Posted Monday, May 15, 2006; 20:00 HKT
Visiting violence-wracked countries isn't everyone's idea of a vacation, but local unrest can be a boon for the bargain hunter. Nepal, which has endured 10 years of civil war, is a perfect example. Although foreigners haven't been targets in the conflict between the government and Maoist rebels, the U.S. Department of State asks Americans to defer all nonessential travel to Nepal; the British government tells its citizens to remain vigilant. But if you can live with a moderate level of risk, you'll come across fabulous hotel and restaurant deals and have some of Asia's most iconic sights, like Durbar Square and Everest, virtually to yourself.

Kathmandu's best hotel, the Hyatt Regency, offers opulent accommodation from a mere $90 a night. Dwarika's, a boutique hotel inside an old Tibetan house, has vast rooms for $75. For dining, check out French bistro Chez Caroline, housed in a former palace outbuilding, or Café Mitra, a chic town house in the Thamel district serving excellent international fare. At even the swankiest places, few main courses cost more than $5.

Out of town, there's trekking beneath Everest and Annapurna—or the tigers and rhinos of Royal Chitwan National Park—all uncrowded and at knock-down prices. The five-star Fulbari Resort & Spa, at the foot of the Annapurna circuit, is offering rooms for $1 for the first night and $40 thereafter. Around Annapurna, you may bump into the occasional Maoist rebel taking a collection. Don't panic: $2 is the standard price. More inconvenient are the intermittent general strikes, which make it almost impossible to find transport outside Kathmandu. But even if you get stranded, relax: "civil unrest" is an unbeatable excuse for being late back to work.

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