Monday, February 6, 2012

Bank & Money Exchange

Nepalese Rupee Exchange Rate is currently at USD $1.00 = .01 Np Rupee. 

For current rates view {Click Here for Updated exchange) Make sure not to confuse the Nepal Rupee with the Indian Rupee, they are different!



How to Get Rupees
When I first started planning my trip I was surprised (sort of) that AAA didn't provide any sort of service to Nepal, therefore I was going to have to get the Nepal currency, Rupees, when I arrived off the airplane in Kathmandu. 
To exchange your money you will need the following:
  • Passport
  • US Cash, Travelers Cheque, or Credit Card
  • Save Your Foreign Exchange receipt
Banks
You can easily get Rupee's at banks in Kathamndu, Pokhara and other larger towns. Be aware of the bank hours. The best private banks according to Lonely Planet are Standard Chartered Bank and the Himalaya Bank Nepal.
Money Exchangers
Better rates, but higher commision. Better hours usually opened from 9am-7pm.



ATMs
Luckily there are plenty of places to exchange your money.  Kathmandu also has up-to-date ATM's, although cards that run on the Ciruss system sometimes won't work. (Learn more about Ciruss here.) As long as you have a Visa, American Express or Mastercard you will have no problem either getting cash or paying for hotel. Another suggestion that I would have is finding a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Just google it and you can read more about it. Please be aware that there are rolling blackouts (shedding) and this can mean that some of the atm's may not work, so don't ever be caught without cash. Check before you leave if your credit card will charge you large fees associated with pulling cash. Check it out with your credit card company prior to leaving.

Travellers Cheques
It seems as though this is still the safest and cheapest option. US dollars are the preferred way to exchange money. The are much safer than cash, but beware that you must be in Kathmandu to cash them.

Emergency Money & Transfers
For international transfers there are a few options which are quite easy. You will need your passport and any code for pick-up. Also note that usually the transfers will be in Nepal Rupees.
  • Moneygram
    • Moneygram is affiliated with Easylink, which has offices in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Bodhnath and Butwal.
  • Western Union
    • Agents in Nepal include Nabil Bank, Sita World Travel and Yeti Travels.
Tips




Images Provided In Top Banner By Ocean of Stars & Amba Brown
Images in ATM Banner provided by Nagariknews1 

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Entrance, Visa and Travel Information


When flying into Nepal from any foreign country you will need to have a passport as well as a visa. A visa an "an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country."  You will buy the visa at the airport after you get off your plane.  If you live in Washington DC or New York City you can also obtain one from the Embassy of Nepal.  If you are traveling by land there are multiple options as well.  Below are your visa options.


Visa Options

  • 15 day = US$25
  • 1 month = US$40
  • 3 month = US$100

To get a visa, you must first fill out the form shown below and have it with you.   If you would like to print it out ahead of time you can do so {here}. You can also fill out the form when you arrive.

Airport Checklist:

  • Passport
  • 2 Passport sized photos
  • Cash (enough and some more)
  • When departing from Kathmandu Airport you must pay an airport exit tax (currently around $25)



Add caption
THESE ARE FOR PREVIEW ONLY!  MAKE SURE TO GO TO ACTUAL EMBASSY OF NEPAL WEBSITE FOR ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE INFORMATION!






Information obtained from the US Embassy Page
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_980.html


Photos courtosy of left to right
Visa: http://nepal.visahq.com/information/



Our flights are booked and we are now getting everything sorted out in terms of hotels, guides and transportation. I will include all the information on here.




I will keep you updated as we know more.


Best,
Sarah




Photo Courtesy of Manipad