lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

13TransportMoney» Cash only. Creditcards generally notaccepted. Bring onlypristine US bills forexchange.Visas» Needed by everyone.Maximum stay 28 days,non-extendable.Mobile Phones» No internationalroaming. Prepaid SIMcards available forlocally bought phones.» Buses and trains –both are pretty slow,especially trains.Flights to major touristspots can get bookedup quickly in highseason.Websites» Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com)Good for pre-planning.» Irrawaddy (www.irrawaddy.org)Thailand-based newsand features site.» Myanmar ImageGallery (www.myanmar-image.com)Pictures and text onmyriad Myanmarrelatedsubjects.» Online Burma/Myanmar Library(www.burmalibrary.org) Database of booksand past articles onMyanmar.» Demoractic Voice ofBurma (www.dvb.no)Norway-based mediaorganisation.Exchange RatesThe US dollar is the only foreign currencythat’s readily exchanged and/or acceptedas payment for goods and services. Theofficial exchange rate (US$1 equals aroundK6.5) is less than a tenth of the black-marketrate, so do not change money at airportexchange booths or at banks. The best placesto change money in Yangon are BogyokeAung San Market (p 67 ) and your hotel.Recent black-market rates in Yangon:Australia A$1 K750Europe €1 K1050Japan ¥100K9UK UK£1 K1200USUS$1K785Important NumbersCountry code %95International access code %00Ambulance (Yangon) %192Fire (Yangon) %191Police (Yangon) %199Arriving inMyanmarYangon InternationalAirport If you haven’tpre-arranged a transferwith you hotel or travelagent, a taxi from theairport to the citycentre will be $8. Bringsingle bills with you(see below) so that youdon’t have to changemoney in the airport.Also see p 71 .Cash-Only EconomyMyanmar ATMS don't accept international cards. With few exceptions, credit cards and travellerscheques aren't accepted either. Budget carefully and get the right kind of bills beforeyour plane lands in Yangon. Otherwise, you'll end up in financial trouble.US dollar bills must be 2006 or later bills that have colour and are in absolutely perfectcondition: no folds, stamps, stains, writing marks or tears. On the black market, $100 billsget a better rate of exchange than lower values ones – but bring some of those, too.We know of only one Yangon hotel (Parkroyal; p 53 ) that is willing to provide cash againsta credit card, but it does so at 12% commission. For more on money matters, see p 364 .