Travel Tips.

Currency:

Myanmar currency is called Kyat, and comes in notes of 1000, 500, 200, 100, 90, 50, 45, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Kyat.
Items such as meals, bus ticket, trishaw or taxi rides and market items are usually quoted in kyat.
Hotels, flights archaeological sites and ferries are paid for in US Dollars..

You can change your Dollars or Euros all around Myanmar, but you will have a better rate in Yangon


Credit Cards and travellers cheques

Credit Cards are only accepted at a very few major hotels, airlines and some international shops and restaurants. We suggest to bring a sufficient amount of cash for personal expenses. The exchange of traveler cheques as well is very difficult and time consuming.

Business Hours and Holidays:

Government offices open from 10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays. Banking hours are from 10:00 to 14:00. Private companies work daily except Sunday and gazette holidays. Shopping centers and super markets open daily. The most famous Bogyoke (Scott) market is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 except on gazette holidays.

Airport Tax:

Any Travellers departing Myanmar on international flights need to pay US Dollar 10 per person for airport tax.

Health:

No inoculation or vaccinations are required unless coming from or passing through an infected area. Clients should bring sufficient medication with them if needed and should enquire for updated health recommendation before coming to Myanmar, regarding hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, etc. Please contact us if you need detailed information on health Services available in Myanmar.

Insurance:

We would like to recommend all clients to obtain the necessary personal baggage, medical and accident insurance before coming to Myanmar. (S.O.S) world wide has a local representative office in Yangon with a (24) hour on Call Service for emergency evacuation and medical assistance.

SOS Assistance:

Inya Lake Hotel, 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road,
Tel : (95-1) 667877, 667879

You can also contact Kandawgyi clinic in case of health problems

Kandawgyi Clinic:

Natmauk Road,
Tel : (95-1) 530083

What to Bring:

An antibiotic pills and cream for minor cuts and scratches. Prescription medicines prescribe by a doctor. Insect repellent, especially for mosquito. Bring umbrella or rain coat if you travel during rainy Season. Hat, Sun glasses, Sun protection for your face and body. Extra passport photos, in case you may need it.

What to Wear:

(Golden Brothers & Sisters Travels & Tours) advise all visitors coming to Myanmar to dress properly, as it can be offensive wearing shorts, mini skirts or revealing clothing, which are not appropriate at all, especially when visiting Temple or any holy site in Myanmar.

Please dress with respect and have respect for the Culture and Religion. Light clothing, cotton and cool fabrics are suitable the whole year around. For winter ,sweater or sport coat and may be socks are needed in places like Kalaw, Inlay, in the Southern Shan State, as it is quite cold during the night. Foot wears, please bring Sandals as it is convenient, when paying a visit to Temples and Monastery. Guest are requested to take-off their foot wears at every religious site and when entering private home for polite sake. Flip- flops or Myanmar slippers can be purchase locally.

Immigration & Customs Formalities:

(Upon arrival you’re to declare all your valuables items such as (Jewelry, Cameras, electronic equipment etc). On your custom declaration form. Receipt or voucher is needed when departing form Myanmar, Yangon int'l airport, for things that you purchased locally, such as gems and jewelry.

Telecommunications:

The postal service in Myanmar is definitely cheap. Of course, letters and postcards take quite some time to reach their destinations but usually most of them will arrive. Parcels may be sent and delivered in Myanmar but again it is rather time-consuming, especially if you want to pick up a parcel at the Foreign Post Office - bring along a lot of time and patience! Private services like DHL come at a price but are doing a good job. If you should wish to send bulky and heavy items home it can be done either by airfreight or by sea. In this case our guides will be willing to give you the necessary help and assistance.

International calls can be made from major hotels and the Central Telegraph Office in Major cities. Whenever making phone calls from Myanmar it is important to ask for the price first - at some hotels the tariff might be double the official rate. The service is improving but connections are poor and international calls are expensive. Internet is available at several locations throughout the country, however, travelers have to be aware that their e-mail websites might not be available due to government restrictions (e.g. Yahoo, Hotmail and many other e-mail websites cannot be accessed). You can bring your own laptop with you and also your cellular phone, but please remember that the local mobile telephone net is practically useless for tourists.

Drinking Water:

We would like to urge all clients traveling with (Golden Brothers & Sisters Travels & Tours) to drink only purified bottle water. Bottled water is readily available and some hotels provide Complimentary.

Power & Electricity:

Most of our hotels in urban cities like Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan offer (24) hours power Supply. Generators are used if needed. Other parts of the Country in rural areas, like Kyaingtung in eastern Shan State, Kalaw, Pindaya, Nyaung Shwe, Taunggyi and Inlay generated power may not always available.

Voltage:

Our Voltage in Myanmar is 220-230 volts Ac. Most of the international hotels have their own generators. At some places may experiences power cuts and Voltage fluctuation which can damage computers and other electricity equipment. So please travel with the require protection for your electrical equipments.
 

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