Excelsior Hotel in Kathmandu
 

Has anybody stayed here recently and if so what did they think? Is it noisy? Is it clean?
thanks for any tips or alternative suggestions for accomm in Kathmandu (dont want real budget but not interested in luxury either - just clean and relaxing in a reasonable location)

I noticed that you also posted about Delhi. We just got back from India and Nepal. Stayed in Kathmandu Guest House - very convenient, no complaints. We opted for the "garden" rooms, which are more expensive but larger (for our family of four). Would stay there again.

Thanks Ben for the reply to both posts (delhi) I keep reading mixed reviews on Kathmandu Guest House that had me hesitating....
would still love to hear from anyone who has stayed in the Excelsior as I really like the look of it (but homepages can be very deceptive! ha ha)

To Ben again (or anyone who's stayed recently at Kathmandu Guest House) - Having 2nd thoughts about staying here. If I make the booking was there any particular part that I should request (I realise its had lots of additions so guess that there are old, better best variety of rooms) any tips on this one?
thanks

We stayed one night in the newer wing of the Kathmandu Guest House, which was okay, but more crowded for a family with kids. Then we moved to one of the garden rooms on the courtyard, which was one of the most expensive rooms (probably about U.S. $60 per night), but enabled us to put in two extra beds, for a quad sleeping arrangement, and still have room for a table and chairs and a desk. When the heat in the room stopped working (this was last month and the weather was cold), the hotel immediately moved us to an identical room next door. We found the location to be ideal (everyone knows where it is, so it is easy to ask directions back to the hotel after spending a day walking around the city), and the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Excellent (and cheap) restaurants on the same street, more shopping within a block or two than you can imagine, taxis and rickshaws always available, plenty of hot water, quick and relatively cheap laundry service, in-house helpful travel agency, ATM just outside the hotel, money changing in the hotel, and an in-house internet cafe. The Kathmandu Guest House is definitely in heart of the "tourist" section of Kathmandu, but is only a 15 minute walk from Durbar Square, the Royal Palace, and other sites. For us, the helpful staff at the hotel and the internet cafe were a blessing, because we hit some major snags in our travel plans and had to spend several extra days in the Kathmandu Valley. The hotel's travel agent was "running errands" and volunteered to take me with him to the airline office to reschedule our flights out of the country and to the immigration office (to extend our expired visas). When we were not able to board our flight out of the country, we called the hotel and a van came to pick us up and move us back into the same hotel room. As I tried to make alternate travel arrangements via fax and internet and international phone calls, the internet cafe staff was great and (probably in sympathy with our situation) didn't charge me for much of my internet use.

Thanks Ben, youve won me - Kathmandu Guest House it is.
Im thinking Ill book there for the 3 days before our trek and maybe Hotel Vajra for our last couple of days at the end of the trek. Did you see or hear of this one?
http://www.hotelvajra.com/

I don't recall seeing this hotel, but it looks peaceful and relaxing from the website. KGH has a lot going on, although the courtyard can be very peaceful. If for no other reason than variety, I would stay at Hotel Vajra on the return trip, if I were you. Have a great trip! By the way, make sure to visit the cremations in Kathmandu.