Hotel advise

We have zero in to stay in yangon ,bagan and Inle lake.

What are the hotel we should stay consider our budget is in the range of Usd 30 to 50 per nite.

Swimming pool are not really important but clean hotel is a must and not too far (preferably walking distance ) to restaraunt ,pubs ,etc

For domestic flight i.e Yangon to bagan or inle lake which airlines should we fly ...bagan air ? mandalay air ,etc ?

Thks/Rgds

Hotel advise

Airbagan, Yangonair or Mandalay airways are all more or less similar.... Bagan air used to operate a small jet on some internal routes.. probably still do even though they now also operate International routes.

We stayed at New Park In at Bagan.. They are great and will pick you up from river boat or aiport for free... Their best room is less than USD 30 per night incl. Breakfast...

At Inle (neuang shwe) we went to Hotel Aung Min Galar.. again only about USD 25.00...

In Yangon we went to more expensive hotels but there is a ';motherland'; often recommended.. you will find plenty to choose from and all cities.

Hotel advise

In Bagan, I found the Golden Express convenient, clean with AC,and a pool and a restaurant, as well as reasonable (maybe $25 a night). Mandalay City is centrally located and very nice in that city and it also has a web site (google it). At Inle I stayed at Paradise in Naung Schwe (the bungalows, not the newer section) - as well as the lake location. For me, I was disappointed with staying in the lake. Sounds great but the reality wasn%26#39;t great to me. Bagan Air, Mandalay Air, and 1 or 2 others fly all the same routes. You can find Mandalay Air online for planning purposes with schedules and prices. I just reread and see you aren%26#39;t planning on Mandalay. I would go back to Mandalay just to boat from there to Bagan!

Enjoy Myanmar.

Once again ,thks for the inputs.

Wondering how long is the boat journey from mandalay to bagan and the cost ? Any websites i could refer to ?

The fastest boat do 2 return trips per week and cost around USD 26.00... Takes around 7 or 8 hours downstreeam. (longer upstream).... The daily (slower boats) take almost 12 hours downstream.. and cost from around USD16.00.

Name of the fast boat service by the way is Malikha, if you like to google it for more info.

Once again ,thks for the response for help.

Really big help all the way for planning our trip.

2 luxury home realtors

Visa in Bangkok

We are planning to obtain visas for our US Passports in Bangkok.

Is it better and faster to get them from the embassy or the travel agencies? Does anyone have any experience on how quickly this can be do? We would like to plan an escape trip from Thailand while there.

Visa in Bangkok

It can be done in one day.. (you pay extra for express service)... You either do it yourself or ';hire'; an agent to do it for you.... Why not get the visas before you go from the Myanmar embassy in the US?

gloss

air to Yangon

This week I booked my ticket with Thai Air ( JFK-BKK) .... I have posted before on this topic. We are going in Feb.

I didn%26#39;t book it straight through as I was afraid I would miss the one hour connecting flight JFK-BKK-RGN..... AND it was more expensive to book ONE TICKET as opposed to TWO.

Anyway, I got an agent on the phone yesterday ( Thai Air) and she said I needed a PAPER ticket to leave Yangon ( as opposed to an electronic ticket) .... This becomes more expensive as you have to pay for the ticket and pay for the mailing of it via Fed-X.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Is this true?

Also, the air from BKK-RGN and return on Thai Air is about 445 USD per person, which I think is a bit expensive considering it%26#39;s an hour and a half flight. I know Burma increased gas prices, but even in August when i was checking .... the ticket was in the 400 range. Any ideas if it will go down?

I did check the other airlines but the times areren%26#39;t good ( Bangkok air has good prices but the times won%26#39;t work for me.

And, one last thing, I haven%26#39;t heard from my agent there in over two weeks ..... I know they are having problems there. Hope she wasn%26#39;t shut down.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Bette

air to Yangon

Can’t imagine why Thai air Bangkok to Yangon can’t be booked on-line or can’t issue e-tickets.. I suspect your agent is having you on for some reason... any other flight with them can be booked direct with Thai air.. albeit not the most user friendly site to work with!

Other airlines to look at is Airasia.. (Around USD 120.00 return), Bagan Air, Bangkok Air and Myanmar Air (International).

I very much doubt that the internal fuel price issue will have any short term bearing on air-ticket prices.

