What are FECs?

Reading the Lonely Planet I noticed in a section Reasons Not to Go (to Myanmar) they mention that ';The mandatory purchase of US$200 worth of FECs by every foreign tourist entering the country provides the government with much-needed foreign exchange';. (this section is just above the Reasons to Go).

The book I have is 8th edition October 2002. Can anyone tell me what they are talking about when mentioning FECs and is it still applicable 5 years since this was written? We are going in early February. Thanks...

What are FECs?

The days of having to buy $200 of ';effies'; have gone but they are still in circulation and their face value is matched to the US$.

Remember to take new US$ notes with you as TC%26#39;s and credit cards are almost useless.

What are FECs?

Thanks very much for the info. Our accomodation and most of transport and driver are covered already, with the tour we have chosen (very reasonable price for two considering it is a very well-run company - accommodation, driver and itinerary covered, but after 6pm we are on our own and fly from point to point - $ US725 per person - thanks to whoever told me about Myanmar Shalom on this forum), but roughly how much would you suggest is required for food and water for 12 days? We aren%26#39;t the sort to go to big restuarants preferring local cafes etc when possible and safe. We don%26#39;t usually go crazy on souveniers except where buying something from the locals helps them.

Thanks .. Pam

Meals range from as little as 1,000 Kyat. (simple rice dish) to 20,000 Kyat .Grilled fish with all the trimmings in a fairly nice restaurant.

A good meal (for two people) incl. water and perhaps a large bottle of beer in a nice but not fancy place in Yangon (most expensive city) would be 15,000 to 20,000 Kyat. You could eat for much less or spend much more if you go to a luxory hotel. One glass of beer at Traders hotel is USD 6.00. Large bottle of cold beer (with 2 glasses) anywhere else... 800 to 1,200 Kyat.

Bottled water is very cheap... something like 500 Kyat for a 2 litre bottle.

At the moment USD 1.00 = 1,400 Kyat.

Food is often said to be not so good in Myanmar.... one bit of advice I%26#39;d give you is, you can always find better and cheaper places than the ones from the Lonely Planet guide book. Seems that once they have the mention in this book.. price goes up and quality and quantity comes down. We managed to eat very well for very little money.. much cheaper than Thailand.

In addition to your info above about bringing in new USD notes... take some small notes.. like 1, 5 and some 10 doller for entrance fees to pagodas,archaeological sites, taxis etc. But for the money you want to exchange.. bring 100.00 dollar notes.. get new from the bank and don%26#39;t accept them if they have any faults whatsoever.. no biro marks, not little red stamp marks.. you get the best exchange rate for the large notes in new condition. Notes in anything but ';mint'; condition are useless in Myanmar. If you get desperate, it is possible to get cast advance, even change travellers cheques.. from a very small number of western hotels in Yangon.. but they charge you a commision of anything from 7% to 30% for the favour.

Have in mind for your meals the excellent wines produced in Myanmar%26#39;s Inle Lake region where you can also visit the vineyards.

I brought a few bottles of the reds home.