Buying US Dollars for travel to Myanmar

[mamooaustralia]

Hello,

We are travelling to Myanmar later this year. Since there are no ATMs or credit cards there, we have to take in US dollars. However, these dollars have to be brand new, not folded, creased or marked in any way. Furthermore, I cannot take in $100 dollar bills with serial numbers starting with CB or AB.

This may seem a stupid question, but can I go to a bank and ask for brand new notes that meet the criteria? I notice when I go to the American Express website, it won't allow me to purchase the US dollars if I admit going to Myanmar.

Just wondering what other people did when they travelled to Myanmar or if anyone knows where I can go in Sydney to purchase these brand new $100 US notes that meet the criteria. Can I actually ask that they don't have a particular serial number?

This is what one travel site in Myanmar says: (I quote)
* US Dollar banknotes should be post (after) 1996 issues with a ‘big’ Presidents head.
* Check the serial numbers. Due to past counterfeiting any banknote bearing serial numbers starting with the letters ‘AB’ or ‘CB’ will be refused.
* Check the condition of your banknotes very carefully. All US Dollar banknotes MUST be in pristine, mint condition. Banknotes that are torn, damaged, defaced (written on, marked with stamps or ink, etc) or excessively folded will be refused.

Many thanks,
Charlie

 

[Kennycbr]

Hi Charlie,

I recently returned from a 4 week trip to Myanmar. Loved it.
I had no problems obtaining "new" US dollars here in Australia. I got the majority of my notes in Thailand just before entering Myanmar. I checked each note at the bank, and asked for any marked notes to be changed. It is is true that in Myanmar you must have new notes. Any notes with just a slight mark, crease, or tear will not be accepted. Whilst is Myanmar, I found the best exchange rate at Scott Market in Yangon. The rate got progressively worse the further from Yangon I traveled, although everything over there is very cheap. Hope you enjoy your trip
Ken

 

[Mal]

Every time I've ordered USD currency from Amex it has been brand new with consecutive numbers, and if they didn't have it in the float, there should be some in the safe, or you would be able to ask them to order some in and it would probably be there the next day.

Asking for spotless notes of a recent heritage or avoiding particular serial numbers would be a routine request (as travel to certain Asian countries require spotless new notes).

I'm not even sure if AB and CB series notes would be available at the moment in mint condition.

While you're unlikely to be officially asked if you are travelling to Myanmarwhen you order forex in person (although in friendly chit-chat they might ask where you're going) , Amex still wouldn't be allowed to legally sell you forex when you are travelling to Myanmar - as they are an American financial institution and are bound by US Law.

If you do end up ordering online, consider using either the Westpac forex site (you collect it at Amex!), or Travelex online. Westpac normally gives a better rate than Amex, and Travelex normally gives the same or slightly better rate than Westpac.

(Of course avoiding Travelex "walk-up" purchasing is strongly recommended!)

 

[Bundy Bear]

Every time I've ordered USD currency from Amex it has been brand new with consecutive numbers, and if they didn't have it in the float, there should be some in the safe, or you would be able to ask them to order some in and it would probably be there the next day.

While you're unlikely to be officially asked if you are travelling to Mynamar when you order forex in person (although in friendly chit-chat they might ask where you're going) , Amex still wouldn't be allowed to legally sell you forex when you are travelling to Mynamar - as they are an American financial institution and are bound by US Law.

If you do end up ordering online, consider using either the Westpac forex site (you collect it at Amex!), or Travelex online. Westpac normally gives a better rate than Amex, and Travelex normally gives the same or slightly better rate than Westpac.

(Of course avoiding Travelex "walk-up" purchasing is strongly recommended!)

Westpac do ask if you are travelling to Myanmar, and I guess they wouldn't sell it to you if you were going there.

 

[mamooaustralia]

Hi Ken,

Can I ask where you purchased your "new" US dollars in Australia?

Just checked the Westpac site and it asks if I am going to Myanmar - looks like I'm going to have to be untruthful when placing an order for my cash!!

Charlie

Hi Charlie,
I recently returned from a 4 week trip to Myanmar. Loved it.
I had no problems obtaining "new" US dollars here in Australia.

 

[Kennycbr]

I bought them in a Westpac branch. They asked if I was going to Myanmar, and a few other countries, and i said no, I was going to Cambodia. No more questions and handed over the dollars

 

[kpc]

I recently bought USD from Aust Post. I think they sourced it from AMEX. All band new notes with sequential serial numbers. They did not ask me where I was going....not the best rate in town but is was convenient as there is an Aust Post branch where I work.

 

[Mal]

Westpac do ask if you are travelling to Myanmar, and I guess they wouldn't sell it to you if you were going there.

I bought them in a Westpac branch. They asked if I was going to Myanmar, and a few other countries, and i said no, I was going to Cambodia. No more questions and handed over the dollars

That's interesting. I've never been asked. Perhaps they weren't following their own practices, or it's recently been initiated.

I don't believe Travelex is covered by the U.S restrictions.

 

[PaulC83]

Hi Ken,

Can I ask where you purchased your "new" US dollars in Australia?

Just checked the Westpac site and it asks if I am going to Myanmar - looks like I'm going to have to be untruthful when placing an order for my cash!!

Charlie

Since there are no direct flights I presume you are going via another location in Asia, so you wouldn't be untruthful saying you are taking USD there...... its not your fault you didn't manage to spend it all before moving on

 

[mamooaustralia]

Good point! I will be in Cambodia, flying to Yangon from Phnom Penh via Bangkok.

Since there are no direct flights I presume you are going via another location in Asia, so you wouldn't be untruthful saying you are taking USD there...... its not your fault you didn't manage to spend it all before moving on

 

[mamooaustralia]

Hi Ken,

As someone who has recently travelled to Myanmar, what would you say is a good sum of cash to take for spending money? I will be there for 13 nights - Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan.

Besides accommodation, the internal flights and balloons over bagan that we want to do, the only other things we would be buying would be food, taxis and the entrance fees and any souvenirs that we may purchase. I don't want to get stuck there and run out of money. I can budget for the accommodation and flights as I will be booking them here and will know how much I will be up for. It's the amount of spending money I am not sure to take - for those incidentals mentioned above.

By the way, would you have any recommendations for good local restaurants or any other activities that you would recommend?

We are looking forward to travelling there.

Thanks,
Charlie

Hi Charlie,
I recently returned from a 4 week trip to Myanmar. Loved it.
Ken