Hotel bills may be subject to a 10 per cent expenditure tax, 7-15 per cent luxury tax and a variable service charge. These include a clean single, double and family room, most with a bath and general canteen. At holiday homes and certain tourist cottages there are kitchen facilities. These can be hired in Srinigar along the banks of the river Jhelum, Dal and the Nagin lakes. Every houseboat is fully furnished with facilites for self-catering, a paddle boat for crossings and a kitchen boat for staff if desired.
Smaller boats are available for day-trips.
Children get reduced prices. These are to be found throughout India. Full addresses may be obtained from the Government of India Tourist Office. These provide a convenient and cheap base for organised tours, trekking, hiking or mountaineering. The Department of Tourism has set up 16 hostels, spread throughout every region, ideally placed for exploring both the plains and the hill stations.