May 4th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
For tourists, Myanamar has mostly been accessible only by flying through Bangkok. However, Vietnam Airlines has started a new non-stop flight between Hanoi and Yangon. It will operate four days a week using Fokker 70 aircraft on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. An Airbus A320 is expected to replace the Fokker 70 in winter 2010-2011 with 5 flights a week.
The roughly 2-hour flight departs Hanoi at 4:10 PM and arrives in Yangon at 6:10 pm. The return flight departs Yangon at 7:10 pm and arrives in Hanoi at 9:30 pm.
This is good news as it now allows Red Lantern Journeys to design trips that combine Myanmar and Vietnam that are logistically simpler.
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May 4th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
In a very significant move to promote tourism, Myanmar (Burma) is now allowing visas-on-arrival at Yangon International Airport without requiring an advance application. Tourist visas granted on arrival will be valid for 28 days.
The fee for the visa on arrival will be US$30, payable in cash. Your name will be checked against a government list of people with known political and religious affiliations that they don’t approve. Here are the specific policies:
(1) Visa On Arrival is available to anyone who holds a current passport from his own country.
(2) Validity of passport must be good for at least 6 months before expiration from the date of arrival.
(3) Cost is US$ 30 per person for a Tourist Visa for 28 days in Myanmar. Extensions are not allowed.
(4) You must hold a return air ticket.
(5) You must stay at licensed Hotels, Motels, Inns and Guest Houses. You will need to provide the detail addresses of your accommodation in Myanmar.
(6) You will need two passport size photos (4 x 6 cm in size) taken within the last 6 months ago.
(7) You must obey all of the rules and regulations in Myanmar including the laws of immigration.
(8) Children (under 7 years old) who are accompanied by their parents or who have their own passport do not need to pay visa fees.
(9) You need to have at least US$ 300 cash per person. If it’s a family, they must have at least US$ 600 to show per family. Other currencies are also ok.
(10) You are not allowed to visit restricted areas without permission.
(11) Visa On Arrival forms are available on line or from your arrival airline.
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April 20th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
I was fortunate to be the featured guest last week by Barry Kantz and Lorene Romero of the Home Based Travel Agent Show for their weekly podcast. They interviewed me about the services that Red Lantern Journeys can provide to travel agents and our tours to Asia with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.
The Home Based Travel Agent Show is about the travel business. Barry and Lorene talk about topics of interest to people in the travel trade community or for people interested in the travel business. Shows feature guests who are well known in the travel industry. The goal of the show is to increase agent’s knowledge of the travel business and to help them grow their business.
Lorene is the owner of Sharp Tongued Consulting, an agency that specializes in Hawaiian and Caribbean destinations and cruises. Barry is a home-based travel agent in his spare time and is the founder of these podcasts.
Check out the podcast here: Interview of Ambrose Bittner, founder of Red Lantern Journeys
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March 24th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
We’ve received word from the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) that the government is going to increase rates starting next year. They were planning to do this in 2010, but the recession caused them to delay the implementation. The new base rate will be $250 per person for groups of 3 or more. That’s a $50 increase over the old base rate of $200. Surcharges for groups of 2 are still $30 per person, and $70 for individual travelers ($40 surcharge plus $30 single supplement for hotel room). Our experience has been that rates for longer treks are even more expensive than the standard rates. In addition, there will no longer be low season rates.
Of course, these rates are for staying in standard hotels, which are generally in the 2 to 3 star category. To upgrade hotels to the Ziwaling, Uma Paro, and Taj Tashi, it can be several hundred dollars more per night.
Rates are the same whether you’re trekking and camping or staying in the standard hotels, although longer treks like the Snowman can have higher rates due to the extra logistical support required.
March 19th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
In typical fashion, the Indian government is backtracking on their visa restrictions for multiple entries that I reported on in an earlier post. I’ll keep you posted on when the new guidelines actually come out. Here’s the article that appeared in the Hindustan Times of 17th March 2010.
