Kabul lodging, medium term

i stayed at the kabul lodge just down the road from the mustafa, it was great

Tom:

Afghans4Tomorrow (A4T) has a new guest house in Kabul near the university. Its in a very secure location on a blocked off street, but is about 10 minutes from Shar-e-naw and downtown. Its very new and they don’t have a generator yet, but they may have one by the time you get there in March.

If you are looking for a fixer/guide/translator while you are in Kabul, I can highly recommend Najibullah Sedeqe. He has worked with me the past 4 times I was in Afghanistan, and he does an excellent job. He has worked with Canadian TV crews before (CBC) and other journalists. He worked with me when I did the multimedia feature for the washingtonpost.com (see link below if you’re interested), and recorded audio for me. He can arrange transport and help with accommodations, including the A4T place. He can be reached at najibullahsedeqe@yahoo.com, or on his cell phone at +93-700-247521. If you are in Kabul, then dial 0-700-247521.

Hope this helps. If you need any further information about working in Afghanistan, feel free to email me or call me in the Boston area at 617-489-6747.

All the best,

Paula Lerner

THE WOMEN OF KABUL – A Multimedia Feature – WEBBY Award Honoree
Photos and Audio by Paula Lerner
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/interactives/afghanistanwomen/

AFGHAN STORIES:
http://tinyurl.com/2s8pqa
http://galleries.lernerphoto.com/BGA

http://www.lernerphoto.com
_________
Paula Lerner Photography * Boston * 617-489-6747
paula@lernerphoto.com

nice self promotion there

you could get a reduced room rate at Mustafa if there for 3 months+. most guesthouses operate a reduction policy over and above a month. I was there a few weeks ago and met a Lightstalkers photographer. be warned the food choice at night is apparently dismal.
Kabul Lodge (Passport Lane) has drivers that offer decent rates and cater for journalists and reports about this palce are good.

another option is ASSA II (9 Muslim Street, Sharh E Naw. Tel: 079 666 555 or 079 888 777) for 52$ per night. again, you can negotiate the rate. internet access there is great and breakfast, dinner included and security is fine.

many of the phone numbers are inoperative and some do not reply by mail so good luck (ASSA II did, the day after I checked in!)

my personal fave is Gandamack, but it is expensive and often full so best to save it for R&R!

speaking of the above, I highly recommend fixer and translator Zia Haidary (0799 260 180 or 0700 056 598) whose English and contacts are excellent. Peter J from Gandamack recommends him so that says a lot. he has worked a lot with the foreign press.
some recomment Le Relax or Le Monde guesthouses. have no personal experience of either but heard good reports!

happy landings,

alison darby (just back from kabul 10 days ago)