Demar Hotel

The staff were friendly, and they approved my request for an early check-in. Breakfast was good, and the toilet had hot and cold water and amenities. The room itself was simple, though the location is almost two kilometers from downtown. The TV didn’t work. When I asked the receptionist about fixing it, he told me to watch YouTube instead. There was a jug in the room, but no sealed water.

The location was excellent, the WiFi worked very well, and I slept well. I’d asked for a quiet room but was given one on the ground floor right beside the lifts and reception. Despite that, it was quiet. The AC was good, the shower pressure was strong, and there were mini toothbrush supplies. I could pay by credit card, though not Amex even with its logo displayed. The bathroom floor in room 114 was dangerously hot, more scalding than pleasantly warm. I couldn’t stand on it barefoot for more than a few seconds. They really need to put down a bath mat. The shower gel dispenser was empty, and I couldn’t work out the TV without reading Russian or Kyrgyz. I’d also confirmed an early morning airport shuttle with the receptionist when I checked in. It was 1,000 som, and I was told the ride would take 40 minutes to an hour. The next morning, there was no shuttle, and the receptionist looked at me blankly. She called the shuttle service and it arrived quickly, so it was sorted out, but this shouldn’t have happened. Yandex was 300 soms cheaper and available. At 5:15 am, the airport ride takes no more than half an hour.

This was a complete waste of time. I booked and paid, but when I arrived, they said there were no rooms available and claimed they hadn’t received payment, even though I showed the receipts. The receptionist said she would look into it, then moved me to another hotel. The manager kept avoiding contact and seemed afraid to get on a phone call. The receptionist made promises that went nowhere. It took a whole day, and another trip downstairs from me, before they said they couldn’t refund me. I seriously don’t recommend this place. After arriving in a new country, you don’t need this kind of problem. You’d be better off paying less at a hotel that can provide better service. If they can’t handle foreign guests and online bookings, they honestly shouldn’t be operating.

A cozy place with warm, friendly staff. The price isn’t bad, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby.