Smart Hotel Bishkek

They prepared lunch boxes for us and arranged airport transport, and the driver was excellent. The rooms were comfortable and clean, and the price was very reasonable. With the hotel in such a central spot, the stay was convenient, affordable, and well organized.

The breakfast was good, and the restaurant view was unreal. The location is central, with a market next door that's open 24/7. We got there at 5 a.m. and were asked to pay the full daily rate for early check-in before 2 p.m. The room wasn't occupied, and we'd asked in advance whether an early check-in might be possible. They said yes if there was availability. Still, we waited outside the hotel, exhausted from the trip and almost asleep on the chairs, until 10 a.m., when we paid half a day's rate to get into the room for four hours. In all my 30 years of travel, I'd never had that happen before. The room was small, with just one chair and one glass, but two safes?! It was a twin room.

The massage dispute was the second time we felt overcharged here. Reception quoted 2000 for it, and we confirmed that amount in both English and Russian. At checkout, though, they charged 3000. We watched the CCTV together, which showed us agreeing to 2000, but staff insisted they heard “3000.” With no printed prices or paper record, we left after arguing for 30 minutes. The room price was a problem too. We booked one night through Booking.com, then added two rooms for another night after confirming the rate by phone. When we arrived, the price was nearly double. Staff said they had no record of the quote. Since it was late and we had nothing in writing, we had to pay it. It’s disappointing to give one star to what may have been the best hotel of our trip. After reading other reviews, this seems like a common practice, so be careful.

The staff are professional and easy to talk to, and the food is fresh and nicely prepared. Breakfast has a good spread, plus made-to-order choices like a custom omelette or porridge, including oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, or semolina. Smart Hotel is right in downtown Bishkek. There’s also a grocery store next door that stays open until 23:00. Just note that in the evening it only accepts credit cards.