Dollars ONLY for paying....?

[louise.patterton]

hi guys, I don't earn dollars, I earn South African rands, and this currency has taken a 30% slump against the US$ recently. This means my month-long trek could cost 30% more than originally planned.

Trying to minimise my losses and will rather be using rupees obtained via ATM debit card when in Nepal (EBC) in December (than converting to $$ before departing for Nepal).

So for which transcations/payments MUST dollars be used ?

I know about the airport tax, the Lukla flight, what else? do porters accept rupees? guesthouses in KTM?

regards


Louise

[louise.patterton]

o yes the visa too

[rich]

From my recollection I believe everything is payable in rupees if required.
Can't quite recall but perhaps the only exception may be the visa on arrival at the airport. Remember your 2no. passport size photos, although these can be done and paid for at the airport in rupees (but better to have beforehand)

rich

[Escher]

That's spot on, I've paid in a mixture of currencies if I've had to. They just want your money!

It's worth taking quite a few passport photos. 2 for the visa, 2 for the TIMS certificate and maybe 2 for the Sagarmatha NP entrance fee (not sure of the last one - but I did need two for the ACAP permit earlier in the year - and it was handy having quite a few photos). You also need details of your insurance policy to go on the TIMS, worth having a note of these.

[Petrus]

Visa is the only one you need cash USD for. Everything else is payable (only) in rupees. OK, agencies do take dollars for flights etc. Airport tax is ONLY rupees...

[daras]

That's spot on, I've paid in a mixture of currencies if I've had to. They just want your money!

It's worth taking quite a few passport photos. 2 for the visa, 2 for the TIMS certificate and maybe 2 for the Sagarmatha NP entrance fee .


visa ---> 1 photo + 40 USD
TIMS ---> 1 photo + 0 USD
Sagarmatha NP ---> 0 photo + 1000NRs (ca.15USD)

rgds daras

[Spaceman347]

Airport taxes are in rupees;

Lukla airport departure tax 169-50

Tribhuvan Passenger service charge 1130
Tribhuvan Tourism service fee 565

So remember to have a good 3000 rupees on you when you go to leave for the airport (300-500 for the taxi depending on your negotiation skill and 1705 for the taxes) a bit left over for a drink.

I've paid in USD for my Lukla flights both times, it's what was asked for so I never bothered to offer rupees.

The tourist visa on entry can be paid in any currency (apparently) but I think most people us USD just to avoid any issues;

"US Dollars 40 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 30 days multiple entry visa."

The money changers in Thamel or anywhere else for that matter will change most, if not all, foreign currencies into handfuls of 1000 rupee notes in a matter of moments. The skill here is trying to get smaller denominational notes out of them although 1000 rupee notes are not as hard to break as they once were.

[Escher]

visa ---> 1 photo + 40 USD
TIMS ---> 1 photo + 0 USD
Sagarmatha NP ---> 0 photo + 1000NRs (ca.15USD)

rgds daras

I can't really remember about the Visa, but I definitely needed two for the ACAP permit and two for the TIMS when I got these at the NTB office in Pokhara in March. 1 for their files and 1 for my copy of each document. So definitely needed 4 just for those! Maybe it is different at the NTB office in KTM.

[daras]

Escher,
you're probably right. It should be 2photos for Visa and 2 for TIMS....
We were prepared (6photos), but on airport officer took 1 and in KTM (in travel agency) also 1 photo was required :confused:
... but better is to keep some spare photos - of course :)