The best accommodations Kazakhstan

The cheapest address in Almaty, or almost (it is also possible to rent beds on the first floor of Almaty II train station), but you will have to look for it far away from downtown. For lack of comfort and new bedding, tell yourself that you are in calm. Honestly, given the exterior aspect of the building, one could expect worse inside. The rooms are still spacious and equipped with TV (don't expect to catch anything other than local channels!) and a small office covered with rubber. The cheapest rooms share the bathrooms, the most expensive have a small toilet corner and sometimes a bath. For tight budgets.

If you're coming to discover Almaty, you'll be a long way from the center, but for a comfortable stopover, this establishment located between Almaty 1 & 2 stations is a good option. Comfort category rooms feature more space and a lounge. But even the standard rooms are a bargain, unpretentious but clean and furnished with furniture that didn't live through Brezhnev. The bathrooms are well-equipped and pleasant, with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The modern building is fairly well insulated from street noise.

The rooms are not large (especially the single rooms), but very comfortable and particularly quiet for those at the rear of the building. You'll have more noise at the front, but you'll make up for it with the sea view on the top floors. All in all, this is a rather inexpensive accommodation solution, especially given its location, just back from the seafront, which you can reach in just a few minutes on foot. The hotel staff can help you organize your trip and buy train or plane tickets.

Ideally located in a small downtown courtyard, this comfortable hotel offers 175 well-equipped single or double rooms. Excellent value for money! Especially if you take advantage of the spa and fitness area, with its large swimming pool. The buffet breakfast is one of the best in this price range. A small agency next to reception will be happy to advise you on your travels around the rest of the country. Panfilov Park is just a 25-minute walk away, or a 5-minute cab ride.

A small house with a typically Russian charm. The rooms are large and bright, furnished with clear wood. Breakfast is served in the rooms. The hotel is coupled with the restaurant of the same name, which opens onto a large terrace and a garden. A store on the street offers a wide range of fresh and cooked products. One of the most pleasant addresses of Astana and one of the few charming addresses of the country! There are not many rooms, so try to book in advance. The restaurant, on the other hand, is huge and offers numerous events (seminars, weddings…).

The Hotel Aral is a good budget accommodation solution. The rooms are old-fashioned but well-maintained enough for a stopover, and the bathrooms have been renovated. As always, the deluxe category features a small lounge. The advantage of this establishment is its proximity to the old port, which will appeal to wreck and photo hunters. Be sure to negotiate the price, however, and visit the rooms before you pay - and check the hot water! By all means, try the air-conditioning..

This guesthouse is one of the nicest in Almaty. The owners are charming and will pick you up at the airport. The rooms are quite spacious and comfortable (up to 50^m2 for the largest), and furnished in a contemporary style. Breakfast is generous and hearty. Great value for money and a rare address in Kazakhstan, where guesthouses are still few and far between. In terms of location, you're on the way to the Kok tebe cable car, between the mountains and the city, and a 30-minute walk from Panfilov Park.

In form, the building is modern and, above all, perfectly located in the center of town. A great asset for exploring Semey's museums and riverbanks. Inside, the accommodation is rather spartan: simple beds, not exactly funky carpeting on the floor, a minimalist but functional bathroom and a TV set as standard equipment. Nevertheless, it's clean and the rates are in line with the level of services offered, so there's nothing to complain about. To be recommended for a quick stopover.

This is one of the city's best value hotels. Built in the 2010s, the establishment is upmarket, with a spa, fitness room, bar and restaurant. The rooms aren't exactly overflowing with charm, but all are large and impeccably equipped. As for the location, it's impeccable, right in the center of town, with the rooms on the higher floors overlooking the park. Reservations are advisable, even out of season, as the establishment is often overbooked for conventions.

The Victory is an establishment with gleaming, spacious rooms offering every comfort and, for many of them, a lovely view of the Caspian Sea. Of course, the spa is a particular highlight. For once, the spa is more than just a sauna and a vague massage room: the pool is large, surrounded by comfortable loungers in a modern, colorful setting. Both the Turkish baths and the sauna are spacious and pleasant. The hotel also boasts a panoramic bar, a pub and an excellent restaurant.

Just 10 minutes from the airport, in the European part of town, the Renaissance Hotel offers the same quality of service and amenities in its 202 rooms as its alter ego in Aktau. The rooms are very business-oriented, with desks, wi-fi access and cable TV. Everything you need to stay connected to the world, as long as you pay the right price. For evenings out, the hotel has two bars and a restaurant with no surprises: expensive but impeccable. Should the Marriot Executive ever sell out, it offers even more rooms.

A little way from the city center, this gigantic, modern and luxurious hotel is just a stone's throw from the beach, and that's its main attraction. The rooms are, of course, beyond reproach, and the establishment offers a whole range of top-of-the-range services (fitness, sauna, lounge bar...). Large outdoor swimming pool and restaurant with terrace overlooking the sea. If it weren't for the oil companies and glitzy architecture, it would be almost romantic. What's more, the views of the Caspian Sea in the evening are truly breathtaking.

Right in the heart of the city, this austere establishment offers excellent value for money, but in the end is very well laid out and particularly well located. The rooms are spacious and attractive, and the bathrooms are regularly refurbished. The breakfast buffet is a real treat, with plenty of choice and fresh produce. And it's all just a stone's throw from the marina. Perfect for exploring the city.

It's a long way from the city center, a few kilometers to the southeast, but perfect if you're looking to get to the beaches. The hotel is modest but clean, comfortable and has a nice little swimming pool. Don't look for fancy decoration, the rooms are only equipped with a small fridge and a TV, but in the end you're just passing through, as the beach is just a stone's throw away. Friendly welcome. For a little more luxury, check out the neighboring Dostar Hotel Complex, which belongs to the same owner but is much newer.

Without doubt the best option in town, and rather inexpensive to boot. The rooms are very spacious and offer impeccable Oriental-style comfort, with plenty of carpets, large upholstered armchairs and cushions. The decor is modern and the facilities up to scratch (wifi, TV, air conditioning), all less than a 10-minute walk from the train station. The staff will be happy to advise you on sightseeing around the city. It's the only comfortable accommodation in the city center. No great luxury, but very satisfactory.

The rooms are small, and the building's exterior doesn't exactly inspire optimism. On the inside, however, the establishment is rather well-maintained, and the 12 unadorned rooms are not unpleasant to live in. Clean, well-maintained and comfortable, the quality/price ratio is on the right side of the scale. Above all, the complex has the advantage of being conveniently located in the city center. The staff are extremely friendly and can give you invaluable advice for your stay.