Tibet Currency,money used in Tibet,wise packing list for Tibet tours

Here below, Mr Tony works out the packing list which could be helpful for your Tibet tour. But if your tour is just a conventional one, some of the trekking equipments listed below are not necessary.

Trekking packing List

* Passport, Visa (Tibet Group visa or China visa)

* International air tickets

* Some Money in cash of RMB, or USD, Euros, etc, or checks and Credit Card (but only a few big souvenir shops can accept credit card payment)

* Travel plan, addresses (you just print out the tour service voucher)

* Medicine (see Medicine in detail as below)

* Two pairs of trekking boots

* Sleeping bags (ours are not brand new but washed after every use)

* Walking sticks

* Water bottle

* Day backpack

* Big travel bags (soft luggage)

* Gloves (especially for easy tour in winter seasons, December - March)

* Scarves

* Sunglasses

* Sun lotion, lip balm, insect repellent

* Cold weather trekking trousers (fleece inside)

* Pullover

* Fleece jacket

* Cool Max Socks

* Towel (if by train, you need to have your own Towel for washing face, etc)

* Toiletries

* Plastic bags

* Torch, headlamp

* Knife

* Camera, film, or rechargeable digital camera (no problem to recharge your batteries by the 2 pins or 3 pins plug in your hotel in cities or guesthouses)

* Watch, Compass Medicines:

Try to bring the following medicines which will be very useful during your travel

* Aspirin-for pain or fever

* Diamox (info about it: http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/dia1131.htm)

* Antibiotics-consider including these if you are traveling well off the beaten track.

* Cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges and nasal decongestant

* Multivitamins-consider for long trips, when dietary vitamin intake may be inadequate

* Scissors, tweezers and thermometer

Some tips here for Currency:

Money
As in the rest of China, Renminbi or Chinese Yuan (RMB & CNY) is the legal currency in Tibet. Only the Bank of China offers foreign exchange services and facilities in Tibet and certain up market hotels (Lhasa Hotel, the former Holiday Inn, and Tibet Hotel). The Bank of China has a main office (0891-6835078) and several sub-branches in Lhasa, which all cash travelers' checks while only the main office offers cash advances on major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and Amex). Its main office is located on Lingkhor Bei Lu 28 9 (behind of Potala Palace), north of the Yak Statue and its hours of operation are 9:30 am -1pm and 3:30 - 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Another convenient sub-branch lies on Beijing Dong Lu, between the Kyri Hotel and the Banak Shol Hostel. Its hours of operation are 9:30am-6:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 11am-3pm, Saturday and Sunday. The Bank of China Shigatse office, near the Shigatse Hotel, can provide travelers' checks exchange services also. Cash advances on credit cards are not available here. Zhangmu has two sub-branches also. Due to a lack of conversion outlets, visitors may have to change their extra RMB on the black market before their exit.

Important Notes:Credit card use is not so popular in Lhasa as well as other parts of Tibet. On the one hand, almost 99% of shops just accept cash or bank wire transfer, travellers checks, only a few high standard hotel or super markets accept credit card payment. On the other hand, paying by credit card is more expensive due to that the payees need to charge 3-4% processing fee. This overhead cost also happens when you withdraw cash from ATMs or Counter desks if you use your CREDIT CARD.