Gintama Hotel

Its central location, room styles, and friendly English-speaking staff are the main positives. Noise is an issue, though: you can hear people opening and shutting doors in the morning, and the rooms use old-fashioned keys rather than digital ones. The rooms also aren’t dark enough because they lack drapes and extra curtain layers. There’s no kettle, complimentary drinking water, or safe for valuables. The location is good, but they need to do more about noise.

This doesn’t feel like a four-star hotel, maybe three or even two. The place feels old and isolated, so if that’s what you want, it might suit you. The Jacuzzi in the Svite didn’t work, and the spa, with a sauna and small pool, costs extra. Staff were friendly, and the room had good ceiling height and a working AC unit. At checkout I could only pay by card, so I had to walk down the hill and back up again. The whole place is gated, which might feel safe, or more like being in prison. Avoid it!

The staff are nice, and the rooms are fine, if a little cramped. The gated compound was the worst part. At 11pm I got locked out, and there was no way to reach reception except by phone, which is useless if you don’t have a local number or roaming. I couldn’t attach the gate key to the room key, and it fell out of my pocket. I ended up having to slide flat under the gate. When I complained, they said a lost key would cost 200UAH. A hopeless, redundant system.

The hotel is very well located, and the staff were really helpful. The rooms have somewhat old-fashioned lighting, which fits with it being an old hotel. The restaurant serves good food at low prices.