Avenue Boutique-Hotel

The room was well equipped and in good condition, with reliable Wi-Fi, lots of TV channels, plenty of toiletries, and a clean toilet and shower. Check-in and checkout were smooth. Most attractions are nearby and the metro isn’t far. But there was a lot of noise, especially at night: people walking around, floors constantly vibrating, and strange loud bangs. The exhaust smelled of cigarettes. The hotel entrance isn’t child-friendly, and you have to climb three flights of stairs with your bags and no help. Avoid rooms facing the road if you want a peaceful night's sleep.

For hours, we heard drills, hammers, and other construction noise, around seven hours straight. This was major work, not a small repair, and the hotel let us book without mentioning it. When I complained to the owner, he said they didn’t know we were at the hotel. He kept telling me it would be over in five minutes, but it wasn’t. It felt like they assumed guests wouldn’t be there and could work from noon until late evening without informing anyone or checking if guests were okay with it. If you’re looking for a place that doesn’t value its guests, takes bookings when it isn’t in proper condition, and leaves you with headaches instead of peace of mind, this is it. They shouldn’t take reservations if the hotel isn’t ready for guests. Have some dignity.

Booking this place and wasting my money was a terrible mistake. I didn’t stay long. The lobby wasn’t what you’d expect from the name, and the building looked haunted and broken. The hotel is on the second floor, with only one glass door at ground level and stairs beyond it. The stairs were damaged, and repair items were scattered around. There’s no lift. Don’t be fooled by the name or location.

We booked through Expedia and paid months ahead for the Formula One race. Then, one month before it, I was contacted and told to cancel because of “technical issues.” When I called to check whether the booking was still confirmed, the man who answered said I had to cancel because the hotel wanted to raise the price tenfold. Unless I cancelled and rebooked at the new price, I wouldn’t have a room. The caller was rude and unhelpful. We were left trying to rebook everything just before the event, when prices had shot up and most places were already booked. This felt completely unfair, and the hotel is already outrageously expensive. I’d leave zero stars if I could. Don’t stay here if you don’t want to lose your money and end up sleeping on Baku’s streets.