Taking a one week tour and have no idea of what is the proper amount to tip tour guide and driver. Would appreciate any info advice

I think it should vary based on the service you receive. My guide stays with me from awakening until bedtime. I tip him a minimum of $20 per day. If the driver is an all day driver I give him a minimum of $10 per day. On several days tours the typical guide fee is $25 and on single day tours they charge $30. Also at the end of the trip if I have USD left, I trade the guide good bills for his bad ones.

It's been a few years for me, and I was on longer private solo (3 weeks and one month) with a dedicated (non-governmental) guide who was with me all the time. We went to some pretty farflung places, and the logistical issues guide had to deal with were considerable. For each week, I tipped USD 100. Given on the last day, in an envelope, crisp, flawless new Benjamins. Drivers changed around, so an all-day driver I gave same as mgmsteven--USD$10. A half-day driver, usually $5.

Must emphasize that I'm not normally a tipper (living in China) but Myanmar is one place where for this sort of personal service, you should do so. Plan it beforehand into your budget for Myanmar, and bring crisp clean unmarked USD bills of varying denominations. Make sure you bring the latest dates you can get--2006 or later.

information much appreciated. as usual thanks

Agree with all other posters that Myanamar is a country with special circumstances and tipping well is very appropriate. We also brought a books, classics, ones with no controversy and school supplies to leave there as well. We left all our guidebooks as well with the guides to build their library. Its a place you feel that you have to do something to contribute.

Myanmar peoples are more easily to understand English.Getting a round and you can ask any information. they will tell you what you want to know inside Myanmar and safe for travel.

Did they let you enter the country with classics / books? Wow.

We were very careful with the books we chose. Classics as in Shakespeare, Greek Plays, American classiscs like Little House on the Prairie, Steinbeck, and French books as well etc. No problem. We went on an Irawaddy river cruise, and they support a school along the river and we left various items with the company to distribute appropriately.

How did you find a guide? I've been emailing the travel agency highly recommended by Conde Nast Traveler with no response.

Do I need to be concerned about the books I take into Myanmar? I plow thru a lot of paperbacks on any trip. It's nothing profound; beach reading and detective novels. Is there risk that they will be taken from me?

No!!!

+1 on the books. Is the travel agency Good News Travels? They are the one most mentioned in travel mags etc. Dont know what you are planning on doing but you could also try Orient Express as they run a number of trips 3-7 day cruises and several add on trips as well. We went with them several years ago and it was great. I do think this is one place that is necessary to have some assistance. Highly recommend Inle Lake.

Yes it is.

I looked at their offerings, but lack the time for their cruise. However, we plan to stay in their hotel in Yangoon, the Governors Residence.

Great to hear, as that is on the must do list. Any thoughts on a good hotel there?

I would be happy to recommend a private guide that I have used for three tours in Myanmar. He will custom design a tour around your wishes or will make suggestions and let you choose. If anyone is iterested send me a PM.

Governor's Residence is very nice and the area around there is nice as well. Much nicer than staying downtown at Traders or even the Strand. The decor is much more asian and it has nice grounds.

I think I wrote in another thread. Inle Princess .. we also took a day trip with/to Pa-O village and temples. We were the only ones there (our group of four, guide, and a wonderful woman from the village). Were able to walk around a village and enter homes of the villagers. The market place on the far side of the lake is an adventure as well, market day is several times a week. It is a local market, foods and vegetables, but we came home with some unusual kitchen utensils. How much time do you have? The cruises can be for 3 or 4 days, we did 3 and then 3 days in Inle Lake, and of course, we wished we had more time, but even less and Im not sure you see much.

Recently returned, it was way over my expectations. Used Exotissmo, they handled every litle detail effoprtless trip. Highly recommend country and tour company