Page 53 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Travel essenTials BASICS 51
EXCHANGE RATES and tourist centres; most accept both visa and
at the time of research, the exchange MasterCard (exceptions are noted in the Guide),
rate was roughly K1370 to $1, K1700 to although it’s still worth bringing a decent stash of
£1 and K1150 to €1. dollars (aTMs dispense only kyat) as a backup.
note, too, that aTMs typically charge a $5
withdrawal fee (on top of whatever your bank at
note, however, that many touristy places (including home might charge you). Credit cards are now
hotels, restaurants, shops and tour operators) quote generally accepted in all top-end and some
prices and prefer payment in dollars, and some mid-range hotels, plus some more upmarket
more upmarket hotels and operators may insist on shops and restaurants.
payment in dollars (it’s certainly easier than
counting out huge wads of kyat), although this is Opening hours and public
becoming increasingly rare. if you do pay in local holidays
currency at such places where kyat are preferred,
the kyat price may be calculated at a disadvanta- standard business hours are Monday to Friday
geous exchange rate (sometimes as low as 9am to 5pm; banks typically open Monday to
$1=K1000), making it slightly cheaper to pay with Friday 9am to 3pm, although some close earlier and
dollars – keep some low-denomination notes currency exchange counters may not open until
handy for such occasions. Change may be given in 11am. Major temples may stay open 24 hours a day
either dollars or kyat. (especially during festivals and holidays), and will
certainly be open (at minimum) from around 6am
Changing money to 9pm. Opening times for restaurants, teahouses,
at one time the official exchange rate for kyat was bars and shops are given throughout the Guide.
kept artificially low and most people changed
money on the black market, but today banks and PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
official moneychangers offer a realistic rate. avoid Several holidays (marked *) are based upon the lunar calendar and
changing money on the street, however good the therefore change date each year.
rate you’re offered, as scams are common. Kyat can’t January 4 Independence Day
be exchanged overseas – be sure to change all your February 12 Union Day
leftover currency before leaving the country. March 2 Peasants’ Day
Dollars are the easiest overseas notes to March/April* Tabaung full moon
exchange, although you should also be able to March 27 Armed Forces Day
change euros, pounds and other major currencies. April 13–16 Thingyan Water Festival
note that you won’t be able to exchange Us dollars April 17 New Year
issued before 2006. High-value notes (particularly May 1 Labour Day
$100 bills) also attract the best exchange rates. May* Kasong full moon
it‘s imperative (this can’t be stressed enough) July 19 Martyrs’ Day
that any notes that you intend to use in Myanmar July* Waso full moon (beginning of Buddhist “Lent”)
are in pristine condition (ideally, ask if your home October* Thadingyut full moon (end of Buddhist “Lent”)
bank can get you mint-condition notes). November* Tazaungmone full moon
Banknotes that are creased, torn or marked in any November/December* National Day
way – however minor – may not be accepted in December/January* Kayin New Year
payment, or you’ll be forced to sell them at a December 25 Christmas Day
reduced rate if exchanging for kyat. similarly, in
the (slightly unlikely) event that you end up Phones
having to buy dollars in Myanmar, reject any note
not in perfect condition. Most guesthouses will let you make calls within
Myanmar from a phone at reception (check the
ATMs and credit cards cost first), and staff are often happy to make the call
aTMs have mushroomed across the country in for you if you’re worried that the phone will be
recent years, while more and more places have answered by a non-english-speaker. Calls made
begun to accept credit cards. Western Union and from the in-room iDD phones found in some
MoneyGram services are also now available. There top-end hotels always come with a massive
are now a fair number of ATMs in all major towns mark-up. it’s possible to call internationally using a

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