The Grand Hotel Kathmandu ISN’T the pricey palace the name implies. It’s a tastefully and generously furnished, comfortable but otherwise unpretentious, mid-size hotel (8 floors) offering very high quality at very resaonable prices. (SITA World Travel rates it four stars.)
It’s in a relatively remote neighborhood, four miles or more from the center city on the opposite side of town from the major tourist sites. However, that makes for quiet nights, and taxicabs are cheap.
Rack rate was US $95, but in April 2001, a single could be had for $80, including full breakfast and taxes. Every room had a panoramic mountain or city view. Mine had two queen-sized beds, plenty of lounging and luggage space, and a roomy, well-appointed bathroom (but anemic shower).
Television options included an Asian version of CNN and other English-language programming --- lots of cricket --- but not much else. But who goes to Nepal to watch TV? And what’s not to like about a hotel whose doorman proffers a stiff, proper, British military salute to every guest?