Zaal Hotel

The receptionists were polite, but the property seemed understaffed and struggled to handle guests’ needs. This was the worst stay of our trip to Uzbekistan by far. We booked a month ahead and told them our exact arrival time several times, yet when we arrived they put us in a tiny room instead of the large one we’d reserved. They blamed a bed problem, though it seemed clear to us that they were overbooked and making excuses. The room was clean, but there was a constant bad smell from poor ventilation. Even basic things like an electric kettle were missing and had to be requested. After all the hassle, they offered just a $5 discount, then added that amount back as a “tourist tax.” We weren’t given a receipt or registration slip. They also offered breakfast as compensation after we had clearly asked for vegetarian food. It included chicken, which they insisted was vegetarian, and there wasn’t much else to choose from. On the second day, breakfast was served for only one person. We waited more than an hour, but nothing else was arranged. A really frustrating and disappointing experience. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.