Ridon Lux Hotel

We stayed in two rooms, and both were pretty average. The second had an air conditioner, so we managed, though there was no heater. In the first, the missing heater and washroom lock, plus a window that wouldn't shut, left us freezing all night. The washrooms were so tiny one person could barely stand. They do have a water purifier, and they let us leave our luggage after checkout, which was a nice plus.

The staff were helpful, and the rooms are spacious, but cleanliness was poor. WiFi speed was middling. The bathroom wasn't convenient for showering, and there weren't any grocery stores nearby. The airport isn't far away.

The main city is a bit of a trip from Ridon Lux, which sits on Tashkent's outskirts. It's within 3 km of both the international airport and train station, and works as a decent, budget-friendly place for a homely stay. The design is plain and already feels dated; walking on the wooden stairs and floors makes a lot of noise. Staff are somewhat professional, but accommodating and helpful. There's free drinking water, though the pool is poorly maintained and shouldn't really be counted as an amenity.

The cat was my favorite part, a very cute, loving black beauty. I nearly cried saying goodbye. If you don't like animals, it stays off in a corner and you may not even notice it. The place itself is calm, the room was comfortable, and the staff are good people. Remember your swimwear, there's a pool, and we completely forgot about it.