Popular Post WinnieTheKhwai Posted August 14, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted August 14, 2013 Let the great Burma Run begin.. $10 for a week stay. What are you waiting for; especially the jaded cynical set.. No more excuses! --------- Foreigners entering Burma through three major border checkpoints along the Thai border can now travel inland and will not be required to exit the country through the same portal, in accordance with a new regulation passed by Burmese immigration authorities. According to the new rule, foreign travellers who pass through border checkpoints at Shan state’s Tachilek, Karen state’s Myawaddy and Tenasserim division’s Kawthaung towns will be able to travel inland freely, except in restricted areas, and leave from their desired point of departure. Full story: http://www.dvb.no/news/immigration-officials-relax-restrictions-for-tourists-travelling-overland/31227 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CobraSnakeNecktie Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 It's interesting opportunity as they begin to improve services like internet and medical care etc. If they allow expats to buy land or homes then I think a lot of folks would take serious notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sticky Rice Balls Posted August 14, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted August 14, 2013 To all the burmese that have been doing all the contruction and cleaning the streets and other dirty-looked down upon work Please enjoy your trip back home to your mother land--enjoy your friends and family once again--your time has come... To the thais that tell me they dont care and cant wait for them to leave (add Asean 2105 as well).....tick ..tock..tick...tock.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 But the hotels are hugely expensive. Been 4 times in the last 3 years and room rates have tripled or quadrupled. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pond Life Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I'm presuming this means I could take my car in thru Mae Sai & out thru Mae Sot. Will official guides still be required in this case ? Anyone know ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkles Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 But the hotels are hugely expensive. Been 4 times in the last 3 years and room rates have tripled or quadrupled. You beat me to it.Have a friend who has booked flights there over the New Year .Even allowing for high season the rates are extremely high,double what he expected for what you get. No doubt developers and hotel chains are on red alert to cash in on the influx of tourists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anto Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 But the hotels are hugely expensive. Been 4 times in the last 3 years and room rates have tripled or quadrupled. Hotels more expensive than Thailand yes ,but still relatively cheap .I stayed for 3 nights last week in Rangon ,at the Hotel 63 for B1,600 a night ,incl buffee breakfast ,and internet in room .Room was a suite of 3 rooms and bathroom had a tub with hot water .Booked through Agoda . Traffic in central Rangon is really bad .No motorcycles allowed .Only way to get around is by Taxi ,which have no meters but are cheap .Most destinations within the City B60 . Restaurants cheap with prices about a third cheaper than Thailand and beer about half the price . ATMs now work and take Thai debit cards . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Well, I stayed in a hotel that charged USD 70 three years ago and USD 240.00 earlier this year. Even in BKK I get a nicer hotel with MUCH better service at half the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyeshk Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Very good news. Anyone has an update on the visa rules if I enter the country on either of this currently two entry points? Or still apply for a visa at embassy in Bangkok ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahseer Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Very good news. Anyone has an update on the visa rules if I enter the country on either of this currently two entry points? Or still apply for a visa at embassy in Bangkok ? Visa first then enter as you so desire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anto Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Well, I stayed in a hotel that charged USD 70 three years ago and USD 240.00 earlier this year. Even in BKK I get a nicer hotel with MUCH better service at half the price. You can also stay at the Strand Hotel Rangon ,about one km from where i stayed at $1,000 US a night .You need to shop around . They dont have enough Hotels yet but that will change .Still very few Tourists about in Rangoon .That will change though and prices will no doubt go up .Then the taxi drivers with no meters will learn how to over charge . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceChee Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 TTG Asia has a good report ..at this stage there is about 1500 deemed international standard rooms The contracts signed so far will being it up to 9000 by early 2017 so it will tone that long a wait. These are the ones popping up soon Peninsula Hotel Shangrila Novotel Best Western Enjoy ...the rates will fall soon enough to an acceptable rate when supply increase shortly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Well, I stayed in a hotel that charged USD 70 three years ago and USD 240.00 earlier this year. Even in BKK I get a nicer hotel with MUCH better service at half the price. You can also stay at the Strand Hotel Rangon ,about one km from where i stayed at $1,000 US a night .You need to shop around . They dont have enough Hotels yet but that will change .Still very few Tourists about in Rangoon .That will change though and prices will no doubt go up .Then the taxi drivers with no meters will learn how to over charge . The problem with the cheaper hotels is that they will "lose" your booking if someone comes along and pays more. I work in the hospitality business and I do know that many Travel Agents are suggesting to their clients to wait a little; too many horror stories of guests having to sleep on restaurant floors and the like. This will change with every major hotel company falling over its feet to open a hotel there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anto Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 (edited) ^I booked through Agoda .Surely if they pulled a stunt like you say then they would loose their Agoda listing ? . I do admit spending a night in Rangon without a Hotel would be hell .It did seem a very safe place to me though ,but very run down and poverty stricken . Edited August 14, 2013 by anto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 ^I booked through Agoda .Surely if they pulled a stunt like you say then they would loose their Agoda listing ? . I do admit spending a night in Rangon without a Hotel would be hell .It did seem a very safe place to me though ,but very run down and poverty stricken . I have been turned away from a hotel with an Agoda booking. The hotel did not give a toss and when I complained to Agoda, nothing happened. My ex went a couple of months age with a confirmed booking. When