SHANYRAK in Qyzylorda

This is a good hotel, especially for Kzylorda which doesn't have a lot of options. The bed is a bit firm, but not bad. There is a flat screen and a mini-fridge. It has a wall heating and cooling unit, not a wall thermostat and central HVAC. The room is good size. The desk has a dining room style chair, not a work chair, but it is functional. The wifi connection is good. The bathroom is fine. The shower pressure was a bit inconsistent but there was enough water and it was as hot as you wanted. There were a few bathroom amenities, not many.

The restaurant has a good selection of food which is well prepared. The pizzas are surprisingly good. There are three beers on draft. Service is polite but a bit slow. The restaurant is attractive with comfortable chairs and couches, and two flat screen TVs.

There is a large lobby with two rooms with couches. It is a bit on the spartan side. You can meet people there, but I would recommend the restaurant, even for just drinks and snacks. Very few of the staff speak any English. They don't have menus in English. It could be awkward to stay here if you aren't with someone that speaks Russian or Kazakh, although you could always try to get by with Google Translate.

Excellent!