Promenade Park Hotel

The location is handy for walking around, but management didn’t seem concerned about the guest experience. They wouldn’t give me a full refund for the day I checked out early, even though I’d paid directly by debit card and it wouldn’t have meant an extra charge for them. More worrying during Covid, none of the staff, including the manager "Ilina", wore masks, and guests weren’t wearing them either. On Saturday night, DJ music from the restaurant downstairs could be heard in my room, and at 10pm the food-prep ventilation seemed to bring in a cooked-meat smell. WiFi didn’t work on the second floor. The one person who made a real effort to sort things out was a young woman on the night reception desk. She helped with my luggage, prepared my breakfast plate, and moved me to a room where I could get internet. Getting two fried eggs took the cook a long time.

The central location is the sole upside, close to shopping malls and a pedestrian street. The superior suite doesn’t match the pictures, and the towels and linen are old and grey. We waited almost 30 minutes for breakfast, then had to leave without eating because we were in a rush. Sadly, I won’t return.

A pleasant boutique-style place in Shymkent, with a garden area. The room was nice and clean, and my double cost the equivalent of £24. One odd downside: the door lock makes a loud noise when it’s unlocked, which could disturb you if another guest comes in at an ungodly hour.

The rooms are spacious and the minibar is fully stocked. Some of the equipment is a little old, though it’s clean. Fine for a short trip.