Bradley Mayhew Lonely Planet author Hotel Ganesh Himal Our pick for comfort on a budget is this well-run and friendly place, a 10-minute walk southwest of Thamel – far enough to be out of range of the tiger balm salesmen but close enough to restaurants for dinner. The rooms are among the best value in Kathmandu, with endless hot water, satellite TV and lots of balcony and garden seating, plus a sunny rooftop. The deluxe rooms are more spacious, a little quieter and come with a bath tub. Throw in free internet access, free airport pick-up and cheap mountain bike hire (the manager is a keen biker) and this place is hard to beat. Here's a tip – bring earplugs, as the residential neighbourhood can be a bit noisy.