Na Ormanova Hostel

I booked because the hostel was listed as open 24/7 and I landed at midnight. It also appears near the top of Booking.com search results, which gave me a false sense of reliability. I found that misleading and it raised serious questions for me about transparency and trust. Although I'd paid in full in advance, staff made several accusations that I believe were attempts to get more money from me. They acted aggressively and intimidatingly, even threatening to call the police, but couldn't justify their claims and received no extra payment. The hostel was poorly managed and unhygienic, with unacceptable cleanliness and staff who lacked basic professionalism, communication skills, and understanding of hospitality. This isn't a budget hostel, yet the service fell far below expectations. I also experienced what I considered clear discriminatory and racist behavior, which left me feeling unsafe and harassed as an international traveler. Because of how serious this was, I filed an official online complaint with the Almaty tourism authorities and informed my embassy to seek further action. Women, especially solo and international travelers, should avoid this property and choose somewhere that offers hospitality, safety, and respect.

The customer service was poor, and the website wasn't truthful: despite our request, there was no women-only room. The tenant tried to lie to us because we aren't fluent in Russian. I really don't recommend this place for women, especially if you're alone. You won't feel safe.

The location isn't convenient, and there's an old woman here who loves to talk. I really don't recommend women stay here. Anyone who does will regret it.

It has the location going for it. That's about all.