Best Eastern Otrar Hotel

A 3-star hotel in a good location

The Best Eastern Otrar Hotel was, at best, a 3-star hotel but it is suitable for western European or American travelers. It was comfortable and the staff was accommodating, but the room was just average. Luckily, about 1/2 of the desk staff spoke English so I was able to communicate with them as required. I did have to get my Kazakhstan visa registered at the hotel even though I had also registered my visa while I was in Astana. I don't know if this was a requirement or if the hotel in Astana did it wrong or if it was just a little rip-off that this hotel does.

The hotel is located about a 25 minute taxi ride from the airport - without a lot of traffic of course! The hotel area is also host to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Uzbekistan Air National Bank of Pakistan, Tequila Sunrise nightclub and the Mirage Casino. It also maintains a Sauna and Pool complex, beauty salon, souvenir shop and vendors of books and pharmacy.

They provide an internet card for wireless internet as long as you have your own PC with you. I do think they provided a little business center but I never used it if they do have it.

I am only 5'8" tall and I thought that the bed was small - but it was a small room so I guess that was OK. This hotel does not provide coffee in the room.

I did find the location of the hotel to be very good. For example it is only a few blocks from the Almaty pedestrian shopping street. Zhybek-Zholy Street (Kazakh for Silk Road and formerly Gorky Str.) is a miniature Moscow "Arbat" street. It is the meet and greet place for locals, artists and musicians. There are lots of food and drink kiosks located along this way. At one end there is an enclosed shopping mall with many small but interesting shops.

There were also restaurants and cafes that were located within easy walking distance to this hotel. And there is a nice little sitting park located right next to the hotel.

Unique Quality: They have a little gift and card shop which is where I wound up buying post cards and stamps.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Business Travel, Historical Travel

Best Eastern Otrar Hotel Photo: Best Eastern Otrar Hotel in Almaty, Kazakhstan

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