L.E.S. Hotel

The room was clean and comfortable, and for a solo budget traveler it was enough, even if some people might find it small. You get what you pay for. The area felt very posh, and the location was convenient for Arbat street and Dostyk plaza. The staff were friendly, and they provided a small kitchen and complimentary snacks. My one drawback was the lack of a bidet in the toilet. They should provide that facility as international tourism to Almaty grows.

The place is right in the city center, with good bars and restaurants nearby, plus a few monuments. The rooms felt smaller than advertised, but the service was amazing. Someone from the hotel even helped me set up the Onay virtual card for local buses. There’s a kitchen guests can use, and they clearly put effort into making the stay enjoyable. 😀

The bed was comfortable, the Wi-Fi worked well, and it stayed quiet at night. The layout is unusual: there’s an office with cubicles and a little cafe at the front, and the hostel rooms are behind it, so you have to pass through the office to get to your room. The location is handy for walking to most places, with mini markets just outside. Staff were helpful and arranged some tours for us. There’s free laundry with drying racks, an ironing board, tea, coffee and cookies, a small gym, a shared fridge and microwaves. You can work in the cafe during the day too. Our room wasn’t cleaned during the stay, though they did take out the trash. It was small but fine for sleeping. There are no windows or ventilation, so it gets hot, and there’s no kitchen access, meaning meals have to be prepared in advance or eaten out.

The shared bathrooms and toilets were kept clean by a worker who was always on top of them. Our room and everything in it were clean too, and the staff were kind and helpful. I liked staying here.