Old City Guest house in Samarkand

Paid USD117 for a 3-night stay. Check-in was smooth and we were greeted by the host’s sweet 11-year-old daughter, Sabrina — honestly one of the highlights. They also served us hot tea almost anytime we asked, which was a lovely touch.

But… the stay definitely had its downsides.

They’re currently renovating, and the electricity issues were constant. We were never informed beforehand, which was disappointing. One day the power was out for about an hour; the next day it got worse — more than six hours with no electricity. Really frustrating when all you want is to rest. Another guest even checked in and left after waiting hours with no power.

Laundry was 100,000 som (I had a lot — two full drums), which was fair enough. They did waive my late check-out fee until 5 pm to make up for the electricity problems.

Communication needs improvement though. I kept asking for a receipt and only received it after I’d already left Tashkent.

A few extra notes: rooms are upstairs, so it might be tough for older travelers. The shower drainage also wasn’t great — I reported it, so hopefully it gets fixed.

Overall: some warm touches and kind gestures, but the renovation and power issues made the stay far from relaxing.

This hotel is located in a narrow alley. When I arrived at night, it was pitch black and dark. The owner was sleeping inside and only came out later. To be honest, it was quite scary. The Gaode Map navigation wasn't very accurate either. The room was reasonably priced, but solo travelers should consider this carefully. The owner doesn't speak English, but his son does.

This guesthouse used to be a private home. No one speaks English except for the father (the owner), who works outside during the day and is only around in the early morning and evening. Overall, they were very welcoming. Of course, as it's a family-run guesthouse, the facilities aren't great; the bed is also small and just okay. You can even pay on credit when you leave. Overall, the value for money is decent—you get what you pay for.

I was traveling alone. I arrived from Bukhara by overnight train using Yndex Go. The building was at the end of a dark street. Even though it was late at night, around 7:30 pm, I was touched by the welcoming atmosphere.

They asked what time I wanted breakfast, so I requested 8 am.

It took courage to go out at that time, but I walked to Registan Square.

I could see the blue mosque building against the sky and headed towards it.

The breathtaking full view of the illuminated mosque was beautiful.

The walk back to the hotel was a bit dark, but not a problem.

It's a good location for visiting several mausoleums on foot early every morning.

When I ate in the courtyard, small children came out, which was adorable.

The mother and grandfather couldn't speak the language, but they were very kind.