Payment in hotels, travel agencies and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit Cards like American Express, Master and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants. Remember to keep your Foreign Exchange Encashment, Receipt while making foreign exchange payments or transferring foreign currency into Nepalese rupees. The receipts may be needed to change left-over Nepalese Rupees into hard currency before leaving the country. However, only 10 percent of the total amount may be converted by the bank.

Major banks, hotels and the exchange counters at Tribhuvan Airport provide services for exchanging foreign currency. Us Dollar travellers checks can be purchased from American Express at Dubar Marg and other major banks in Kathmandu. Banks in Kathmandu are open 10 am to 3:30 pm. Sunday through Friday.

Exchange rates are published in English dailies such as The Rising Nepal and The Kathmandu Post. Nepalese Rupees are found in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1. Coins are found in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 paisa. One rupee equals 100 paisa.

Approximate exchange rate as of November 2002 US$ 1 = Rs. 78.00.