Hotel Khanaka

For a three-night business trip, it was comfortable, clean, and quiet, and the price was good. The breakfast buffet was basic, but there was enough to eat and enough time for it. Travellers, the coffee place attached to reception, served excellent food and coffee, with very good service, though prices were a little high. A few small things could be annoying, but reception staff speak English and sorted things quickly whenever I asked. There were no coat hangers, but they arrived within five minutes after one call. The laundry process was confusing, so I just asked for help and got everything back in my room within six hours.

The air conditioning couldn't quite cope with the afternoon sun, even though the rooms do have it. Still, the room was large and centrally located, with a very good bed and shower. The free in-room WiFi was unreliable at times, and the breakfast room felt too small for the limited food selection.

The staff at the desk were helpful. They arranged a taxi to Sauran and let us check in at midday, though the credit card machine wasn't working when we checked out. The room was comfortable, but a bit too warm in late spring, and the WiFi kept cutting out. Our stay was fine, just not what we expected for the price. There are better-value places in town.

The strongest part of our one-night stay was the air conditioning. It worked well in the summer heat, when temperatures can reach 45 degrees C, and the Mausolem of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is just a short walk away. I imagine that's why many people come to Turkestan. Service at Hotel Khanaka's front desk was a letdown. We visited in the low season, in the middle of summer, and got a rather unenthusiastic welcome, almost like they weren't expecting tourists. We only saw one other foreign couple at breakfast. The restaurant, which also serves as the breakfast room, was dismal. When we asked about having lunch there, they sent us to Hotel Edem instead, where the selection was decent. If you're choosing a place based on the Lonely Planet review, you might also look at Hotel Edem, a couple of minutes away on foot. It was undergoing major refurbishment when we visited in August 2019, so I would expect it to be a better choice once it reopens.