Olymp Palace Residence

The main problem for me was the heat. There was no AC, and my room faced the sun, which kept shining in even during the evening. The bed was tiny too. The hotel is double-glazed, so noise stays out when the windows are shut, but I had to open mine for a cool Astana breeze. Then the noise made it impossible to sleep. That's what put me off coming back. I used this hotel once and would only return if I were mistakenly booked here again. It does have a good location, a simple, quiet reception, and easy access, and the lift works. But 15k tenge doesn't feel like good value next to the 25k at Wendyn Astana Airport road. I later found other nearby hotels at similar prices that offered more. I need to figure out how my trip planner sent me here. Not again.

After we'd checked in at 4 pm, the staff refused to let us back in at midnight when we returned. They said they'd kick us out unless we paid again, even though the hotel had already received payment through Agoda. They showed us a monitor saying there was no money on the card and ignored our proof of payment. The staff treated us like we were poor and had no money, and wouldn't compromise. They didn't answer Agoda's calls and just sat on the couch watching TV until Agoda actually helped resolve it. It felt like the hotel was doing everything it could to get two payments. The building itself isn't new, though the breakfast is good. There was an issue with payments through Agoda.

The room walls are thin, so a neighbor talking loudly on the phone can be heard. The hotel is a beautiful high-rise in a good location, with lots of places to eat nearby, including a Chinese restaurant. Breakfast is good too.

Nice balcony, and a good location for restaurants and pubs.