Grand, elegant and historic hotel well suited to l...

Grand, elegant and historic hotel well suited to large events. I had the pleasure of working with the Yak & Yeti as part of a conference recently and found their venue to be optimal for grand events.

As an historic former palace, the building is expansive and beautifully decorated in the style of old European royalty. Rooms range from fairly modern boardroom-style meeting rooms (20 ppl or so) to a huge gala hall (400 ppl or more). The hotel was also capable of partitioning rooms to allow for further subdivision, as we were a large group.

The staff were incredibly helpful, well trained and responsive. The tea and coffee service was fantastic, with staff present and offering refreshments throughout most of the day.

However, as a historic location, there are some predictable drawbacks, such as musty rooms on the upper levels. Some of the former balconies have been converted into rooms, with vast windows, and this makes them a bit like a greenhouse on warm days. For a power hungry convention, the lack of sockets is also a barrier. And perhaps most challenging is the obstacle of stable WiFi - a function of the area, Nepal's sometime patchy service and some thick walls. Plan ahead if WiFi and power are integral.

It took a little time for us to figure out a good working rhythm, as my sense is that the hotel is largely used for weddings and social events - for which it is perfectly suited. For a conference needing a few large and a few small rooms, the venue would probably be pretty perfect and well within the staffs experience and capabilities.

On a tangent, I must commend the chefs of Yak & Yeti for the food on offer in the Sunrise Cafe. It was to die for. A massive selection of western, Nepali and other Asian cuisines was on offer at all meal times and not a single dish disappointed. I would eat there every day if I had the option - perhaps the best food I've eaten yet in Nepal.