Hotel Mohina

After being let down by Mohina, I moved to Attica Guest House one house away. There I found a lovely garden and the kind of familiar Uzbek hospitality you get from two multilingual sisters, who can also teach you a lot about Uzbek culture and daily life. Breakfast was the best in town, with authentic local food and international options if you want them. The green garden was a wonderful place to relax, especially on hot summer days. Mohina’s rooms were small and furnished without much care, in a tasteless, kitschy Soviet-oriental style. It felt like the operators were catering to Russian tour groups. With tourism booming in Uzbekistan, it seems the aim is to make money quickly without protecting the old quarter’s character. It’s sad to see places like this replace the charm of the historic neighborhood with tasteless new buildings, while welcoming places like that guest house are becoming harder to find.

The beds were very narrow, and I’d paid for a triple room but was given a twin. When I asked about getting a double and a single bed, they said they should have charged me for early check-in. I arrived only an hour early. If there was an extra charge, they should have told me then, not after I’d left. Customer service was zero. The mattresses had plastic covers that were noisy and made us sweaty. The bathroom was tiny, with my knees touching the wall when I sat on the toilet. The shower was so small that the curtain kept sticking to my body. The neighbors were very noisy, so bring earplugs. They don’t take credit cards, so bring cash.

The service was good, but management seemed inexperienced. The rooms were small but neat, and breakfast was poor.

It’s a family-run place with a great location for getting around the city. We stayed two nights and really enjoyed it. The host family were warm, attentive, and welcoming, and made us feel comfortable from the start. Our room was clean, cozy, and had everything we needed for a short stay. Breakfast was a treat, especially the fresh pastries and local specialties. We thought it was good value and would happily stay again.