Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in Nepal or I have to give them cash
In Nepal, cash rules. Even in central Kathmandu, I stayed at a hostel that refused my card despite having the terminal. In Pokhara, cards were more acceptable but still not guaranteed. For trekking areas, don’t even think about cards. Withdraw plenty before leaving the bigger cities. The last thing you want is to be stuck in Namche Bazaar without enough rupees for lodging.
My experience was mixed: one hostel in Thamel processed my Visa fine, but the next two demanded rupees on arrival. They gave me a small discount for cash actually. I wouldn’t risk showing up without it. Nepal’s tourist hubs like Kathmandu and Pokhara sometimes allow card, but the rest of the country is strictly cash.
When I trekked through Annapurna, every hostel, lodge, or teahouse was strictly cash. Even in Kathmandu, I noticed many hostels had “card machine broken” signs. It’s just part of the travel here. Don’t assume you’ll swipe your way around Nepal. Carry cash, and withdraw from a Standard Chartered or Nabil Bank ATM in the city before you head out.
Kathmandu hostels like Zostel and Fireflies Backpacker happily took cards, but in Pokhara I ran into a place that only accepted cash. Nepal’s banking systems aren’t always reliable, so even if the hostel says “card accepted,” it often doesn’t work at check-in. I’d suggest keeping some rupees in hand, especially if you plan to stay in Thamel or Lakeside areas.