she arrived at the Yangon hotel at close to midnight; they told her to go away. It is the Wild West on the hotel market over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaideeguy Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 (edited) I'm presuming this means I could take my car in thru Mae Sai & out thru Mae Sot. Will official guides still be required in this case ? Anyone know ? Pond Life, that would be a great trip if the roads are there and in decent repair..........who knows?? Maybe a group of us could caravan it during the dry season?? Let's research. Edited August 15, 2013 by jaideeguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagi00 Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Very good news. Anyone has an update on the visa rules if I enter the country on either of this currently two entry points? Or still apply for a visa at embassy in Bangkok ? Visa first then enter as you so desire. I read elsewhere recently that you can obtain a visa on arrival now - can anyone please confirm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhawk_usa Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I'm presuming this means I could take my car in thru Mae Sai & out thru Mae Sot. Will official guides still be required in this case ? Anyone know ? Very Doubtful. Shan state is still a very restricted area and fighting for its autonomy. Here is a link that shows a map of restricted areas. This basically surrounds Tachilek. However, I did cross by motorcycle at Mae Sot and traveled across the restricted areas in Kayan State in January 2013. Albeit we had a guide and police escort. http://www.tourismtransparency.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pond Life Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I'm presuming this means I could take my car in thru Mae Sai & out thru Mae Sot. Will official guides still be required in this case ? Anyone know ? Very Doubtful. Shan state is still a very restricted area and fighting for its autonomy. Here is a link that shows a map of restricted areas. This basically surrounds Tachilek. However, I did cross by motorcycle at Mae Sot and traveled across the restricted areas in Kayan State in January 2013. Albeit we had a guide and police escort. http://www.tourismtransparency.org/ Lets hope they are going to change the restricted zones, if not, then this is pointless : "According to the new rule, foreign travellers who pass through border checkpoints at Shan states Tachilek, Karen states Myawaddy and Tenasserim divisions Kawthaung towns will be able to travel inland freely, except in restricted areas, and leave from their desired point of departure." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pond Life Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Do they have small family run guest houses in Myanmar or are you all a bunch of Hi-So's ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 The whole topic is misleading. As has been pointed out it is only parts of Burma that are open. Also the prices in hotels are expensive. I was talking with a fellow yesterday about the possibilities in Burma. He is a businessman man and said if one were to start there now in 20 years they would be very well off. For the immediate future nothing. Just long range investments. As far as more hotel rooms coming available by 2017 the need for them will also have grown so don't go looking for improved conditions in that field either. I made the trip by car 5 years ago from Mai Sai to Monglar on the China border. It was very beautiful country. I was told that logging is changing that. I don't know if it is visible from the road or if you have to get off the main roads to see it but from what I have heard that is not exactly wise. Even on the main road I saw several soldiers carrying rifles that were longer than they were high and this was in the middle of nowhere. Yes Burma is open but it is similar to the United States in 1780. They were open then just had a lot of growing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anto Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Very good news. Anyone has an update on the visa rules if I enter the country on either of this currently two entry points? Or still apply for a visa at embassy in Bangkok ? Visa first then enter as you so desire. I read elsewhere recently that you can obtain a visa on arrival now - can anyone please confirm? As of last week if you fly in by air you will be asked to show your Mynamar visa by Airasia before they will allow you on board .There is a visa on arrival desk at Rangon Airport ,and an American who flew in from Doha told me he was able to use it .He had a work permit though as he had a pre arranged jom set up as a teacher . At the moment the advice being given is get your visa in advance if flying in . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueyeshk Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Jaggi but the whole topic is not about flying in but enter via the now two LAND border crossings. I would be interested if there are any other open border crossing to other neighboring countries one can use as a foreigner e.g India or Bangladesh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken George Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 So as for going through a border crossing its same same but different. No visa on arrival...Only difference now is if you have a visa you do not have to fly in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoli Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Very good news. Anyone has an update on the visa rules if I enter the country on either of this currently two entry points? Or still apply for a visa at embassy in Bangkok ? Visa first then enter as you so desire. I read elsewhere recently that you can obtain a visa on arrival now - can anyone please confirm? As of last week if you fly in by air you will be asked to show your Mynamar visa by Airasia before they will allow you on board .There is a visa on arrival desk at Rangon Airport ,and an American who flew in from Doha told me he was able to use it .He had a work permit though as he had a pre arranged jom set up as a teacher . At the moment the advice being given is get your visa in advance if flying in . Could this be like flying to Vietnam? Air Asia will ask to see that you have arranged for, and received approval, for a Visa on Arrival. If you must have a Visa in hand to board the aircraft, why do they have a VOA desk upon arrival? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anto Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 >>If you must have a Visa in hand to board the aircraft, why do they have a VOA desk upon arrival?<< Because some people are allowed a visa on arrival ,like those with a work permit as far as i can make out .You will soon be able to get your visa on line on the Mynamar immigration site ,but dont hold your breath .The site has been up for many months now and its still not working . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 If you must have a Visa in hand to board the aircraft, why do they have a VOA desk upon arrival? Because if you fly in from Siem Reap or Guangzhou one can get the visa on arrival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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