“GOVT TO EASE TOURIST VISA RESTRICTIONS
The mandatory two-month gap between visits to India, imposed on foreign tourists last December, will shortly be done away with. New tourist visa guidelines to be announced soon, will have no such restriction, but instead will allow only three visits to chose with multi entry visas, no questions asked. Those wanting to make a fourth trip will have to give reasons why.
The external affairs ministry has asked the change, but it awaits the home ministry’s nod.
The government had clamped down on tourist visas following the disclosures made by arrested Lashkar-eTayebba operative David Headley about his frequent visits to India using a tourist visa, during which he surveyed a number of the locations in Mumbai which were targeted during the 26/11 attack.
“The change is aimed at helping genuine tourists. Measures are in place to ensure we don’t compromise on security” said a senior official”.
March 18th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
Here’s a good article in the New York Times that describes the current political situation in Myanmar.
Change Comes to Myanmar, but Only on the Junta’s Terms
By THE NEW YORK TIMES, Published: March 17, 2010
Many people have the perception that travel to Myanmar is still very restricted, but that’s not the case at all. Tourist visas to Myanmar are as automatically-awarded as most countries in the world and there are no restrictions on independent travelers, although certain areas may be restricted. The tourism and transportation infrastructure is good, although perhaps not as advanced as the other countries in SE Asia. Guides speak excellent English, there are a choice of beautiful 4 and 5-star hotels, and flights between cities are reliable and safe. Check out the private tours for independent travelers that Red Lantern Journeys offers in Myanmar.
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March 16th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
Many river cruises on the Mekong River in SE Asia have suspended operations due to historically low water levels. According to the Maekhong Cruise Services of Thailand, they have suspended the Luang Say 2-day boat cruise between Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai Province of Northern Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos.
In addition, Mekong River Cruises, has canceled it’s plan to introduce a 7-day overnight cruise on the Mekong River through Northern Thailand with the RV Mekong Sun vessel.
Many other excursions may be affected in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, so be sure to contact your tour operator if you’re planning any travel on the Mekong River during the next month or so.
Here is an interesting blog that may give some insight as to why this is happening (e.g. upstream dams in China)
March 15th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
For the third year in a row, China has quit issuing permits to enter Tibet as of March 8th and supposedly until April 10th, 2010. Once again, no reason was given. Once again, the decision was made without prior notice. Once again, nameless, faceless Chinese officials have shown no regard for the businesses and individuals traveling to Tibet or to the businesses and individuals in Tibet whose livelihood relies on international tourism. This closure also affects Nepalese businesses as many visitors to Tibet come via Nepal.
The only reason a closure like this occurs is to keep the eyes of the world away from any abuses the Chinese will inflict on the population if protests occur.
China could solve its Tibet problems by addressing the needs of the Tibetan people and showing respect for the Dalai Lama, rather than vilifying him. But they’ve backed themselves into a face-losing corner and won’t be able to get out for decades. It will take a Chinese leader with the courage and vision of a Gorbachev to even begin to resolve their problems. How long does the world have to wait for that leader?
Closures like this have forced Red Lantern Journeys to quit spending marketing money on China and Tibet. Since just before the Olympics in Beijing, random closures and reduced demand have made China a less intriguing place to visit for Canadians and Americans.
March 15th, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
Our operators on the ground in Bangkok have been monitoring the current protests against the government. The number of the Red Shirt protesters seems to be lower than forecast, and they have made a concerted effort to protest peacefully–a very good sign. Organizers of the protest had predicted one million protesters would besiege the city, but actual estimates are around 80,000 to 100,000. As a result, tours in Bangkok have been operating normally. Transportation around the city has not been bad, except in the immediate vicinity of the protests. The rest of the country has been unaffected.
The military coup that was being forecast by the Thai newspapers a month or two ago didn’t materialize…I’m very thankful for that.
January 31st, 2010 by Ambrose Bittner
I’m currently in Bangkok en route to Nepal. The newspapers here are abuzz with speculation that a military coup will be staged soon against the current government. One paper is speculating that something might happen between February 4th and 14th:
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Observers-Coup-t334953.html
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