Afghan money questions

Derek.

There are several ATM machines and banks in Kabul. You can get funds in either $ or Afgahnis. Get some Afgahnis from the machines as there nice and crisp and clean. There are so much filthy notes in circulation that getting new ones out there will benefit everyone :)

I also paid for an airline ticket by debit card at a travel agency although they did ask for the greenback originally.
Not sure if Air India operate out of Kabul but I do believe there are flights to India as I remember talking to a very pretty french girl in Kabul airport who was flying to Delhi.
The Mustapha accepts Afganis for food and other items but not sure if you can pay for the room with Afghanis, I dont see why not although I paid in $.

Good Luck

Derek:
Mark has been in Kabul more recently then me, but when I was there (one year ago today actually ) there was one functioning ATM machine, everyone preferred dollars to Afghanis although everyone would take both. Hundred dollar notes were quite useful and preferred. No one took credit cards, not even my guesthouse. It was all about cash. Interestingly there was sometimes a reluctance to except the “newer” dollar notes with the larger presidential portrait vs. the older notes with the smaller presidential picture. People who were reluctant to accept the newer bills believed they were more likely to be counterfeit. That may have changed by now.

When I needed Afghanis I would exchange one or two hundred dollar notes with the money changers on the street
Never had a problem, but Mark is right that the notes are filthy.

Good luck with your trip

Thanks Mark and Mark. I’m trying to ask people here in Islamabad but no one seems to clearly remember. Very helpful info!

There are several ATM Bank machine for local currency and US Dollar.
It is up to you which one of them you want. To stay in Mustafa Hotel you can pay Afghani and US dollar, no restriction as long as i know them.

Nasim