Wyndham Garden Astana

Update to my earlier positive review: on my second stay, room service was a letdown. The restaurant food took 1.5 hours to arrive, despite a promised 30 minutes. The soup was completely cold, as if it had been cooked well before and left waiting. When I raised it, the staff member who delivered it and took payment said nothing, not even an apology. The food was also very overpriced for its quality and service. This has lowered my opinion, and improvements are needed. I first chose the hotel for an overnight stop between flights, and the location was convenient, about a 15-minute drive from the airport. The hotel was well maintained and comfortable, with professional, welcoming staff who were consistently helpful. My spacious king room on the sixth floor, at the end of the hall, was tastefully designed, spotless, and wonderfully quiet. I slept extremely well. On that stay, the room service selection and quality impressed me, and everything I had was delicious. The bar’s cappuccino was excellent too. The airport shuttle was fast and efficient, and the friendly, helpful drivers made the transfer easy. I’d happily return for an airport stopover.

There’s not much to see or do nearby, and the place feels like it’s in some kind of hospital town. The rooms are pretty small, with even tinier bathrooms, and they get very hot. The lobby bar service is slow. The hotel advertised 3-for-2 beer service all around, but every day during our three-day stay they said they’d just run out.

Getting around is affordable: a local rideshare to either the airport or city center costs under 1,500 tenge ($3). The hotel sits about halfway between the two. It’s clean and well maintained, and the service is great.

A big shopping mall is around a 10-minute walk away, and there are a few shops and restaurants nearby. Some rooms also look out at the big mosque, a famous Astana sight. The rooms are spacious and clean, and the staff are friendly and very helpful. It’s about 15 minutes from the airport, which makes it handy for a short stopover.