Hotel bookings and discrimination

[muffy]

When in Myanmar it is best to book hotels ,airline tickets online if you intend to use a credit card . This way you avoid the 10/15% credit card charge when at the desk for booking . I go from hotel to hotel using Agoda and the rates are better too .They flat out discriminate against Westerners with the rates , charging more and don't try to hide it . You can call it what you want , I call it racism . The government hates westerners but love their $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. At least the Thais try to hide the charges .

[SeaVisionBurma]

It can hardly be called racism. It wasn't only 'westerners' that were getting targeted by the inflated credit card charges.

It is a system from an older time when there were no international banking facilities available in the country.

The very few hotels who could process a credit card did so through their parent companies (usually in Singapore or elsewhere) which involved various faxes and calls. It was a high charge, but sometimes you paid it for the convenience (or lack of access to other funds).

It will be another relic soon.

To be honest I'd be surprised if there are still a large number of hotels charging the 10-15% you state in your post above.

The country has moved on a lot since then.

As for using Agoda, that is simply the more sensible option. Book and pay your hotels before you arrive.

Nothing new there.