Park Dedeman Almaty

The coffee machine coffee was good, and I liked the fruit and dried fruit selection at breakfast. But once something ran out, it wasn't replenished. The rooms themselves are good, though the bathroom fittings need attention: my shower head broke on the first day, and by day 3 the toilet flush wasn't working properly. The staff could be more welcoming. I've never seen hotel staff greet guests with such blank faces, no smile or hello, especially when you walk into the restaurant for breakfast. I don't know if it's all of Almaty, but at most of the cafes and restaurants we visited, servers seemed like robots just going through their jobs.

The breakfast was so-so, and the coffee was really unpleasant. The room itself was poor quality, with every sound from the corridor coming through, including groups of people standing there talking. Reception even called in the middle of the night to go over invoice details. The central heating wasn't working, apparently because it's regulated by the government, and the bathroom had an awful smell. This definitely isn't a 4-star hotel, and I'm not coming back. There were lots of young people working there and they were doing their best.

The breakfast was a good part of the stay, and one receptionist was genuinely kind and understanding. She was the only bright spot in two days of stress and headaches. At check-in, staff insisted I hadn't paid, even though I'd already paid through MakeMyTrip. I spent hours making international calls to sort it out. Then on day two, my wife's eyeliner accidentally got on the floor mat. I tried cleaning it with a towel and spent the night working on it myself. I showed them it was eyeliner, like an ordinary towel stain, but they charged an $80 penalty and then another $40. Even asking for one extra bottle of water cost $2. For a hotel that says it's 4-star, this was a really disappointing experience.

I was happy with the clean room, reliable WiFi and good service at reception. There's a big mall across the street, too. I'd happily stay here again.