Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [196]
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BOOK ACCOMMODATION ONLINE
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The prices in this book are for standard rooms at normal foreign-tourist rates and do not include the usual 10% tax and 10% service charge. For a guide to price ranges used in this book, see the inside front cover.
Hotels
There is a variety of hotels in Bhutan, ranging from simple huts that cater to Bhutanese yak herders to five-star luxury resorts. All rooms in the DOT-approved, midrange hotels in Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing have electricity, telephone, private bathroom and hot water. Every hotel has a restaurant that serves buffet meals when a group is in residence and à la carte dining at other times. Restaurants invariably serve alcohol and often have a bar. Several hotels advertise IDD, but this can mean that the phones simply connect to the front desk and the hotel operator will then dial the international number.
All the hotels publish their room rates, which usually just apply to Bhutanese, Indians and project staff. Many have various rates for standard, deluxe or suite accommodation, although the difference between standard and deluxe in most hotels is minimal. When you book a trip, you may specify which hotel you wish, but unless you are particularly charming to the agent, you’ll probably get a standard room. If you want fancier accommodation or a single room, you may be asked to pay a little more than the standard tourist tariff. If you are travelling off season you can often pay less for a special room; if it’s tsechu time, you may pay more. The handful of top-end hotels all provide international-standard accommodation and services and charge a substantial additional cost to the usual tourist tariff.
A confirmed hotel reservation does not always guarantee a booking in hotels as small as those in Bhutan. A large tour group can exert a powerful influence and you may discover that there is an extended negotiation taking place between your guide and the desk clerk when you check in. Don’t worry; something will be arranged.
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PRACTICALITIES
The biweekly national newspaper of Bhutan, Kuensel (www.kuenselonline.com) is available on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in English, Dzongkha and Nepali editions. The Bhutan Times (www.bhutantimes.com) is a privately owned newspaper published every Sunday in English. The Bhutan Observer, the second private newspaper, is published on Fridays in Dzongkha and English. Indian newspapers and magazines are available in Phuentsholing and Thimphu two to three days after publication.
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (www.bbs.com.bt) broadcasts radio from 4pm to 8pm on the 60MHz band (5030kHz) and FM 96 Monday to Saturday. On Sunday it broadcasts from 10am to 4pm on the 49MHz band (6035kHz) and FM 96. Programmes are in Dzongkha, English, Nepali and Sharchop. The English news is at 11am and 2pm daily. BBS TV broadcasts from 6pm to 11pm daily with news in English and Dzongkha, and additional locally produced programming. Cable companies serve Thimphu and other large towns with feeds from satellite broadcasts including the BBC, CNN and a vast array of Hindi channels.
The voltage in Bhutan is the same as India: 230V, 50 cycles AC. Bhutan uses the standard Indian round-pin sockets and multi-adapters are available in Thimphu.
The metric system is used throughout the country. In villages, rice is sometimes measured in a round measure called a gasekhorlo. There is a scale called a sang that is used for butter and meat.
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It’s cold at night in Bhutan and central heating is rare. In Thimphu and Paro there are small electric heaters, and in Bumthang