Our NZ VISA card was blocked inside Myanmar - anyone else had this?

I would not bother with travel card, the one I got was a complete waste of time and money. Best to find a bank that has no or low fees for overseas transactions and you can use everywhere you will go.

"Best to find a bank that has no or low fees for overseas transactions and you can use everywhere you will go"
I have a Post Office Mastercard that has nil charges for use overseas use but that would be of little use in an ATM in Myanmar as I will still be charged 5-6000kyat locally per withdrawal by the Myanmar Bank.
SS

Thank you Herbie, i've corrected Mandalay airport to 6 exchange counters. That's a lot for a smallish airport!

Yes there were loads, all slightly different rates.

It that a Credit or Debit card?

I don't like the fees either, so don't use ATMs in Thailand or Myanmar.

I used a Citibank Visa card at ATMs through Myanmar last year with no problems.

I read the info from this article where it says if you use your Citibank Plus Visa card at the AYA (Ayeyarwady) ATMs they only charge 50Kyat [sic] (50c) per withdrawal. Just wondering if you have tried it or if that's true? If yes, then I will certainly use my Citibank Plus Visa card at those AYA ATMs instead of bringing all the U$$$ I might need for my next trip to Myanmar.

Interesting article. I couldn't see a date on it. EVERY atm that I used during the 4 months I was in Myanmar last year charged a flat 5,000 kyat withdrawal fee. I've read that some have now increased that fee. I can't specifically remember using AYA bank but I suspect I did.
The advantage of Citibank is that it doesn't charge any fees in addition to the local ATM fee. Most banks charge an additional fee - often 2.5% of the transaction (which you won't see till you check your bank statement) - so that a withdrawal of $300 invokes a total fee of $12-13.
The 5,000 kyat flat ATM fee for me is a small price for the security of not having to carry large sums of cash in US$ which also needs to be in pristine condition.

herbie#14
It is a Post Office Platinum Mastercard (paid off in full monthly) credit card-I have used it in Oman,the UAE and Spain and saved at least 2% on purchases.
Will use in Myanmar soon for hotels and airline tickets-I don't use ATM's abroad
SS

OK I see, seems similar to Halifax Clarity which has no fees but it appears is blocked in Myanmar. However they did not tell when I phoned up and told them I was going there. I will check again.

ATMs are generally ok I have used in Vietnam (no fee) and Laos (low fee).

'The 5,000 kyat flat ATM fee for me is a small price for the security of not having to carry large sums of cash in US$ which also needs to be in pristine condition.' - yup....also, if from a country you have to first buy $US, and loose $ in the transaction, to then buy Kyat, then you are not that much worse of using card and wearing the fees.

ATMs are generally ok I have used in Vietnam (no fee) ' not quite true....last I was in Vietnam,, early 2015, the several different banks ATMs I used all had fees, or varying amounts, similar to, or actually more, than Myanmar ATMs.
Posts I have read in Vietnam forum mentioned only something like 1 Vietnam banks that ATMs had no/low fee.

Thai ATMs fee are 150/180 Baht...equal to, or more, than Myanmar ATM fees.