Myanmar Travel Group
We are planning a Feb trip to Myanma and are working with The Good News Travel folks to assist with trip planning and now we need to wire money to confirm reservations. Our questions is "is this standard procedures? We don't want to arrive and learn we have been scammed.Thank you, Les
1
It does appear to be standard procedure and you will probably be asked to wire your money(deposit) to a bank in Bangkok.2
Standard procedure for most travel companies around the world is to get you to pay for everything in advance. Since Myanmar is under an international embargo that prevents international money transfers (yeah, thanks a lot Europe and USA) their travel companies are usually paid through third countries. If they ask you to pay a deposit by bank transfer, you will pay the rest in cash, so the in-coutry branch of the comppany gets the income.Standard procedure.
3
And a third voice saying "standard procedure." The bank you wire the deposit to will be in Thailand, Singapore or Hong Kong. You will be instructed not to mention Burma or Myanmar or the name of the agency in your wire transfer. That is also standard procedure. And don't tell your bank the deposit is for a trip to Myanmar - it's for a trip to Thailand or Singapore or Hong Kong.5
For internal flights I was asked for a 50% deposit (sent to Thai bank) with the balance paid in USD at Yangon airport.For hotels I was asked for a 30% deposit and balance to be paid in USD at the travel agency's Yangon office.
6
It seems to be. This is why the only thing I booked in advance is the flight in and out, and the first couple nights in Yangon. Personally I wouldn't wire anything to anyone in advance, especially to a third party, going there, or here at home! But I guess that's just me. I pay for the Air Asia flight by credit card, and have never been asked for a deposit by a guesthouse going in, or along the way. Paid cash at the airline counter at the airport, or at my guesthouse for ongoing flights, boats, etc. Last time I didn't have a problem booking onward a day in advance. I know it's busier now...... I'll find out this October!7
Ikom...you might be okay to wing it in Oct. I was getting a load of "fully booked" responses for midNov-midDec, so I put an agency on the trail. I feel comfortable w/ the results and think there are several agencies in Yangon who have Thai bank accounts (I live in Thailand) and have been recommended by posters here for over a year...Santa Maria, Shan Yoma, Exotic Myanmar, to name a few.8
I would feel much better about it from Thailand! The couple of places I emailed for October/ early November said no problem. And reserved rooms for me with no deposit asked for, and emailed me back a conformation.
