what about this for a question ... (I know you are all going to have a giggle at this... ) if I stay in a backpackers hotel can I bring a suitcase?
I plan to spend 4 weeks in Myanmar (mid December .- mid January) ... I do not intend to stay lots of nights in lots of different hotels, when I find a pleasant place to stay then I'll remain 5/6 nights .. basically I shall visit Yangon, Inle, Moulmein, possibly Mandalay, Bagan Monywa and back to Yangon ... with buses or internal flights, and general to-ing and fro-ing in taxis or tuk-tuks .. are there any practical advantages of carting a backpack about rather than a suitcase. Possibily I shall stay somewhere like Traders or Panorama in Yangon upon arrival and the night before departure ... (with the dollar struggling against the Euro, for Euro 1.00 I get $ 1.50 ... I think I can treat myself to a wee bit of luxury). When I go out into the sticks a bit would a suitcase hinder me or is the only sensible choice a backpack ? example : this overnight boat affair from Yangon to Bassein/Pathein, would a suitcase be ... well, would it be practical ? I am of the opion that a suitcase wil raise to tone of my travels. What do you think ?
Oh and more thing ... internal flights ... when I am actually in Yangon, can I pay with credit card or just dollars ? ...
i am using a large gym bag where the handles being used as back straps if i so want to carry it that way.
I have traveled a lot and always used suitcases. Actually I have one medium sized (checked) one and one of those carry on for the plane. I usually have gifts for friends (and an orphanage) in Myanmar and souvenirs to bring home so I need the larger one. Most of the time the larger one is left at a hotel or guesthouse and I travel around the country with the smaller one. I'm older so I don't like to carry anything and there are usually plenty of willing people to carry things for me in Myanmar for a small tip. I find I can get most stuff in the smaller one that I need and like most all suitcases it has rollers. There are no ATM's in Myanmar so you will need cash in clean Dollars or Euros and I wouldn't rely on credit cards.
I usually carry a backpack and a second small suitcase or overnight bag. The second bag stays behind in Rangoon (or Mandalay, depending on my travel plans). Unless traveling with kids or heading for a more upscale setting, I find that a backpack is the most flexible way to move around. They are especially useful in Burma, you can use the straps to tie the backpack to luggage racks on trains or to the top frame of a pickup.
Well I abandonned the backpack this year ... it always weighs more than it should do ... and took a very small wheelie case and a day pack. It was a joy to be able to move my stuff around in comfort .. some cow dung here and there and mega pot holes to negotiate easily done!
I still have my trusty ol back pack circa 1973, but stopped using it about 2 years ago, I now have one with wheels and straps. I got used to packing back pack style rather than suitcase. Rolling rather than folding.
Like Helen I've used both and both work fine. Even in Burma, the broken sidewalk factor isn't that bad for wheeling. You just have to watch out for heedless walkers. Most people don't cover that much ground with all their stuff anyway. I'm not sure the wheeling/pack combos are worth the usual high price.
bun cha
trusted partner
