Sultan Plaza Hotel

Breakfast was quite good by Kazakhstan standards, and the staff were friendly. There’s a small gym and spa, plus free, steady Wi-Fi and coffee shops nearby. Still, the bed was harder than concrete, and the linens and towels had blood on them. Water pressure was also just below standard.

The service, facilities, and atmosphere make this city-center hotel feel like a step back in time. The staff are very friendly, the food is good, and the spa is welcoming. It costs a bit more than other places in town, but for a night or two, it feels like a welcome treat. I’d gladly come back.

I first liked the comfortable bed, clean linen, and convenient location. LOFT is within walking distance, and you can try horse-meat steaks there. Five years later, I still preferred this hotel for its location and service. Breakfast was decent overall, and LOFT remained the best restaurant nearby, though booking ahead was better. Seven years on, I was still staying here because there wasn’t another choice. I was still having dinner at LOFT for the horse-meat steaks.

The rooms are clean and pleasant, and the breakfast has plenty of tasty choices. It’s a good hotel in the city center. Service could be better, though. The receptionists didn’t seem to enjoy dealing with customers.