Staying in KTM

[mtncanyon]

Namaste. Im down to the final preparations. Need some advice. If I dont book online will I find it difficult to just show up and get a place in a popular hotel in or near Thamel? At the Intl Guest House they list basic and common rooms for 2-8 dollars. Would you stay in these? a place to meet other trekkers is paramount. I dont need luxury but I dont want an uncomfortable night either. What would be the best value as far as rooms and security go? thx. I arrive KTM 12 Oct mtncanyon

[thesilvertops]

If you want to meet lots of other trekkers then you would have to stay at the Kathmandu Guest House as that appears to be the gathering place. At this time of the season you will meet trekkers at every hotel, at the restaurant and at the bar. YOu may have a little difficulty finding a room on arrival and it's better to book ahead - peak trekking season is nigh upon us.

A basic or common room does not have en-suite facilities and the facilities are shared, usually next door.

[Suginami]

How do you mean just show up? When you leave the airport you will be besieged by guys every hotel in the city and you have to find transport. If you book your car before you leave the airport fine but once you are out you will never get a ride just to Thamel unless you are really tough.

Then if you get to Thamel there are so many to choose from da da da.

So just pick any hotel that you can book over the net. They will meet you take to to their place and if you like it stay on. There will be lots of trekkers everywhere and on the trail.

Yetizone has a good hotel section with recommendations. Potala comes to mind, Tibet Guest House, KGH, Acme and lots more.

Me, I like a garden and a roof spot to relax and see the city.

[Landfall38]

I agree -- the besieging upon exit from KTM intl airport is an experience all in itself -- if you've never been to KTM before, it is best to book ahead. Book for at least 2 nights (you can always move) and request they meet you at airport.

There ARE lots of hotels in KTM -- nevertheless, it will be high season so the better deals (price and quality) may be booked -- hence, book ahead. (I am sure if you polled regular returnees to Nepal most if not all book their KTM hotel ahead of time, which says something -- we certainly book ahead.)

International Guest House: We stayed there last year (not our usual hotel...) -- the gardens are VERY nice, the lobby/common rooms very nice, food good, and the people very nice.:) However, the rooms were definitely not up to what we hoped for (or were used to in KTM for same $) -- upon arrival and viewing the room we booked, we immediately upgraded to a deluxe room The deluxe room was OK, but not up to our regular hotel's standard. The other drawback was that the dogs were especially noisy all night :mad: (also used to be a real problem in the heart of Thamel but not so much now). We were happy to return to our regular hotel: Hotel Thamel. Another hotel is Tasi Dhargey Inn (friends stayed there last Nov and liked it -- we thought it looked fine too). Others on Trekinfo have recommended hotel NorbuLinka.

[mtncanyon]

Thx...Just to have a place to orient towards and a free r[de, I hope, I chose the acme guesthouse, Their location looks good. I booked them online. If I get there and dont like it im just out the $4 deposit. Any experiences with this place Cheers....

http://www.hostels.net/hosteldetails.php?HostelNumber=360

[thesilvertops]

International Guest House: We stayed there last year (not our usual hotel...) -- the gardens are VERY nice, the lobby/common rooms very nice, food good, and the people very nice. However, the rooms were definitely not up to what we hoped for (or were used to in KTM for same $) -- upon arrival and viewing the room we booked, we immediately upgraded to a deluxe room The deluxe room was OK, but not up to our regular hotel's standard. The other drawback was that the dogs were especially noisy all night

I think your description is very fair and accurate. When we arrived in January, we took the IGH manager, Ganesh, on one side and told him that we thought the hotel was looking a bit grubbier than usual and that there were several things that needed attention. This included the tired guest rooms and public areas (the stairs used to gleam!). The rooftop furniture looked terrible. I also said that they should have a system for things like towel replacement, room re-decoration, etc., As a result, when we went back in March, the old towels had been replaced, for example. Ive been considering moving elsewhere for some time but have not taken the plunge so far. I think next time I come to Nepal I will have to find somewhere much quieter. The problem is that after 8 years staying there, I have many friends and I would hate to meet one of them in the street if I was staying elsewhere. I do like arriving at TIA and being greeting by friends. It's the same when we dine, go to Pokhara or go on trek. We always look up our Nepali friends and we always get a warm welcome. It's part of the experience for me. Still, I'm hoping that a hotel report on this site will lead me to the right place to stay in Kathmandu.

