You can get by on as little as US$8.00 - US$15.00 a day, depending on how much scrimping you can handle. If, however, you are looking for a moderate touch of luxury, expect to pay anywhere between US$20.00 - US$50.00 a day. It's worth noting that room prices can fluctuate according to the season, especially in northern Pakistan.

Both travellers' cheques and cash (it's advisable to take major currencies such as US$, euros and UK pounds)are generally easy to change throughout the country, but commissions on cheques can be high. It's wise to carry adequate rupees if you intend visiting small towns as money-exchange facilities may not be available. Apart from top-end hotels,(and some mid-range ones), most major airline offices and some upmarket restaurants and shops, most places won't accept credit cards as payment although you can often use them for cash advances at a handful of banks, mainly in the larger cities. Facilities for validation seem better for Visa and MasterCard. Tattered notes may be refused and often in the smaller towns the appearance of large notes will cause consternation and an inability to provide change, so make sure you get some smaller notes when buying your rupees.

isn't so much a bribe as a way of life in Pakistan. It can apply to any situation and is capable of opening all sorts of doors, both literal and metaphorical. Anything from a signature on a document to fixing a leaking tap can be acquired through the magic of baksheesh . Many mid-range hotels and all top-end ones will automatically add a service charge to your bill (usually around 5-10%) so tipping is not expected unless you wish to do so for exceptional service. Budget places don't add a service charge, so a tip to any particularly helpful staff member is always appreciated. The same applies for budget (and some mid-range) eateries. Here, a 10% tip is the norm. Tipping is not mandatory for taxi and autorickshaw drivers. Railway porters should be tipped around Rs20.00 per piece of luggage. The only time that a gratuity might not be welcome is in the rural areas where it runs counter to Islamic obligation to be hospitable.

If baksheesh is a way of life, bargaining is a matter of style, particularly in the many Pakistani bazaars. Unlike the Western hesitancy for bargaining, shopkeepers in Pakistan love to bargain as long as it's done with style and panache. Bargaining usually begins with an invitation to step inside for a cup of tea followed by a little bit of small talk, a casually expressed interest by yourself in a particular item, a way-too-high price mentioned by the seller, a way-too-low counter offer by yourself and eventually, after much comic rolling of eyes, a handshake and mutual satisfaction for both parties. Bargaining should always be accompanied by smiles, good humour and an ability not to get fixated on driving the price into the ground.

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