Marko Polo Aksay Hotel

There’s an Indian chef, and it’s the only hotel in Aksai with purely vegetarian food. Let them know ahead of time if you want a particular Indian dish. One of the best hotels in Aksai.

This place mainly caters to oil and gas workers on rotation, so it doesn’t really feel set up for business or tourist stays. It could do for a night or two, but there’s better accommodation nearby. In the last few months it seems to have gone downhill: one or two rooms had no hot water, neither of the two rooms we had had a TV, and in one, the whole shower and its wall support came off while it was being used. Breakfast was very basic and unappealing, and I wasn’t sure it was good to eat.

There’s plenty of parking and a little kids’ park, and the restaurant is quite good. The place is neat, nice and comfortable. Rooms also have a small open kitchen if you want to cook.

The rooms are small but clean, and the hotel has three levels. It was quiet at night, so I slept well. The interior is fresh and new, and the staff were friendly. Downstairs there’s a pizzeria and a lounge where you can order shisha and drinks. There’s also a sauna on the property. If you’re driving in winter, you can park outside under a roof, so you won’t have to worry about snow in the morning.