Hotel Radisson Blu Hotel, Almaty Airport

I stayed three nights at the newly opened Radisson Hotel Almaty Airport. The hotel has promise, and the staff were generally trying hard with a positive attitude, but my experience had several serious problems and did not consistently feel like a 5-star Radisson stay. The restaurant team stood out in a good way. Bell boys, waiter Rusal, hostess Kristina, and chef Nikolay were professional and hospitable. The rooms were reasonably well equipped, and after I complained online the hotel manager spoke with me. I eventually moved to a standard room on the opposite side, where traffic noise was minimal, and the hotel offered a complimentary dinner set, which I appreciated. But the move took longer than it should have, and I felt my concern about noise wasn’t heard at first. I was initially offered an upgraded room facing the same noisy highway. I chose the hotel partly because my previous stay at Radisson Blu Iveria in Georgia had been excellent, and partly because the hotel materials prominently advertised a spa with a pool. On arrival, I learned the pool would not open for another 3-4 months. No one proactively offered compensation or an alternative, even after I explained that the pool was a key reason I booked. I later sent a request through Radisson’s online system. My first room faced the main road, and traffic noise came through clearly even with the windows closed. It was around +16°C in the room, while the AC kept cooling and switching itself back on after I turned it off. I was told the ventilation system couldn’t be adjusted to heat properly. The choices offered were to wait for the room to warm naturally or use an oil heater. The worst night was my last one. Because my flight had been rescheduled, I paid to extend my stay so I could rest before an important meeting. I worked late and went to bed around 03:30 AM, planning to sleep until 10:00 AM before going to the airport. At 06:00 AM reception called to wake another room, and I woke up thinking it was an emergency or fire alarm. I struggled to fall asleep again, then drilling and hammering from construction directly above began around 08:00 AM. I can’t understand why that work couldn’t wait until at least 10:00 AM. I barely slept, felt physically exhausted, and flew to the meeting in a poor state and mood. Checkout also left a bad impression. I said I hadn’t used the minibar, but they asked me to wait 5 minutes while someone checked the room. That felt outdated and uncomfortable, as if they didn’t believe me. Modern hotels I’ve used handle this with a temporary credit card authorization or charge later if needed. One final issue was the noise in the first room and the pool not being available. Staff did try to help, but at this stage I don’t think the hotel consistently delivers the service expected of a 5-star property under the Radisson brand.

A great, brand new hotel, very convenient for a long layover or a connection because it’s close to the airport. The design is modern throughout, and the rooms are clean and nice. The staff were friendly and supportive. I had an excellent stay and highly recommend it.

The restaurant staff really made the stay memorable. Nurbol, Asele, and Elvira prepared a thoughtful, delicious custom meal, then finished with a lovely dessert that made us feel cared for. The hotel is conveniently close to the airport, with easy access to the city for travel and sightseeing. Our welcome was warm from the start, and check-in was quick and smooth. Thanks especially to Elmina, Kamila, and the front desk team for their professionalism and hospitality, and to Askhat, Director of Rooms, for making sure things were well managed. The new Radisson Blu in Almaty feels fresh, with modern, relaxing rooms that are carefully designed. We had a wonderful, comfortable stay and would gladly recommend it.