Re; your tour and e-mail... e-mail is notoriously unreliable in Myanmar.. just keep sending reminders.. they will get back to you sooner or later.

air to Yangon

Hi mosegrisen,

It%26#39;s not the Burmese agent who told me this, it was the New York City, English speaking lady ..... she said that you need a paper ticket to get out of Burma ....... I did try Airasia.com as a site but the flight times don%26#39;t coincide with my flight into BKK ...... after a 17 hour flight to get there, I don%26#39;t want to hang out at the BKK airport longer than I have to ....... actually, it was you who convinced me that the ';connecting flight'; might be too tight ....... I will try the other airlines you suggested. .. I will let you know. And, you are a doll for responding so quickly.

Thanks

Bette

Oh and I did book my JFK-BKK flight online with Thai Air...... I messed up the return date and had to call the NYC branch to change it. It was THEN that the lady mentioned, ';Oh you%26#39;d better have a paper ticket to leave Burma.'; Otherwise, I wouldn%26#39;t have known .....

Bette

Have no idea why you would need a paper ticket to leave Myanmar.... If that had been the case.. I would still be there:-)... as that was all I had last time I was there.. (flew with airasia and e-tickets is all they ever give you)...

good luck!

Dear Mrs Bette,

You can get cheap air from BKK, but you might have to sit with Tractors.

Rourld Ride Reb is not good in Burma, oh i mean Myanmar.

I send you answer to other Trip question but you no Answer, you rude.

Paul ...... I know its you ........ the ';Rourld Ride Reb'; gave you away ......

Im booked finally!!! Anyone used Explore Myanmar agency?

You%26#39;ll be all relieved %26amp; pleased to know that i have finally booked the trip which has become our honeymoon trip for december this year!! I got flights with Qatar air with three nights included at the Savoy in yangon (deluxe suites) for 拢850 each from LHR.I dont think thats bad for 15th Dec - 10th Jan. We booked through Dial a flight who the boyfriend uses for work.

We are then going to travel around budget style to mandalay, bagan and anywhere else i see on this forum posted for 9 days!

Then heading for 9 nights to Ngapali - we%26#39;ve settled for the Amata in the houses with private soak tubs considering its our honeymoon! Ive got a price from an agency called Explore Myanmar ($165) - do you think im best to book through them based in myanmar - the website doesnt have a booking direct facility - or someone in the Uk? Who? i tried Trailfinders on recommendation from you guys, but Myanmar doesnt feature on their website.....

We will stayover in Yangon again before flying back to london - i think ill try the hotel that you were all telling me about near the airport for 2 nights maybe....i was confused but ive now realised there are two different places Inle lake and Inya lake (one in yangon and one far away, right?) thanks!!! trying to plan a wedding and all of this in a few months means im slightly reading over things, sorry! All help appreciated to make this trip extra special!!

Im booked finally!!! Anyone used Explore Myanmar agency?

Re; Inle and Inya lakes... correct... Inle lake is, I think, the second largest inland lake in Myanmar.... Kind of east of Bagan towards the Thai border in mountains of the Shan state.

Inya lake is kind of halfway between Yangon center and it%26#39;s airport... Northside suburban area of Yangon..

But don%26#39;t get too hung up on being near the airport.. its only something like a 20 min to half hour taxi-ride from the airport to Yangon center... (USD5 or6).. No big deal... There%26#39;s a second lake kind of midway between Inya lake and Yangon center... called Kandawgy lake.. again slightly to the north of Yangon center... close to the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

Will check out the Ngapali Amata .. I think you need to make the booking rather than wait in order to get the best price.

Im booked finally!!! Anyone used Explore Myanmar agency?

Just read some reviews about the Amata... not a lot of info... but from what I can gather it is around 2 years old.. perhaps a copy of the Sandoway.... some suggest a poor copy:-(.. but I never went to Ngapali.. so my guess is not even as good as your.. Here are, without endorsing any of them.. some agents that seem to be able to book these for you:

Myanmar Tourex, Exotissimo Travel, asiatours.net, agoda.com, myanmarhotelstravel.com, radianttours.com, asiabesthotel.com,

Hi,

You%26#39;ve picked one of the best in Ngapali. It is towards the south end of the beach. the beach there is very good. The Paradise Island, which used to be accessable only at low tide is not far off and It marks the south end of the beach. (Now they have built a bridge - pity- although you still have to wade across a short distance as a token novelty) Beyond is the fishing villages. (should you organise a barbecue on the beach - the hotel will help you with that - mine did very willlingly - get up early and go into the fishing village and get fresh sea food very very reasonably priced!!! and yummy yummy!!!) Do visit the Paradise Island because the view is wonderful, especially at sunset. Amata Christmas and New Year parties are very good. If they do the lantern-balloons, do join in. they%26#39;re great fun!

Amata Hotel: I have not heard of, and I dont think they have an agent in UK.

