Tickets to Burma

[Ovechkin]

What's the best airline to get to Rangoon? I want to go in July but the prices I find from Taipei are about 800-1000USD...is that normal? thats almost a round trip ticket back home for me. any experience would be great! thanks!

[zyzzx]

You can fly direct on China Air, but it's not cheap. You can also fly to Bangkok first and then to Burma on a separate airline. I flew Bangkok Air from BKK to Yangon, and I think it was somewhere around 250-300 USD. Then add in whatever the TPE-BKK flight costs. So yeah, getting to Burma is expensive.

[Ovechkin]

on a tangent...is it hard to get a visa into burma? where would i go in taiwan to apply?

[zyzzx]

on a tangent...is it hard to get a visa into burma? where would i go in taiwan to apply?

I didn't have any trouble (US passport). I got it through my travel agent (OK travel, but I imagine that most could do it). Just checked and it was 1300 NT and they needed a copy of my ARC and 2 photos.

[Ovechkin]

i just checked air asia...i can fly to KL and from from KL to Yangoon...let me check with my travel agent and see. thanks for the help.

[Pingdong]

transfer in KL/bangkok is easy. flights we paid I think 200 US return form bangkok to yangon last year in August. travel agencies here do it for you, but no office in taiwan, most are done in Hongkong, so do it in advance. we did it with CDN and TWN passports, longer visas are tricky and the gov is still flipping a bit. but i did see visa on arrival as well...but they change their mind like no ones business...


also BRING CASH.

we were dumb and didnt realize the gov there shut down all international banking/credit systems, so you only have what cash you bring in, or find some illegal travel agency to manage some cash for you for a 8-20% fee.

bring cash.


bring cash.


bring cash.

[Shaktipalooza]

I went to Burma for two weeks last November. There are foreign offices in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur. As far as I know only the Bangkok office has express, same day visa turnaround service. Unfortunately when I went much of Bangkok was under water and nobody was picking up the phones at the embassy, this is probably just normal though. I rerouted through Hong Kong to get my visa, not knowing if they had same day service. As it turns out, they don't. Luckily they did get it processed within a few hours. They may or may not ask you for a business card, they don't want press people for some reason

I continued on to Bangkok and flew Air Asia into Yangon. The comments about bringing cash are absolutely critical, and bring uncirculated US dollars or you'll be getting shitty rates, if they'll exchange them at all. I had all uncirculated US currency, a couple of hours before exchanging the money I put a few $100 dollar bills in my wallet. The miniscule crease that resulted caused the money changer to reject them. On the other side any Myanmar currency that's taped together or in tatters is perfectly acceptable. I recommend putting your currency in a tin box (ridiculous I know).

Burma was really worth the effort. Kind people, very interesting places to see, and a fraction of the visitors you come across any where else in asia. This will change.

I have quite a few images from Burma on by blog. Republic Of Mike

Shwedagon Temple


Inle Lake


Bagan




Balloon Festival


video

[Ovechkin]

wow!!!! absolutely beautiful photos! thank you for the insight. there's no way i can apply for a visa in Taiwan? I must do it in person in either BK, KL, or HK?

[zyzzx]

wow!!!! absolutely beautiful photos! thank you for the insight. there's no way i can apply for a visa in Taiwan? I must do it in person in either BK, KL, or HK?

No, you can do it through a travel agent in Taiwan. They'll send it off to wherever.
And yes, bring cash - new, clean, unfolded US dollars. 100 dollar bills are best, but some smaller denominations can also come in handy.

[Ovechkin]

unfortunately i wont have USD with me in Taiwan...all my money is in NT...would I have any issues changing money from NT before i go?

when I do booking through a travel agent...they'll take my passport right? that makes me so nervous...for all of us out here, thats our lifeline!