Dostyk Hostel in Almaty

Used more as short term housing for local workers and Russians escaping the war rather than a travelers hostel. Not many backpackers come here.

Hostel is very clean however the shower head in the womens restrooom was broken. There is a rotating staff that speak mostly Russian and Kazakh.

I do not recommend for female solo travelers but otherwise, this is a great no-frills hostel if you only need a place to sleep.

Great location, the beds are decent, fully stocked kitchen! My stay there was decent. Would I stay again? I’m on the fence.

The biggest challenge is the noise, lack of bathrooms, and the late night entries. The doors to the dorms are mostly glass so you can hear tons of noise from the lobby especially early morning. Also there’s a dog that starts barking next to the window around 6-7am lol. Even with my ear plugs, I can still hear it.

Bathrooms. There’s one toilet per floor. Think about it, with 20 or so beds just on one floor, I don’t know how this logic even works. Waiting to use the bathroom is very common so be aware.

Almaty is a fun city so there’s a vibrant nightlife. Getting in late night is an issue. Guest are not given the code to enter the gate so I had to ring the doorbell and wait outside for 15 mins before they buzz me in. And even so, the doorbell is super loud for those sleeping. They need to provide code for the gate to the guest.

Lastly, there was a huge language barrier with the receptionist. She barely spoke English so communication is a challenge. I was surprised she couldn’t access the computer to help me with basic task that I needed. I think the owner can provide better training for her staff. It needs improvement.