Qarabag Hotel

The check-in and check-out were easy, and the towels and toiletries were fine. Breakfast was healthy, though there wasn’t much variety, and the fresh fruit had often run out. I had a small room with a good view, but getting the taps to a comfortable mix of hot and cold water was a constant struggle, so I ended up using one extreme. There was no iron in the room, but one arrived right away when I asked. I found Qarabagh Hotel expensive. I understand that transporting building materials to a remote, challenging town costs more, but the room prices still felt high. With few alternatives, there isn’t much choice. Kara-e-Bulbul is next to Susa Hotel, the five-star hotel, while Qarabagh is a kilometer farther down the road from the main area. Surprisingly, Kara-e-Bulbul and Qarabagh have the same room prices. I was also asked to get my invoice stamped at Kara-e-Bulbul, so it seems the two hotels may have the same owners. I gave three stars based on value for money, comfort, service, and access to essentials and food.

After I booked, they messaged me on WhatsApp two months later to say the reservation had been canceled. That felt very unprofessional. They only explained it was because of a government meeting after I asked why, and when I asked for a room at their other property instead, they said no. It was shameful to treat a foreign tourist this way after flying across oceans to get there. I canceled my trip and won’t visit Artsakh. Their website doesn’t even work.

The staff were friendly and attentive, and breakfast had plenty of variety with something tasty for everyone. My room at the Qarabakh Hotel in Shusha was very comfortable and spotlessly clean, with all the little things needed for a pleasant stay. The view from the window was stunning, and the location was hard to beat. I had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Shusha.

The worst hotel I’ve ever stayed at.