Shodlik Palace Hotel

The location is excellent, but the hotel's condition felt unsettling, almost like a horror movie. I know the building dates back to the Soviet era, but the doors were in terrible shape. I reported it and was told they'd fix it, yet nothing had changed by checkout. The door was still ruined.

The building itself is great, and with the right management this place could even be a five-star hotel. As it is, it doesn't compare with a three-star place. The location is nice and the rooms are wide, but the furniture is very old and deteriorated. The beds are tiny, and the old curtains came loose when I tried to close the windows. The price is very high. Some good reviews on booking.com convinced me to stay, but that was my one and last time. At reception, some staff help while others just ignore you. I was actually planning to give one star.

The location is the main thing worth keeping: it's in the city center and close to the metro. The hotel looks impressive from outside, huge and spacious, and the rooms are quite nice, though the interiors feel dated. It has the feel of a diplomatic Soviet-style hotel that has seen better days. Staff barely speak English, and sometimes there was nobody at reception in the morning. Several times they were unfriendly and rude, as if I were an unwanted guest. I wasn't even allowed to charge a can of beer to my room. The buffet breakfast was poor in choice, quality, and quantity, and I had to ask several times for the orange juice dispenser to be refilled. This wasn't my best experience in Uzbekistan, and it isn't a four-star hotel. With some effort it could recapture its former glory, but I think there are better options for the same price.

The staff were exceptional and very accommodating to tourists. We loved the traditional Soviet Union style and the old hotel's charm. Our spacious balcony had a magnificent mountain view.