Amsterdam Hotel

The first room I’d booked was over the bar, and I could hear music in the bedroom when I checked in at midnight. I asked to change rooms, and the receptionist was very kind. She suggested I spend that night in RM 210 and move to a larger room the next morning when one became available. The rooms I saw were all nice, but their locations were the issue: the first was above the bar, and RM 210 was over the smoking room, where a faint smell lingered. Amsterdam is a gorgeous, well-kept hotel. For a relatively small city like Aktobe, the staff work hard to maintain a decent international standard of service. They’re friendly, helpful and patient, even with all my requests. I’m not an easy customer, but they handled everything with a smile. The cleanliness was outstanding, and breakfast was included and simply awesome. It runs until 11 am, almost lunchtime, which is very convenient. The dining room feels like a museum hall, and the lovely china and stylish kettles suit the vintage interior and make breakfast especially enjoyable. There’s also a decent-sized pool, a jacuzzi and a bar open until 3 am. The hotel sits in the middle of the city, on a busy street with shops, currency exchange places and cultural spots like the City Concert Hall within a five-minute walk. It’s set back in the second row of buildings, so it’s quiet at night. Despite the bumpy start, the rest of my stay was pleasant, relaxing and homey. I had a very enjoyable time and wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else next time I’m in Aktobe. Thank you very much!

The food was tasty, with a mix of traditional and local dishes. Staff were very kind and responded to guests’ needs. The rooms were a good size and very clean, with large, comfortable beds and plenty of pillows. They were cleaned daily and towels replaced. There was water each day, plus a refrigerator and air conditioning if needed. The bathroom was spacious enough, stayed clean, and had hot water all the time.

The shower was impossible to use comfortably because the water swung from scorching hot to very cold within seconds. During my two-day business trip, the staff also made the stay disappointing. At check-in, there was a payment mix-up, and the receptionist was impatient and dismissive while I was there with colleagues, refusing to hear out any options. It was sorted out a couple of minutes later, but the mood was already spoiled. Breakfast staff answered questions with the same arrogance and no smile, as if letting guests stay were a favor. Booking.com scores are high, around 9.0, but the reviews seem to be from foreigners. I assume they treat foreigners well while locals don't matter to them, which made the hotel feel discriminatory. A very disappointing place, not worth a nickel.

The room was spacious and clean, with a king-size bed and a roomy bathroom with a shower. Reception staff speak English. The dark window glass cuts some sunlight, and there are no curtains. Wi-Fi worked well, though I couldn't get my VPN to connect.