandalay? Inle Princess in Inle Lake (I think Pook stayed there.) Still unsure about the extra time in Mandalay to visit first Sagaing, Amarpura and Ava (definitely want to do that), then Mingun by private boat, and Maymo (Pin Oo Lwin) by private car. The TA is suggesting some variety that way in photographing. Getting excited.

Hanuman

Yes Patty I stayed at the Inle Princess and it was a nice resort. FYI another way to go to Mingun is by car(taxi). When we did this we had the whole place to ourselves as the ferry had not arrived yet. But if you're going by private boat then I guess it's the same thing.

Robbietravels

I think a Burma travel agency would have more clout getting you rooms if you are having trouble (Santa Maria, Good News Travel). In countries where internet is iffy, I usually send a fax directly to the hotel providing as much specific information as possible. I give them my fax number and email address. I usually get a response.

pattyroth

Thanks Pook and Robbie! The TA I am using has a US rep that I could actually talk to on the phone which helped. Now just waiting to see what they could finalize. I'm not so worried now. Hadn't thought about a FAX though.

pattyroth

Got a detailed quote from our TA and am wondering about a few things. Is it cheaper to just find drivers and guides onsite? (except in Bagan, of course). Does Minthu serve as both a guide and a driver? Does he also pick up at the airport, or do you arrange a different driver for that? Is there anywhere I can check prices for drivers from airports to hotel? Or are the TA's usually pretty good about that?

pattyroth

Oh--I just found ekscrunchy's planning report that I hadn't read. V. helpful!

Kathie

It's always less expensive to pick up guides and drivers as needed.

Min Thu is both a driver and a guide. He has access to his brother's taxi so can pick you up at the airport (Robbie is having him do that) as well as taking you around the temples in his horsecart..

I expect that TA's charge you a lot for airport transfers (but do have them break out all of the costs so you know). At each airport there is a taxi stand, and they will quote you a fair price. Only if there is something special you need is it worth it to have the TA set it up. For instance, we wanted to go to Kakku, so had the TA set up a car and driver to pick us up at the airport and take us to Kakku, then take us to Inle Lake View Resort.

Most of the time, you don't want a guide from an agency. For instance, when you are at Inle, you'll get a boatman from your hotel, and that's all you need except when you are going into Pa-O territory and are required to have a Pa-O guide.

pattyroth

Oh Kathie, THANKS! That is very helpful and reassuring. We've always been pretty independent, so I definitely think this is the way to go--I just needed to be sure I could get people at that time. I hope I can reach Min Thu by email, but I'll take his phone number also.

ekscrunchy

Patty I stayed on the Pandaw (ship) in Bagan but I did visit the Thisipyitsaya hotel swimming pool. the pool is large and lovely and the hotel public areas looked nice...I think it would be fine.

Also stayed at the Savoy in Yangon and would recommend.....the LP comment that it is a budget version of the Strand is not far off base. Rooms are large and lovely. I have more info in my trip report from last spring; see posts from 20 April onward:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...yssey-2010.cfm

pattyroth

Is it kosher to check prices with two different travel agencies? Feeling a little guilty about that. First one had pretty high prices for guides and airport transfers, so think we might do that on our own. They list what they described as "actual prices" (probably are) and then added 10% fee for their work.

ekscrunchy

Yes---scads of posters--many if not most-- on this forum do that. There are even reports on the Africa forum of people sending itineraries and preferred hotels/lodges to as many as a dozen, or more, agencies to compare costs before booking. There is a thread describing a difference of thousands of dollars between the various offers...I know this is far from your topic, but just to give you an idea:

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ame-safari.cfm


I like the fact that the one agency broke down the costs for you, rather than giving you a total sum...

Did you post your complete plan here? Maybe you could do this and then people could comment on what is better done on your own, or how to save money..

Certainly get rid of any included meals...for starters..

Kathie

You certainly can and should check with more than one agency. Specify that you want prices broken down so you know what you are paying for each thing.

The one place it makes sense to have meals included is at Inle Lake, as going out to dinner rally isn't an option.

BTW, I remember you were trying to find lower priced options for places to stay. The Inle Princess, by all accounts is very nice, but when I checked their prices were $100 a night more than what we paid for the very lovely Inle Lake View. So you might check some alternative hotels.

wintersp

You mention doing guides and airport transportation on your own. Re the airport transportation I would want prearranged transportation from Mandalay airport into town - its a long way and I didn't always see taxis available there. I would also want prearranged pu from the airport for Inle Lake. That was a rather chaotic system there and I was glad I had the prearranged pickup there.

You can bargain somewhat with the travel agencies with their prices. I accidently did that - questioning their prices saying I had found much lower prices on the internet and they dropped their total price several hundred dollars.

pattyroth

Thanks, Eks, Kathie, and wintersp! I just wrote to a second agency. Part of my concern is that time is running out and I don't want to miss getting reservations on either the flights or the good hotels. Also don't want to nickel and dime agencies ---but also don't like to feel taken advantage of! Will see if I can copy and post both proposed itineraries. I have told both that we want at least 3 days in Bagan and 3 days in Inle lake. Santa Maria hasn't had a chance to get back to me yet with a corrected version or with prices.