Annapurna Guest House — Hotel in Kathmandu Metropolitan City

I've been waiting to write this review for several days now because I didn't want it to sound phony or as if I was just checking the boxes of approval. First of all, if you're considering staying here, erase the name Annapurna Guest House and insert "my parents place". From the minute I booked my room online (through their website), I felt like a college kid coming home for the Thanksgiving holiday. I received a confirmation email that was actually sent by a human who turned out to be Manjit Thapa (remember that name). He wanted to make sure I was still coming - just like your mom or dad might do. I was told there would be someone waiting for me at the airport to drive me to the hotel. Sure enough, when I walked out of the airport, there was a guy standing in the crowd of cab drivers with a big paper showing my name. The minute I walked in the lobby, I felt like I was home. The lady who mostly runs the hotel ( I believe is Manjits mother ) took me in like I was her kid too - "What are you doing while you're here, how long are you staying, and give me your dirty laundry". I'm not even joking, my laundry got done. Yes, there's a fee for it - this is still reality here. ||I was staying for two nights before flying to Lukla for a week long trek. When I told her about my early flight, she slept in the lobby the night before I left so she could unlock the door for me to leave early. If that's not something your mother would do, I don't know what is. When I got back a week later, I got the same routine "what are you doing while you're here, how long are you staying, and give me your dirty laundry".||So the hotel itself - the description is a bit flawed. It is NOT a few minutes walk from Thamel. It's more like 40-50 steps to one of the main streets in Thamel. The area is rather quiet and off the beaten path but it's not THAT far. The building itself is aged but they keep it very clean. My room looked older but everything worked. I had a hot shower when I wanted it, air conditioning, and on the television was more cricket than I could ever watch in my life. The bed was super comfortable and the sheets/blanket were clean. The rooftop patio offered views of the city and in the distance I could see the Swayambhunath Temple on the hillside. In the lobby, they sell water, beer, and sodas and just like the description says, they can get you hooked up with plenty of things to do in the area. I spent a lot of time walking Thamel looking for places to eat and didn't realize there is a really good restaurant right next door to this hotel (to the east). At no time was I ever concerned for my personal safety or leaving things in my room while I was gone. Again, it felt like I was at my parents place for a few days.||On the day I was leaving, Manjit's mother arranged for my taxi (cab drivers will scam you so let her do this for you). I came downstairs to leave and was greeted by Manjit and both his parents and one of their employees. It was a brief "ceremony" in which Manjit presented me with a scarf-like linen that he draped around my neck. He gave me the traditional Nepali greeting of the praying hands in front of him, slight bow, and "Namaste". He thanked me for coming and wished me a safe trip back home. He asked that I come visit when I return to Nepal. Essentially, the family gathered to see me off. Wow ! ||Needless to say, when I return to Kathmandu, I will NOT consider staying anywhere else. Annapurna Guest House is now my "go to" place when I return to Nepal. Thank you...

I've been waiting to write this review for several days now because I didn't want it to sound phony or as if I was just checking the boxes of approval. First of all, if you're considering staying here, erase the name Annapurna Guest House and insert "my parents place". From the minute I booked my room online (through their website), I felt like a college kid coming home for the Thanksgiving holiday. I received a confirmation email that was actually sent by a human who turned out to be Manjit Thapa (remember that name). He wanted to make sure I was still coming - just like your mom or dad might do. I was told there would be someone waiting for me at the airport to drive me to the hotel. Sure enough, when I walked out of the airport, there was a guy standing in the crowd of cab drivers with a big paper showing my name. The minute I walked in the lobby, I felt like I was home. The lady who mostly runs the hotel ( I believe is Manjits mother ) took me in like I was her kid too - "What are you doing while you're here, how long are you staying, and give me your dirty laundry". I'm not even joking, my laundry got done. Yes, there's a fee for it - this is still reality here. ||I was staying for two nights before flying to Lukla for a week long trek. When I told her about my early flight, she slept in the lobby the night before I left so she could unlock the door for me to leave early. If that's not something your mother would do, I don't know what is. When I got back a week later, I got the same routine "what are you doing while you're here, how long are you staying, and give me your dirty laundry".||So the hotel itself - the description is a bit flawed. It is NOT a few minutes walk from Thamel. It's more like 40-50 steps to one of the main streets in Thamel. The area is rather quiet and off the beaten path but it's not THAT far. The building itself is aged but they keep it very clean. My room looked older but everything worked. I had a hot shower when I wanted it, air conditioning, and on the television was more cricket than I could ever watch in my life. The bed was super comfortable and the sheets/blanket were clean. The rooftop patio offered views of the city and in the distance I could see the Swayambhunath Temple on the hillside. In the lobby, they sell water, beer, and sodas and just like the description says, they can get you hooked up with plenty of things to do in the area. I spent a lot of time walking Thamel looking for places to eat and didn't realize there is a really good restaurant right next door to this hotel (to the east). At no time was I ever concerned for my personal safety or leaving things in my room while I was gone. Again, it felt like I was at my parents place for a few days.||On the day I was leaving, Manjit's mother arranged for my taxi (cab drivers will scam you so let her do this for you). I came downstairs to leave and was greeted by Manjit and both his parents and one of their employees. It was a brief "ceremony" in which Manjit presented me with a scarf-like linen that he draped around my neck. He gave me the traditional Nepali greeting of the praying hands in front of him, slight bow, and "Namaste". He thanked me for coming and wished me a safe trip back home. He asked that I come visit when I return to Nepal. Essentially, the family gathered to see me off. Wow ! ||Needless to say, when I return to Kathmandu, I will NOT consider staying anywhere else. Annapurna Guest House is now my "go to" place when I return to Nepal. Thank you...

I have stayed at the Annapurna guesthouse on three separate trips to Nepal (2011, 2012 & 2016) I first visited as a solo traveller, then with a friend and then again with my girlfriend. Each time, I've booked in on arrival and returned again after trekking. ||||Manjit and his family have always been very friendly and welcoming and for such a busy city, it's a pretty laid back place. ||||They have always been attentive and helpful whenever we've needed help with finding things in Kathmandu, advice on trekking, buses etc. They may ask you to come to their tourist info/travel desk after check in to talk about trekking etc, but they've never been overbearing or pushy trying to sell packages or misleading about needing guides or not, having to get certain buses etc.||||On my last stay there, I did overhear some people making a complaint just after checking in saying "it's not what we're used to" and I can only assume they were referring to the standards of the guesthouse. It is quite basic, but It's a cheap place in a poor country that has seen it's fair share of disasters and if you have realistic expectations you will be happy here. ||||I plan to return...