Burma vs. Laos

[Malibu21]

The hotels is getting expensive, with agent Panorama up from $2X to $3X, and now they quote me $6X.

Everything is very expensive now

[ButtLover]

Hi.

Does anyone know if the guide Hillary (his name) , still working in the area around the Traders hotel.

He was a great guy and could also help to change money.

Regards.

BL

[Fast Eddie 48]

In the Airport you get the best rate for US Dollar and Euro. Also you can change back when you departure (save the bill).1 Euro is about 1000 Kyatt.

End of March its will be start to make the Visa online!

To Liggi 1.

The money exchange in this country is all screw up that need to change, I heard the new legal money changer in Yangon Thedin Phuy money exhange licensed by the central bank rate is 852 kyatt to one USD bill must be brand new no mark or line.

Fast Eddie 48

[Fast Eddie 48]

I was reading that Burma want to open up to the world investing more money into tourist trade, I think they need to bulid more hotel and road offer VOA or even free visa to all touirst, this is beautiful country with alot to offer and the government are changing to the better and yet less than 800, 000 visiter last yr compare to 18 million to Thailand, time is right for a big tourist boom here.

Fast Eddie 48

[Liggi1]

In the Airport you get the best rate for US Dollar and Euro. Also you can change back when you departure (save the bill).1 Euro is about 1000 Kyatt.

End of March its will be start to make the Visa online!

[Cool Traveler]

My experience:

This was couple of years ago, so take it for what it is worth:

I changed about US$100 at the airport, and got about 12 Kyat (Chat) for the dollar. My supplier picked me up, scolded me for changing money at the airport. He changed more in town for 160 Kyatt for the dollar.

Use the money changes in town and negotiate the exchange rate.

Good luck

I am planning to travel in Feb 2012. Is that peak tourist season with Panorama hotel fully occupied?

Is there any possibility to exchange Asian currencies like Singapore dollar or Malaysian ringgit in Yangon?

[CoolBuddy]

I was staying in Asia Plaza for 2 weeks with $55 per night. I was exploring JJ and Emperor club. JJ club with lot of local crowd and big club with lot of girls and open until 3AM.

Emperor relatively smaller club mainly with foreigner crowd and open until 11PM-12AM.

Most of girls quote 30000Kyatt for full night but quality is poor. Don't get diverted with makeup and external appearance. Most of the girls look younger but after exploring the body in bed, I realized that most girls have babies and not in good shape. Better take lot of time to select the low range girls. Otherwise you can try with the so-called model girls ranging from 75k. 100K (but I never tried). Sorry to mention this, I experienced some kind of bad smell from their hair and difficult to sleep together. I don't know what kind of hair lotion they apply.

Myanmar is not P4P destination and don't invest lot of time and money for mongering action here. My suggestion would be to try with so-called model girls if you have lot of money and energy to bang the chick.

[CoolBuddy]

Just back from 2 weeks trip from Yangon. You can directly call Asia Plaza hotel reservation and make a booking.

I am sure all the rooms in there are not fully booked daily.

Hi there,

Seems like recommended GF Hotels Panorama or Asia Plaza are fuly booked in April. Can somebody give mid-range alternatives? What about East hotel? It gets good reviews and is centrally located.

Thanks in advance.

WT69

[Malibu21]

I believe (from RTFF) that JJ club is at Mingala Zei (market) on Set Yone Road. Could somebody please verify this?

Bonrfide

It is indeed at a market place, just tell the taxi JJ, it is very famous for local.

[Phil Istine]

I amk going to Rangoon in two weeks with a mate but it is hard to find a mid price level hotel.

East Hotel and Thamada fully booked already.

[Wild Thing 69]

Hi there,

Seems like recommended GF Hotels Panorama or Asia Plaza are fuly booked in April. Can somebody give mid-range alternatives? What about East hotel? It gets good reviews and is centrally located.

Thanks in advance.

WT69

[Tim Bone]

Looking for the country to 'open up'? Are you nuts? More encouraging reports and I will not want to make this another stop again. Last two weeks there were more tourists seen here than ever before, best hotels all fully booked. But, this is in fact High Season. Prices way up from just earlier this year. Show up in May / June and enjoy torrential rain. Throughout the day and night. Cross streets ankle deep in water and detritus. Do it barefoot like the locals. But, that's the charm of Yangon.

I can certainly see that coming. I showed up at the embassy in BKK about 2 weeks ago at 0815, 45 min before they open, to get a visa and there was a big line already. It took 2 hours before I could give them the papers. But I could a least pick up my passport in the afternoon after waiting for only half an hour. Maybe it was particularly bad since it was on a Monday and the weekend had accumulated many eager tourists. 1260B with same day service.

But put up in an apartment with a colleague this time, so that's it for bringing girls back. Damn

[Rick]

Is there WiFi access in Asia Plaza? How is the service of the bell boys? Do they have access to pretty ones? How much is current rate for girls they provide? Is there still the night club in Asia Plaza?

Try to book hotel through travel agent (normally cheaper). You can try Santa Maria (

http://www.myanmartravels.net/

) they are located next to Central Hotel. I tried 1 year ago. Book for double so you don't have to pay for the joining fee (if any) later. Asia Plaza rooms is in poor maintenance, I moved out to central hotel which is much better. There is club at the basement area of Asia Plaza but I didn't see much action, better if you head to JJ by taxi or China town (action stopped by 11pm) , JJ close about 1am.

[Golfinho]

Just saw Burma on BBC, so looks like the country is beginning to open up. I'll be in Asia this May / June, so if more encouraging reports show up then I might make this a stop

Looking for the country to 'open up'? Are you nuts? More encouraging reports and I will not want to make this another stop again. Last two weeks there were more tourists seen here than ever before, best hotels all fully booked. But, this is in fact High Season. Prices way up from just earlier this year. Show up in May / June and enjoy torrential rain. Throughout the day and night. Cross streets ankle deep in water and detritus. Do it barefoot like the locals. But, that's the charm of Yangon.

[AlLostInSpace13]

Just saw Burma on BBC, so looks like the country is beginning to open up. I'll be in Asia this May / June, so if more encouraging reports show up then I might make this a stop.

Spaceman