Useful Travel Tips

Clothing

A light summer clothing made ​​of cotton is well suited for Myanmar. In the evening hours, it is advisable to wear long-sleeved tops and long pants to ward off biting insects. Do you travel to Myanmar in the monsoon time, you may take a light raincoat and an umbrella with you. Last is also useful as a parasol. In the winter season you should have a light sweater in your luggage. In higher regions such as Kalaw, Inle Lake, Pindaya and Pyin Oo Lwin Putao it is quite cool in the morning. Do not forget your sun hat and sun glasses.

Be sure to dress appropriately, especially in temple visits. Myanmar is a deeply religious Buddhist country. Too revealing clothing is not appropriate here. Shorts and skirts and strapless tops are taboo. Take shoes with you which you can put on and take off easily. The typical Mandalay slippers for temple visits are highly recommended. Wearing shoes and socks in pagodas and temples is forbidden.

Drinking Water

In no case should you drink tap water. Mineral water can be bought anywhere. Make sure, however, that the protective seal is intact. All hotels offer a free bottle of mineral water per Person in the room. Iced drinks can be taken without risk in good hotels and restaurants. At street stalls but you should avoid to drink anything. Some minor stomach problems are always possible if you are traveling to exotic countries. It is also beneficial if you take your usual anti-diarrheal medicine.

Vaccinations and medical care

Vaccinations and preventive measures should necessarily be made before your travel to Myanmar. Therefore consult your GP. Although currently no vaccinations are required, we recommend the following Vaccinations: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, polio, tetanus, Japanese B encephalitis, rabies, tuberculosis, yellow fever, typhoid and malaria.

Low risk of malaria in the border areas with Thailand. Urban areas Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan are malaria-free. In rural areas, seasonal low risk (March to December).

Do not forget to bring an insect repellent.

If you are taking medications regularly, you should make sure that you bring enough for your entire stay.

Medical care

If possible, avoid a stay in public hospitals because of their sanitary standard. A reliable medical care outside Yangon is hard to find. Larger hotels can usually recommend doctors and hospitals who have experience in the treatment of foreigners. In Yangon, we can recommend the following medical centers:

Tipping

In good restaurants and hotels, a tip of 5-10% is fine. Taxi drivers do not expect tips. Our guide and driver safely enjoy making a small donation (we recommend per person per day approximately US$1).

Electricity

The electricity supply in Myanmar is unreliable, blackouts are frequent. Therefore it's advisable to have a flashlight on hand for the occasional power outages, particularly if you are staying in cheaper accommodation.

The supply voltage in Myanmar is 220-240 volts, sockets usually correspond to European standards (Type C - Euro plug, type E F and - Schuko). Nevertheless, it is advisable to use a universal adapter with multiple connection types take.

All luxury hotels, most mid-range hotels and some budget hotels have bought emergency generators that provide power when needed.

Phone and Internet

Telecommunications in Burma lags behind most developed countries and neighboring Southeast Asian countries. However, the situation turns by the month for the better.

Mobile phones

International roaming in Myanmar is generally not available, so you have to assume that your SIM card will not work. Some roaming services are available, however, including Thailand (AIS), Singapore (M1) and Vietnam (Viettel).

Land line

International calls are quite expensive, about $ 5 per minute usually. Hotels currently offer the only way to call abroad. For domestic calls can be on phone stalls in the streets recourse to make local calls. One minute costs about 100K (15 cents).

Internet

Surprisingly is the Internet availability pretty well. You'll find Internet cafes even in remote locations. Wi-Fi is also often offered. However, the speed can be extremely slow, especially in rural areas. The prices in Internet cafes are usually around K500 per hour, outside of cities, they are often higher. The restrictions on use of social networks have now been canceled so that you can use Facebook, Twitter, and GMail freely.

Airport tax

At departure from Myanmar US$10 per person are currently paying in cash.