Super Money-Saving Currency Exchange Guide in Mandalay! 🇲🇲

When we first arrived in Myanmar, we landed in Mandalay and exchanged money at both the airport and a local Chinese exchange shop, comparing rates along the way. But the best deal we found ended up funding our entire trip—thanks to an unbeatable exchange rate! With fewer travelers visiting Myanmar these days, reliable info is scarce, so here’s our hard-earned currency exchange wisdom. ✈️ Airport Exchange Lowest rates, no surprise. Only exchange enough for a taxi and SIM card here. 💰 Chinese Exchange Shops We randomly picked one near Guangming Hotel, and things got weird fast. The staff refused to quote rates until inspecting our USD bills under a flashlight 🔦. Turns out, they grade bills by "quality": "Good condition" → 4,500 kyat per $1 "Average" → 4,000 kyat "Worn out" → 3,500 kyat We managed to exchange three "high-quality" bills at 4,000+ kyat/$1—still not great. 🏦 The Ultimate Exchange Spot (Mandalay’s Best-Kept Secret!) Our hotel staff whispered about a place offering 5,000+ kyat/$1. When we arrived, the metal gate was shut, and we almost left thinking it was closed. But peeking inside, we realized they were open for business (just security-conscious). No bill inspections. No nonsense. ✅ Flat rate: 6,000 kyat per $1 💸💸💸 We returned before leaving Mandalay to stock up on cash, using this rate for hotels, shopping, and everything else. Most places (even hotels) calculate USD→kyat at 3,500–4,500, so we saved massively by paying in local currency. 📍 How to Find It: 77th Street, Mandalay (no exact address—just show the shop photo to your tuk-tuk driver 🛺). 💎 Yangon Exchange Rates We only checked at Bogyoke Market (Scott Market), where rates were ~5,000 kyat/$1. Didn’t hunt for better deals since we had enough cash. Pro Tip: Avoid card payments—always pay in kyat using your high-rate stash! #MyanmarTravel #Mandalay #CurrencyExchange #MyanmarKyat #BudgetTravel #HiddenGems #TravelHacks