Utopia Hotel Baku

The terrace really stood out, with a city view unlike any I’d seen before. It’s a lovely, welcoming family hotel, and the service was excellent and friendly. Hope I can come back 🍀

Please think twice before staying here. I rarely leave reviews, but this was bad enough that I felt I had to. The hotel is inside the Old Town, and getting there from its entrance means walking more than 10 minutes in the sun. I paid extra for a late checkout, went out for lunch, and came back to find my belongings had all been moved without anyone telling me. At reception, I was told a taxi would arrive in 10 minutes. After I waited five minutes, the estimate changed to 15, then 20. I was nearly late for my flight, and they wouldn’t refund my money. I had to leave the hotel and run to the Old Town entrance. They also cancelled my booking online, so I couldn’t leave a bad review there. The taxi fare was only 25 in local currency. I’ll contact Booking later and keep fighting for my rights.

The hotel was a little hard to find, but they sent a free taxi to collect us at the airport and helped with our heavy luggage. Someone was always at reception while we were there. My wife, daughter, and I spent four nights in a huge family suite. It had two rooms, each with beds and satellite TV, and felt very cozy. There were heated floors, a sauna, and a Jacuzzi too. It made our stay memorable, and we’d definitely come back.

Getting around the Old City was easy since the tourist spots are all within walking distance. The back alleys can be confusing until you get used to them. The location is right in the heart of it. What bothered me was the taxi offers. The guys there quoted AZN30 for a hotel to airport trip, saying their transport was much better than YANDEX, which quoted AZN20. It wasn’t much better in reality, and the driver was dangerous, swerving side to side and failing to stay in his lane. I’m concerned about safety, and I found YANDEX drivers much better.