My Hostel Almaty

The poor upkeep and the way the staff treated guests made this a stay I didn't enjoy. I ended up cancelling my last stay and booking somewhere else. The bed and common areas felt quite dirty, and cleanliness didn't seem to matter much. At check-in, you're handed the bedding and have to make your own bed, then return the linen at checkout. That may seem minor, but it added to the sense of poor service. The air conditioner in the kitchen and common area wasn't working. When I asked, I just got a "no" with no explanation. Wi-Fi was extremely unreliable and usually didn't work at all. Staff were generally unfriendly and didn't even greet guests. They also seemed to know little about Almaty's attractions when I asked what there was to do. One staff member asked me to make a promotional video for the hostel's Instagram within two minutes of meeting him. I said "maybe later" to be polite, but it was clear I wasn't interested. He asked again a few hours later, which left me feeling uncomfortable and pressured. After checkout, I was charged 100 tenge per hour to leave my bag for just 6 hours. It's not about the amount. That felt petty, since luggage storage for a few hours is usually free at hostels and hotels. Between that, the basic amenities, cleanliness, staff attitude, and social atmosphere, I wouldn't recommend staying here.