[kiwigirl]

How do you mean just show up? When you leave the airport you will be besieged by guys every hotel in the city and you have to find transport. If you book your car before you leave the airport fine but once you are out you will never get a ride just to Thamel unless you are really tough.

Then if you get to Thamel there are so many to choose from da da da.

So just pick any hotel that you can book over the net. They will meet you take to to their place and if you like it stay on. There will be lots of trekkers everywhere and on the trail.

Yetizone has a good hotel section with recommendations. Potala comes to mind, Tibet Guest House, KGH, Acme and lots more.

Me, I like a garden and a roof spot to relax and see the city.

I stayed in kathmandu Guest House and they have their own website so you can book if you like. it does have rooms facing garden and you can dine in the garden. they will also meet you at the airport. they add tax onto everything but they have everything under one roof, money machine, resturent, laundry, taxis, money change counter, and so on.

[Frances]

I stayed in kathmandu Guest House and they have their own website so you can book if you like. it does have rooms facing garden and you can dine in the garden. they will also meet you at the airport. they add tax onto everything but they have everything under one roof, money machine, resturent, laundry, taxis, money change counter, and so on.

Hi Kiwigirl,

I was thinking of staying at the Kathmandu Guest House - it looks great from the website. Are the "ultrabasic" rooms OK? They don't look particularly dodgy from the picture.

Also, what do you mean when you say that add tax to everything? Does this increase the price of the room? Or is it just in the restaurant?

:) Frances

[mtncanyon]

I tried to book at KGH but the booking engine I used only had rooms for $25 and up. It looks like its very popular so book as far in advance as possible. It may be that you cant book the cheapest rooms online.

[thesilvertops]

The tax is added to everything - food and accomodation.

[mtncanyon]

I thnk most places I checked add a hotel and tourist tax to their base rate

[Escher]

I've twice booked a room at the KGH only to be turned away when I arrived there, they were quite uncharacteristically rude (for Nepalis) about it too. They didn't seem to care as I was a solo traveller and they had lots of groups booked - and that is exactly what they told me. The KGH is overrated and they don't try very hard because people will go and stay there whatever. All in my experience of course - take that as you wish.

There are loads of other places to stay. I have stayed in quite a few low and mid range places. I liked Hotel Thamel, Pilgrims Guest House and the Norbu Linka. I have also stayed at the Vaishali off season and got a room for $20. My preferred plan, if on a budget, is to go to the hotel that the taxi driver wants to take me too, never had a problem doing that and I have always ended up in a perfectly fine $10 a night place, equally as good as KGH and without the surly attitude. If you don't like the room you can pay the taxi fare and go somewhere else. If I want to stay somewhere nicer then I would email someone like the Norbu Linka (around $40 a night for standard room) and arrange an airport pick up.

[Suginami]

I hate tv and tour groups so I always avoid the KGH. I did stay there once but CNN blasting away in the lobby did me in.

I always stay at the Vajra.

[mtncanyon]

Pls tell me that it is easy to lose track of whats going on in the world once you start trekking .

[Escher]

Pls tell me that it is easy to lose track of whats going on in the world once you start trekking .

Of course. That's why longish treks are so good!

[mtncanyon]

Great. Id hate to walk into a lodge and hear talk about the latest presidential debate or have a Sherpa ask me what I think about Sandra Palin:)

[thesilvertops]

Unfortunately, electricity has arrived in most villages on the trekking routes and you will encounter TV, radio and MUSIC! We also found mobile phones in use almost everywhere. And avoid lodges where the village telephone is in the dining room of the lodge. If they can't get a line (which is the norm), they will redial and redial and redial and after 2 or 3 hours of that you will be ready to shove the phone up their..........

[Escher]

Unfortunately, electricity has arrived in most villages on the trekking routes and you will encounter TV, radio and MUSIC!

But it does vary a lot, seeking out the smaller quiet lodges is worth it and then this sort of thing isn't much of a problem if at all. Although I can't vouch for peak season, I always go when it's quiet. It does depend on your tolerance for noise though! But then I don't go anywhere without ear plugs...

[Frances]

The tax is added to everything - food and accomodation.

So how much tax gets added on?

My guide said it would be impossible to get a room cheaper than $18/each a night (twin), but I've seen a few that offer really basic rooms for about $5. Is this right? Or does it goes up hugely once they add the tax?

And since the consensus is that KGH is a no-go, where would you recommend staying when on a tight budget?

I'd like a hotel that's busyish, so we can meet other trekkers, but not packed to the rafters with tour-groups - maybe a happy medium between the two?

