Miscellaneous Tips, Afghanistan

In Kabul, if you don't want to stay at the Intercontinental Hotel ('Continental') which is rumored to cost $55 a night, then fortunately you have some other options.

Also you can stay at Hotel Jamil which is closer to the centre of town. A couple of freelance journalists are staying here. The staff are nice and look after you. I was quoted at first $20 a night (double room), but with little persuasion they agreed for $10 for a single room only, which includes a very warm gasoline stove. There is en-suite bathroom (the French dignifies it a little too much) but you need to heat your hot water on the stove. Power seems to be typical during the evening but not so much in the morning.

The best hotel for women travellers would definately be Hotel Mustafa, which is run by two American-Afghans, who are friendly and hospitable and more American than Afghani in character. It is a very journalist-orientated hotel (some NGO people also) and there are many foreign women staying here. It has something of the feel of school dormitory ('After 10pm we'd like you back in your rooms' so said the manager) but there is BBC World which can be reassuring for those in culture shock. Small and simple rooms with desk and tiny electric heater (shared bathrooms) cost $25 a night. Power most of the time, I think the showers work but I didn't try them. I wouldn't go so far as to recommend this hotel, some things rather annoy me (not least that Afghans, Pakistanis, and Arabs are not allowed to stay there), but it's is where I am staying at the moment until I can find something better and then find the time to move. Also some of the guests (journalists) are rather objectional, including one loud American who one evening declared that 'It would have been easier and cheaper just to nuke this whole country' then proceeded to ignorantly insult the Koran in front of the Afghan staff. I really saw red that time, fortunately my better reason and judgement and cowardice prevailed and I didn't attempt to thrash him. Such comments can somehow be expected and perhaps excused back in deep redneck American, but to say them in front of Afghans in their own country is deeply offensive, especially just because Afghans are really such good and decent-natured people by large.

There is also Kabul Hotel, according to a UN report there are no foreign guests staying there at the moment at it is mostly fully occupied by government staff. There are a couple of guesthouses around too which are also favored by journalists, haven't been able to find them yet. Asking some of the guests at Hotel Mustafa you could get some information about these.

Also you can stay at Hotel Jamil which is closer to the real centre of town. A couple of freelance journalists are staying here. The staff are nice and look after you. I was quoted at first $20 a night (double room), but with little persuasion they agreed for $10 for a single room only, which includes a very warm gasoline stove. There is en-suite bathroom (the French dignifies it a little too much) but you need to heat your hot water on the stove. Power seems to be typical during the evening but not so much in the morning.
$10-$25

Afghanistan Hotels