Looking for a replacement for the Kathmandu Guest House
September 13, 2015 10:14 AM Subscribe
I just arrived in Kathmandu and am looking for a cheap room at a safe, cozy-ish guest house.
During my previous visits, I stayed at the Kathmandu Guest House [KGH] in a little room that was little more than a bed, a desk and a window. The great thing was that it was only about $2.25 a day, so I could (and did) stay for months.
The recent earthquakes destroyed the old wing of the KGH and now they are just using their newer, high-end section where the cheapest room is $40 a day.
What I liked about the KGH was that although my room was small, it was cozy. It had these two heavy wood doors almost like a cabinet. It felt safe (like I could leave all my belongings there if I went elsewhere for a week)—which is the opposite feeling I get from places with hollow-core doors and push-button "bathroom locks" on the rooms. The KGH was also kind of set back and removed from the noise of Thamel, so it was a peaceful place to retreat to when Thamel got crazy. Finally, it was an old Rana palace, so it looked cool inside and it was kind of like staying at a funky 1970s ski lodge.
tl;dr:
I am looking for recommendations of cheap, but safe/cozy places you have stayed in Kathmandu (doesn't have to be in Thamel). Hollow-core doors need not apply.
During my previous visits, I stayed at the Kathmandu Guest House [KGH] in a little room that was little more than a bed, a desk and a window. The great thing was that it was only about $2.25 a day, so I could (and did) stay for months.
The recent earthquakes destroyed the old wing of the KGH and now they are just using their newer, high-end section where the cheapest room is $40 a day.
What I liked about the KGH was that although my room was small, it was cozy. It had these two heavy wood doors almost like a cabinet. It felt safe (like I could leave all my belongings there if I went elsewhere for a week)—which is the opposite feeling I get from places with hollow-core doors and push-button "bathroom locks" on the rooms. The KGH was also kind of set back and removed from the noise of Thamel, so it was a peaceful place to retreat to when Thamel got crazy. Finally, it was an old Rana palace, so it looked cool inside and it was kind of like staying at a funky 1970s ski lodge.
tl;dr:
I am looking for recommendations of cheap, but safe/cozy places you have stayed in Kathmandu (doesn't have to be in Thamel). Hollow-core doors need not apply.
I was in Kathmandu a couple of weeks ago and had breakfast one morning at Ting's, which is on a beautiful quiet side street. It was ridiculously relaxed and cozy and even though I wasn't staying there I wanted to move in permanently. It's not $2.25/day(!) but their cheapest room is $20, which is pretty great for how nice that place is. I have no idea about their door quality but it felt very safe.
posted by theodolite at 5:34 PM on September 13, 2015
posted by theodolite at 5:34 PM on September 13, 2015
Response by poster: (And, I know that the old $2.25 price was a crazy aberration that I was lucky to find, I'm just hoping to be able to find something more in the $5–$8–$10 range, than in the $20–$40 range)
posted by blueberry at 10:56 PM on September 13, 2015
posted by blueberry at 10:56 PM on September 13, 2015
As a rickshaw / tuk tuk driver. Tell them that you want a room like in the old wing of the KGH in your price range.
posted by Thella at 12:24 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Thella at 12:24 AM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
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What about something like hostelbookers or the like? Not sure how likely Kathmandu guest houses are to be online, or how likely the ones online are to be cheap (when I went to India I def. noticed that places you could book online or that had a lot of online reviews tended to be exponentially more expensive than the places I just walked by and stopped into). But it might give you some ideas.
When I backpacked India, I would usually arrive in the tourist/backpacker ghetto (which is Old Freak Street for Kathmandu, yeah?) and walk around on foot to find the best deals. I also got some great places by calling ahead to spots in the Lonely Planet et al, via phone.
posted by Sara C. at 4:39 PM on September 13, 2015