Sharq 21 Hostel

The room itself was pleasant, and breakfast was good and ready exactly when we asked. The toilet was clean, though the shower area smelled of sewage, and cockroaches in the kitchen made it hard to use. The air conditioner sat right above the bed, which wasn’t very comfortable. We reached the hostel after a long trip from Dushanbe, without a reservation, relying on friends’ recommendation. The staff member spoke excellent English, but service left us frustrated. We asked for one of the two private rooms and were told that if it wasn’t showing on Booking.com, it was already taken. Instead, we got two dorm beds at $18 each, even though a private room was $25. As a couple, we’d be paying more for a less comfortable setup, but we accepted it. Around 10 PM, both private rooms were still empty. We asked again to move, and after about 30 minutes of discussion he agreed and refunded the $10 difference. We appreciated the refund, but having to push so hard for a reasonable request was frustrating. It seemed he might have preferred to avoid cleaning a room and make more from putting us in the dorm. The staff’s young age and inexperience seemed to affect the service. I hope this feedback helps improve things for future guests.

For budget travelers, this is probably Khujand’s best option. It’s a great little guesthouse by the street markets, and the staff were really nice. They helped me find the right bus station.

The place was filthy. There were cockroaches in the kitchen, and the shower smelled like rotten eggs. It was also hard to find, tucked away without a sign, though a nice lady helped us get there. We arrived without booking. The guy said no private rooms were free and seemed reluctant to check Booking.com. After we gave him the benefit of the doubt and it became clear nobody was coming, we asked again. Both private rooms were empty and the whole hostel seemed empty. We also asked for the extra 10usd back, since a private room is cheaper for two people and the shared room was 10usd more. He gave us a room, but didn’t look happy about it. At 25usd, a room in Khujand also feels a bit too expensive. The A/C was directly above the bed, so I couldn’t sleep well. We needed help calling a taxi, and the toilet wasn’t flushing, but he was nowhere to be found. At 1am, I woke up because the owner was chatting with a guy outside the window.

The family were so friendly, caring, and sweet, and that made my stay especially enjoyable. I had everything I needed in the comfortable, inexpensive dorm: five single beds, no bunks, a towel, shower, power socket, slippers, and more. Amir, the 18 year old son, speaks English very well, as well as German, Russian, and Tajik. The Wi-Fi was useful since I didn’t have a Tajik SIM card. Breakfast was simple but great to have in the morning without going out, and it was included in the 100 som price.