Cheers :)

[Sharon]

I have stayed at KGH but I now choose tio stay at Hotel Norbu linka. It is smaller and the staff has an opportunity to get to know you. It is on a quiet ded end street.
As for meeting trekkers you don't need to stay the KGH. You'll meet people everywhere. Thamel is filled with people going to or back from trekking. You can't help but make new friends.

[yakshaver]

So how much tax gets added on?

My guide said it would be impossible to get a room cheaper than $18/each a night (twin), but I've seen a few that offer really basic rooms for about $5. Is this right? Or does it goes up hugely once they add the tax?

And since the consensus is that KGH is a no-go, where would you recommend staying when on a tight budget?

I'd like a hotel that's busyish, so we can meet other trekkers, but not packed to the rafters with tour-groups - maybe a happy medium between the two?

Cheers :)

A real tight-budget hotel, in a top spot in Thamel, is Cosy Corner. There you're likely to pay 4-5 dollars per night (300-500 Rupees) for a double room with a common bath/shower/toilet area.

Have not stayed there, but got tempted there for a couple of evenings by a rowdy group of CostaRicans who were tremendous fun. Especially the girls.

The other end of the spectrum, and good value for money is Hotel Dwarika in Battisputali. If you get the off season fare of about 100 USD per night for the delux room, it is good. No Costarican girls though... so better go to Cosy Corner.

[keanu]

during my last trip, we stayed in "kantipur temple house". i would highly recommend this hotel to everyone. it may not be that cheap compare to kathmandu guest house, however this hotel is very nice, clean and provide excellent service. all the rooms and the hotel itself is designed in Nepalese Style. A bit of different feel for a change.

[mtncanyon]

The tourist tax comes to 10% at the place im staying.

[Suginami]

I stayed at the Kantipur one year and loved it. Great view from the top, they give guests cloth shopping bags to avoid using plastic bags and its out of the main travellers streets which I like.

The Dwarika is really good for lunch after a visit to Kopaan. Great vegetarian Thai curry, decent wine and a great ambience.

On media I always have a complete media black out. No tv or papers and no talk of back home. Where are you from and all that? Meeting people is great and there are some nice trekkers around but I just put my hand up when any one brings up who is killing who and which religion is at it again.

[Frances]

I stayed at the Kantipur one year and loved it. Great view from the top, they give guests cloth shopping bags to avoid using plastic bags and its out of the main travellers streets which I like.

The Dwarika is really good for lunch after a visit to Kopaan. Great vegetarian Thai curry, decent wine and a great ambience.

On media I always have a complete media black out. No tv or papers and no talk of back home. Where are you from and all that? Meeting people is great and there are some nice trekkers around but I just put my hand up when any one brings up who is killing who and which religion is at it again.

Well, I'm finding the US Presidential Race quite amusing at the moment (I'm from Australia, so I can look at it from a distance), so I wouldn't getting my updates on the trail :). But I'm going late November, when it's all going to be over, so I won't have to worry about being overloaded with news.

I think overall I'm looking for the cheapest decent hotel in Kathmandu - where I won't get bedbugs or show up with a reservation and be told they have no room. So not too fussy at all! ;)

[Michael Sunkist]

Nameste Frances, the Acme hotel in Thamel is pretty nice. I usually stay at the Eden Hotel at the end of Freak st. near Durbar Square. The Eden doesn't charge tax, not sure about Acme. I forget what room # I rent, I get the same one every time as it is double bed w nice bathroom and TV for 300 rupees per nite if you stay over a week. Also the restaurant on top floor has good food and views. Happy trails.

[mtncanyon]

http://www.hostels.net/findabed.php?type=search

If you havent tried this site they have reviews of some places.

[Suginami]

http://www.yetizone.com/

I think the hotel reviews here are better.

[kiwigirl]

Hi Frances,

the hotel room and price for food is not what they say it is. they add the tax on top when you pay.

Hi Kiwigirl,

I was thinking of staying at the Kathmandu Guest House - it looks great from the website. Are the "ultrabasic" rooms OK? They don't look particularly dodgy from the picture.

Also, what do you mean when you say that add tax to everything? Does this increase the price of the room? Or is it just in the restaurant?

:) Frances

[mtncanyon]

Thx Suginami. the YetiZone review site is very good!!!

[boleslav]

we stayed at the Kathmandu garden house, just 5 minutes from Thamel, but very nice garden, quiet place, highly recommend
http://www.hotel-in-nepal.com/

[Suginami]

Thanks for the tip. Looks like a really nice place. I love the garden.