Trailfinders, although good otherwise, I am disappointed where Myanmar is concerned. I got no help at all from them! They will book flight to Yangon; but apart from that I got their message! So my advice re Trailfinders where Myanmar is concerned - don%26#39;t bother.

Return: Why do you want to spend 2 nights in a hotel out in the middle of nowhere except being next to the airport, no convenient transport into Yangon, you may well have to pay over the odds if you want ot go into Yangon (which I am sure you wil want to), which is like any other hotel , when you could spend far more value for money/time elsewhere. If you think you might be ';fed up'; of being too touristy, like being at the Traders or the Grand Plaza, I would suggest the Kandawgyi Palace on the Royal Lake with the magnificient view of the Shwedagon (within accessible distance) and the Karaweik in the lake itself. The Karaweik is the restaurant/function hall built in the form of a mythical bird in the middle of Royal Lake. There it will be quieter, peaceful and pleasant.

Best Wishes,

Khayeethe

perfect - im glad of your opinion of not spending 2 nights at the end in the Inya lake hotel..i had this idea that the views over a lake might be nice and relaxing before heading back, but i think you%26#39;re right stay more central and say bye to all the relatives before heading home and stay somewhere central

25 years ago when the government tourist bureau assigned visitors to hotels upon arrival I was put in the Inya Lake, a massive structure built I believe by the Russians. Though it may be much improved now I found it impersonal and out of the way. Incidentally, the other 2 hotels then assigned in Rangoon were a very run-down Strand and the Thamada, near the RR station.

Hi Mazzaroo,

I must apologise for jumping to conclusions with regards your hotel near the airport in Yangon. I realised this when I read your response/reply.

When you mentioned about the hotel near the airport, I thought you really meant the Airport Hotel which is just across the road from the Airport, ';in the middle of nowhere';; I didn%26#39;t think you meant the Inya Lake Hotel. I wouldn%26#39;t be that disparaging about the Inya Lake Hotel; although I would say it is well out of Yangon; and that you will be having to take taxi%26#39;s for anything you wanted to do. Although the World Peace Pagoda (the Kaba Aye Pagoda) and the man-made Mahathana Cave is close by (but still you wil need a taxi!) Certainly the Inya Lake Hotel is much nearer to the airport.. About a little more than half the way to the airport from the city center. The Inya Lake does offer the peace and tranquility on the lake-side you mentioned and the surroundings are indeed sumptious (unlike the Airport Hotel!) Both are also available at the Kandawgyi Palace. But the Kandawgyi has the advantage of the view of the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Karaweik across the Lake. The Kandawgyi being closer to the City, but just that distant that you don%26#39;t feel you are in a city center hotel like the Traders or the Grand Plaza. My hunch is that if you ask your relatives, they might just urge you to go to the Inya Lake for that sophisticated, chic, panache factor! (A touch more expensive though).

Now the crunch: What will I do? Well, done the tourist bit, transport is relatively cheap compared to UK (Taxi into town/city would be around USD 5-6, say, for each way, for a distance of about 7-8 miles each way) or have transport provided: I will go and relax and wind down at the Inya Lake!

Khayeethe

Have a quick look at the pics I posted of the Dusit Inya Lake wonderful grounds and great pool.

Just re read the postings and forgot that we lunched a couple of times at the Amata last year and was pretty impressed by the Hotel.

Not as upmarket as Sandoway Resort (and about half the price over New Year) but nice sized rooms and a very good menu with a European chef.

Pool is quite small but you have the warm Bay of Bengal in front of you!

Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat-Mawlamyine ...advice needed urgently

This September I will be staying at Mawlamyine and will need to make a daily journey from Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat-Mawlamyine for a period of c3 to 5 days.

This is to enable me to photograph ALL of the grave stones at the WW2 grave site which is situated just outside Thanbyuzayat.

What is the cheapest way for me to make this daily return journey?

I have been informed that foreigners cannot use local bus - and taxis cost c$50 and up?

I have also been informed that foreigners cannot stay overnight at Thanbyuzayat?

Tony

Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat-Mawlamyine ...advice needed urgently

Hi Tony,

pretty sure that you can%26#39;t stay there or close by.. as you suggest.. As you perhaps know... foreigners are only allowed to stay in government approved guesthouses.... However there%26#39;s no problem using the local transport... well, its not so comfortable... but other then that.. no problem. My guess is that around a dollar will give you a ride on a pick up.. you may have to leave the area by 3 or 4 pm though. As for a taxi... well, fuel has gone up a lot.. but a car for the day (with driver) should still be possible to hire for something like USD30.00

Mawlamyine-Thanbyuzayat-Mawlamyine ...advice needed urgently

Mawlamyaing is really ice place,somany colonial buildings and you can get british time atmospheir,

around tour of ther.local bus is long time and you will be waste of your time,the best way is you hire a bike with driver,because he goverment no allowed to drive any vehical for forigners,That%26#39;s why you need a driver that will save the time and money.I am not sure for the rentel pric but hat will be cheaper then texi.

