best method of currency

[trekky48]

Hi All
I will be arriving in Kathmandu on Oct 31 to do a EBC trek & will be my first time in Nepal i am Australian & was wondering which is the best money option to use i.e Australian dollars cash,US cash ,or travellers cheques ,visa card any input would be appreciated Ron

[Boulia]

Any of the above are OK. I use A$ cash to convert mostly, have used TCs and do get cash against visa at the ATMs in KTM (be aware of the charges you will face if doing this). FX Rates are much lower at Lukla and Namche so plan ahead what rupees you will use on the trek. If you pay for any part of your trek by CC you will be hit with a 3.5% fee for using the card by the agency.

[kegarne]

I am the same as Boulia - use Aussie cash and exchange in Kathmandu before the trek. Always handy to have a couple of hundred American dollars in case of an emergency when in the hills - I don't know whether Aussie dollars accepted there.

[Lars]

I draw rupees on my Visa card, around € 20 per day. I also carry some cash for
emergencies. Lately it has been better to have € (Euros), rather than Dollars,
due to the Euro having been more stable in value.

TC's feels a bit old.

[Sharon]

I use my debit card to withdraw cash at the ATM's. I always have some US cash in small bills for Visa payment and the odd situation. I do carry some travellers cheques. One time the ATM's were out and it is simply a back up option for travel.

[Petrus]

I have carried only €uro cash, enough of it. TC:s are history (extra hassle & cost), ATM:s can not always be trusted. At least I want to have "get me home" money in cash.

Of course there is no point in exhanging currencies back and forth before coming to Nepal (Aus$ to USD or €uro or whatever), unless you KNOW currency X is going to sink/rise considerably in the near future. But then you do not need to travel to Nepal to speculate on exhange markets...

[Lars]

Of course there is no point in exhanging currencies back and
forth before coming to Nepal (Aus$ to USD or €uro or whatever), unless you
KNOW currency X is going to sink/rise considerably in the near future.
Not for you. What I meant is that Nepalis, way out in the hills, who occasionally
trade their rupees for foreign currency when a trekker has run low, and then
months later need to exchange back and finds that he is losing out, is less likely
to do it again.

If you bring "hard currency" it had better not be all mushy.

[Suginami]

Same as Sharon. I use my visa card in the ATMs in Nepal and no problems. Sometimes they are not working and you have to look around for another. I always carry cash in dollars and yen for some special purposes and for quick exchange. I can get a stack of 10 dollar bills and some 100s but not many.

I am sure I WILL DO THIS IN December

[trekky48]

Thanx guys for your advice ,i will take some aussie cash pity its gone down & some U.S Travellers cheques & cash cheers Trekky 48:)

[ericl1999]

Hi Guys,

I plan to do the AC in late Nov. Can I change New Zealand dollar in KTM?

Cheers

[kiwigirl]

Hi All
I will be arriving in Kathmandu on Oct 31 to do a EBC trek & will be my first time in Nepal i am Australian & was wondering which is the best money option to use i.e Australian dollars cash,US cash ,or travellers cheques ,visa card any input would be appreciated Ron


I used US notes and allowed myself $50US per day and just changed to rupees as I needed them. there is a money machine at namcne baxaar but am not sure about further on as we only went as far as namche. The tea houses accept US notes and give you change in ruppees.:)