Kungrad Hotel

I went in after reading the reviews, but the neglected, dirty exterior was a warning sign. The inside looked much the same, and the room I was shown had a shared bathroom and smelled far from clean. I left and found a much better place for similar money in a better area, Stork. I can’t understand the positive ratings.

Mr. Rakhat and Mrs. Angela were so welcoming and kind, and they’re great people to have as hotel owners. I’ve stayed in plenty of hotels across many countries, and this is easily one of the best. I’ll definitely stay here again next time I visit Kungrad ;)

The staff were friendly, the room itself was generally clean, and the hotel is spacious. But the bed sheets ruined my night. They were stained and greasy, smelled of stale sweat, and the odor was noticeable from a few meters away. I ended up using my camping gear so I wouldn’t have to sleep on them. Maybe they were missed by accident, who knows, but I felt it was important to share what happened even though the hotel has good reviews and I’m only one of many guests. I was also asked to pay a higher price as a foreigner. The amount I was quoted didn’t match anything on their price sheet, and I had to bargain it down. I wasn’t trying to make a fuss over a small amount of money. The pricing wasn’t clear, and I felt I was being charged more than I should, especially after being told foreigners pay more. I explained that people before me had paid 150,000 and showed this on my phone in the ioverlander app. I never gave the impression I couldn’t afford it. In response, I got a very rude, condescending, and upsetting reply. I’m cycling around the world to raise money for a hospital, and I have no wish to ruin anyone’s day. Please don’t insult people in the future as you did me. I did not smell so bad that the whole hotel needed ventilating. I can tell the difference between my own body odor and smelly sheets, and I certainly don’t lack the mental ability to do so.

The rooms are clean and airy, and the service feels worth the price. It’s a family-owned place, one of the few hotels in the city, and not far from the center. The owner generously offered me a ride to the Aral sea, which turned into a wonderful experience. Recommend!