OK?

happy in there.

In mawlamyaing,you should go top of the hill ,name is Kyaik than lan pagoda hill,and see around ,especially you will see the jail since English era.

and go to Kyaik ma yaw country road and the palm trees i s nice and go to inside of the villages.

and in Mudon

that you can see big reclining Buddha not finished yet.butinside of the Buddha body that you will see story if the Buddha .

In Kyaik Kha me,he beach and rest at breeze of the sea,and he pagoda of the middle sea,and see big fish near pagoda shore they wer waiting for their food feeding.

set se,the beach and restrauant

happy here.

Many thanks for your responses folks - as a result, have sorted all concerns.

Tony

Inle Resort (Not Inle Princess Resort): Any experiences?

Dear travel colleagues,

I am planning to stay in Inle Lake in January 2008. Such a beautiful place, stayed there twice already.

Now, there is a new resort (finalized in 2005) called Inle Resort (not to be confused with Inle Princess Resort). Does anybody have any reviews/experiences with this Resort?

For more details: http://www.inleresort.com/

Thanks in advance for any advice!

best,

E. Kievit

Netherlands

Inle Resort (Not Inle Princess Resort): Any experiences?

We had a beer there last January.. bicycled out there from Nyaung Shwe... Looks better on the web-site than ';for real';.. Very remote.. Best thing I saw there were a pair of beautiful antique wooden carver offering bowls in the foyer:-)

Inle Resort (Not Inle Princess Resort): Any experiences?

Hi,

We stayed for a few days in early June. It was great. We had mostly stayed at 2-3 star so this was a treat. We had a beautifully carved and decorated bunglaow on the water looking across the lake. Very spacious with all mod cons, lounger and balcony. (There is no pool) The resort has some enormous dining areas so seems to have been built for large scale banquets, but was very quiet when we were there and the dinning room was nice. There is another much bigger resort immediately next door that might be Inle Princess I think. We had a tour guide who would pick us up by boat each day so ate lunch in other places except for one day. The food was fine and not all that expensive. Only draw backs would be it is spread over quite a large area so it was a bit of a walk to breakfast for instance. and its some distance by road to town - we only ever went by boat. The managers wife was very pleasant and made a point of welcoming everyone and ensuring that they had everything the needed. So for the money we were well satisfied and would return.

Cheers Helen

bird

Tours through Myanmar commencing Yangon

Hi,

We are planning a trip to Myanmar in Feb/March 2008. We live in Australia. Can anyone suggest reputable travel company for small groups of up to 12 which which is economical without being totally basic accommodation. We are in our late 50s but quite enjoy backpacking so long as we have a nice bed at the end of the day.

Should we carry mostly American dollars, or what do you suggest. I gather credit cards/travellers cheques are not particularly welcome. Are there many ATMs?

bye...Pambo

Tours through Myanmar commencing Yangon

Hi,

I would advise you carry US dollars in large denomination notes such as USD100 or USD50 notes in the main, plus some smaller notes of USD1; USD5 and perhaps USD10 for pagoda and tourist sight entry fees. Not coins. You lose out with other currencies because they will convert first to USdollar equivalent (rates are usually low) then back to US dollar equivalent local currency Kyat. THERE ARE NO ATMS ANYWHERE! - for tourists%26#39; use. Credit cards used to be acceptable even in quite a few local shops (especially where the tourists go) until US %26amp; the West slammed the economic sanctions. Unfortunate because it just affected the local businesses. Not even a scratch on the government!

Reputable travel company: I used the following; (I once did go with a crowd -up to 9 in my case) I normally use this agent on my own as well over the past three visits:

Indochina Services

e-mail: info@is-myanmar.com

Fax: +951 65 10 02

Web: www.indochina-services.com

When you make transactions they may refer you to their regional offices like Bangkok or in Vietnam. that is because they can%26#39;t make transaction in/from Myanmar (the sanctions). Or they may ask you to book through their regional offices. I%26#39;ve come across both occasions.

let me know how you got on.

Best Wishes,

Khayeethe

Tours through Myanmar commencing Yangon

Thanks very much for the info. Did you prefer to travel with a group or on your own with the travel co you went with, and what were the pluses and minuses? What sort of accommodation did you have? Did you pay for your trip beforehand by visa through an office prior to arriving, or did you book it and pay once you arrived in yangon?

