Page 41 - Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a
percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before
you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at
foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Nepal: ATM’s are available in large towns or cities, such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, but are
not available in rural Nepal.

Bhutan: ATMs are very limited. We recommend that you bring enough cash (U.S. dollars
and/or Indian rupees) to cover your basic expenses while in Bhutan as you cannot rely on
ATMs alone.

China: ATMs are very common in cities and towns, but may not be available in rural villages.

United Arab Emirates: ATMs are plentiful in Dubai.

Credit & Debit Cards

Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring
one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry).
We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American
Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the
Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other
brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

Nepal: Credit and debit cards are somewhat accepted in larger cities such as Kathmandu for
major purchases but will be rarely accepted in the countryside.

Bhutan: Credit and debit cards are rarely accepted—most vendors are still cash only. Be
forewarned that you might not be able to use any credit cards while in Bhutan. It is best to
bring a cash reserve to cover your basic expenses (in U.S. dollars and/or Indian rupees). Also
note that goods and services in Bhutan are substantially more expensive than in India.

China: Credit card use is common at hotels and shops, although many restaurants are still
“cash only”. Credit card use is less common in rural villages or remote areas, like Tibet or
Inner Mongolia.

United Arab Emirates: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted for major purchases and
in shops associated with the tourist trade, but may not be accepted in smaller shops or
restaurants.

Notify Card Providers

Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card
if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid
an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank

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