Hostel Nomad 4x4

For the price, I can't ask for more. Check-in was quick, and the services were fine, with clean toilets and showers. They provided slippers, towels, and a locker at no extra cost. The streets nearby were quiet. My only issue was the pillow, which looked quite used and had no pillowcase.

The rooms and sheets were dirty, and the hostel didn't live up to its reviews. The toilets and showers were clean, but the rooms need a lot of work. They should close the hostel for a deep clean and then keep the rooms clean regularly. I wouldn't rate this place above two stars.

The location in the heart of Astana is the best thing about this hostel, and I can recommend staying here. There’s free parking, good Wi-Fi, friendly staff, and the place is generally quite clean. At busy times, you might have to wait for a shower or a seat in the kitchen. The hostel was full during my visit, so maybe that’s why. The beds have no curtains, and the lights are very bright, which can make late arrivals and early risers hard to sleep through.

The neighborhood is quiet and about a ten-minute walk from the main streets. The owner speaks Russian with a strong accent, and at first I mistook that for hostility. Later I realized I was misreading her. She was actually a friendly Kazakh lady who smiled often. I don't know why the owner never responded to the negative reviews. This isn't a social hostel. Nobody speaks English, and the place is entirely Russian-speaking. That may explain its two-star rating on Hostelworld. The room had no AC and got scorching hot during the day. They gave me a pillowcase, sheet, and quilt cover, but I had to put them on myself. Wi-Fi also slowed down at night.