Also, flights from Bangkok to Rangon....do you have to book many days ahead, or can you pretty much book one or two days beforehand?

thanks..pam

Khayeethe has pretty well summed it all up.. just to add that credit cards can still be used... only problem is that the few hotels etc. who will accept them and even give you cast advance on them.. will do so... at a cost of anything from 7% to 30% fee.. (they do it through agents.. mainly in Singapore.. and don%26#39;t do it as a favour:-)

Flights.. The best deal right now is airsasia.. you can get a return flight for a bit more than USD 120.00.. Also look at Air Bagan...

Jetstar Asia run a flight between Singapore and Yangon.... Cost more though.

Also Mandalay air can fly you into Mandalay from Chiang Mai.... Cost for onw way is about the same as an airasia return brom Bangkok.

Re; travelagents and tours... for some, a tour is better.. having everything sorted and pre-arranged.. I would suggest though... that if you are reasonably used to doing a bit of travelling then making your own arrengements is not difficult.. people in Myanmar are exceptionally helpful and lots of people.. young and older.. go there and just follow their nose.. and a guidebook.. Much better value.. and much more fun.... to my way of thinking.

The airasia flight.. they are a budget airline and you get the best price when you book early.. especially if you want to go during the high season (December through February).

Hi Pambo1,

I always book my Bangkok - Yangon or Singapore - Yangon flights well in advance. That is because I don%26#39;t want to risk it or hang around the airports. As Mosegrisen replied, there are regional cheap flights.

Tours in Myanmar: if you are not too restricted for time, say you have about 3-4 days in Yangon first, you should be able to ask your hotel for help with regards travel agents for making your arrangements. I normally book hotels with mid-price range. USD 115 is the most I%26#39;d paid for (so far) for the hotel in Ngapali during the Christmas/New Year (2006-07) period. I am not sure of the ratings of the mid range, perhaps 3-4 star? I/we do travel at leisure, so I make arrangements when I get there if it is only for myself or for 2 with a friend.

Travelling with a group: my group was a group of 9 friends, all from UK; so perhaps it will be different from a group tour. I got help from a friend at the time in Yangon, so the organisation went well; and being assured we will be arriving in Yangon, we were able to pay on arrival. I am sure it will be different if I didn%26#39;t have a friend to liaise in Yangon.

I do like company to share the experience; but I would travel on my own if I have to.

Khayeethe

Thanks to you all ... we have booked our flights today and will sort our 5 weeks traispsing around Burma/Thailand as we go.....you have been a fantastic help. Thanks.

pambo

You are very welcome... best wishes for your journey...

get some good books to ';fire up the belly%26#39;... ';The White Umbrella'; by Patricia W. Elliot may give you some backgound... not really political.. just a well written book about people and issues in the country.. Please feel free to ask for feedback on your travel plans.. or any advice on where to go.. what to do.. etc..

Hello Mosegrisen

I checked with Air Bagan and Air Asia as you suggested for cheaper flights. I%26#39;m a little confused with Air Bagan as they have two prices shown - one is and Overseas Price of US87 and next to it is has Price in Myanmar is US280. Can you advise me as to what this difference actually is so that I don%26#39;t make a blunder somehow.

Also, do you suggest malaria tablets for Feb/March period?

We are looking at a trip with Indochina Services which looks super to us.

The air line price that we would pay... would be the ';over seas price';... I havent%26#39; bought tickets with air bagan... but my guess is that this price is the nett price.. they would add fuel and other taxes to that.

When we bought our mandalay air ticket the listed price from chiang mai to mandaly was USD84.00.. this is still the same on their web page... They then added a fuel tax.... and now also the Thai airport tax will be added.. so the $84.00 becommes USD 119.00....

You can get an idea of the taxes if you look at the airasia web site.. if you select a bangkok %26gt; yangon fare... the taxes will be shown.

Myanmar departure tax is USD 10.00 per person by the way.

If you are going to be buying air-tickets for internal flights.. just wait until you get there.... its cheaper and seats are no problem.. even a few days before or, in most cases on the same day.. Your hotel/guesthouse or a local travel agent will get you the best deal.

Re: malaria.... many people suggest that malaria is only present in areas where travellers don%26#39;t go and the time you mention is the dry season.... We did take doxycyclene, on advice of our gp.... I would suggest that you check out the pros and cons with your own gp.

As for tour company.. sorry.. we just went with the flow.. hired a car here and a boat there.... Happy and safe journey.

I just looked at Indochina travel.. not sure if its the same site as you are looking at, as I couldn%26#39;t really find any tours or prices....

Here is a good site for general info on Myanmar:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Myanmar