Around the World with Wes and Masami - Around the World Travelogue by Wes and Masami Heiser with Journal Photographs Expenses Lodging Guide Schedule Preparation Route

US citizen:	1st calendar year entry, 60-day single-entry visa: $30 1st calendar year entry, 60-day double-entry visa: $55 1st calendar year entry, 60-day multiple-entry visa: $70 2nd calendar year entry, 30-day single-entry visa: $50 150 day maximum stay per calendar year.
Japanese citizen:	1st calendar year entry, 60-day single-entry visa: $30 1st calendar year entry, 60-day double-entry visa: $55 1st calendar year entry, 60-day multiple-entry visa: $70 2nd calendar year entry, 30-day single-entry visa: $50 150 day maximum stay per calendar year.

English is sufficient for any activity in Nepal.

Standard Chartered Bank cash machines dispense Nepali Rupees and are connected to the Plus, Cirrus, and Maestro international networks. They are easily found in the Thamel section of Kathmandu.

Visa fees for Nepal and China when applied in Nepal must be paid in US$. All domestic air travel must be paid in US$. Tour operators for tours to Tibet and mountain climbing expeditions want payment in US$ cash or travelers checks (but they will accept credit cards for an extra 3.5~4.0% or Nepali Rupees at their exchange rate that is good or bad depending on your negotiation skills). Many tourists find themselves short on US$. The best rates available for US$ are:

1. American Express	American Express cardholders receive US$ AmEx travelers checks from the AmEx office (Sunday - Friday 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00) in Kathmandu (corner of Jyatha and Kantipath Roads) for zero exchange (US$ charged and US$ received) and 1% commission on Green and Gold cards or 0% commission on Platinum cards.
2. Western Union	Charges your credit card in Nepali Rupee within 0.05% of the median US$-NPR buy/sell rates and adds a 2% commission to issue US$ travelers checks.

Withdrawing Nepali cash from a Standard Chartered ATM and changing them to US$ at a money changer is the worst exchange rate possible.

US$ 1 = 76.476 NPR (Nepali Rupees) on October 9, 2001.

220V, 50Hz. Plugs have 2 round pins that are spaced slightly further apart than those in mainland Europe.

International Certificates of Vaccination are not required.

Tip about 10% in expensive establishments and about 5% in cheaper places. Taxis do not expect tips.

Most Internet access points also have pay-per-use internet telephones. The connection quality is very poor.

All population hubs with tourists and electricity have Internet points. Connection speeds are very, very slow. Standard rates are between NPR 30~60 per hour.

Daily buses go everywhere with a road. Small local planes fly to more remote places and mostly cater to trekkers.

Collect a free Kathmandu city map at the Kathmandu Airport. Good topographical trekking maps are available everywhere. Finding information in the Thamel area of Kathmandu is simple with the numerous bookstores and travel agents.