Sultan Palace Hotel

Sultan Palace Hotel Restaurant is worth the trip over, and the hotel has a spacious bar and lounge. The cheeseburger is one of the best in town: the bun was fresh and held together, and the patty was juicy and tender. I'd trade some of its thickness for more width, since I prefer a better meat-to-bun ratio in each bite. The fries were perfect. The lentil soup is lighter than most and a little underseasoned, which may suit anyone looking for low sodium; you can always add salt. The chicken soup is light too, but got better with every bite, and you can season it to taste. The mushroom soup was standard fare and very good. The Carbonara is made in the traditional style but uses bacon, which was far too salty. Otherwise, it would have been perfect.

The room was tidy and better than average, the shower had good pressure and temperature with hot water right away, and the wellness and spa were very good. Staff were very friendly. The internet was the biggest problem. Either the Wi-Fi or the router connection kept having issues, and the TV channels were always interrupted. Breakfast never starts before 7 am and is often not fully set up when it begins. There's only instant coffee, usually too weak, the old toaster is often badly adjusted, and the cheese and sausage selection is very poor. Sometimes housekeeping still hadn't come by 6 pm. I've stayed here three times, but I won't return because it keeps getting worse.

I stayed in room 401 this time. It's on a corner and larger than a regular room, which made it more comfortable for my three-day stay. It was cleaned daily, and the amenities, including the complimentary water, were replaced. Check-in was the problem. The receptionist insisted I had no reservation and said the hotel was full, so I would have to go somewhere else. That was scary, especially as an expat who doesn't speak Kazakh or Russian. Luckily, I found the confirmation email I'd received from the hotel. So, dear traveler, print your confirmed booking and bring a paper copy.

The rooms are very good, and there's a pool and gym. The Bar and restaurant are good, though not great, and the staff do their best. The location isn't ideal since it's a bit far from downtown, but the price is fair. A good place to stay if you stop in Atyrau.