Places to stay …
There have been a number of interesting stories on the internet in recent weeks about strange and interesting hotels around the world. They caught my eye because, of course, I am in that business.
During the week, for example, I came across another one with an interesting title that caught my attention: “9 of the most unusual hotels and hostels in the world”. The list included a hotel comprising circular cone roofed houses in Italy; a cave; tree houses reminiscent of Tarzan films and many American “coming of age” films; a former jailhouse; hotels made from a Jumbo Jet, a railway carriages and another on a floating barge.
Now, it was an advertising piece for a hostel booking site. As a commercial outfit, the places listed in the post were run by their clients, (or business partners), and it was possible to book a night’s accommodation, (or longer), in each of the featured establishments though the website. That helped to explain their choice, and perhaps more importantly why some of the potential contenders had been omitted: the Ice hotel in Sweden where rooms are carved out of the ice each winter; the secret police prison in Czechoslovakia; the “cubicle” hotels that seem to be sprouting up in many of the world’s airports … and so on.
You may have noticed that although the piece was headlined “9 of the most unusual hotels and hostels in the world” but I only listed eight of them … the ninth in the list was a “ranch” in Mongolia where the rooms were gers, or yurts.
If the list included Mongolian gers, it occurred to me, then it could just as easily have featured one of the many yurt encampments around Kyrgyzstan. Unlike the Mongolian “ranch”, in Kyrgyzstan these encampments, (or “yurt inns”), are usually provided by shepherds who have migrated with their flocks to the high mountain meadows, (the jailoo), for the summer pastures. Although some may have actual beds, most involve sleeping on stuffed “mattresses” laid on the ground.
Although yurt stays are a feature of Kyrgyzstan, sometimes highlighted as one the “highlights” the country has to offer, in fact Kyrgyzstan has a considerable range of styles accommodation available … and the range is constantly growing. It is possible to find something for almost everyone … and for almost every pocket.
There are, however, a few catches (… aren’t there always?).
It has to be said, for example, that the standard and quality of accommodation may vary from place to place throughout the country … and not simply based on the price. In some of the more remote regions of the country there may be little choice with only homestays available. In others, there may be a choice between several guesthouses and small hotels.
A lot of the available accommodation in the country is basic. That is not to say sub-standard … but the international traveler who is used to “home comforts” may find the level of facilities less than they are used to. At the moment, for example, very few hotels have any official “star” rating. If a client insists on 4 or 5-star accommodation, then the choices are limited to a few hotels in Bishkek – and perhaps a few places around Lake Issyk Kul.
Things are, however, improving and I have noticed a considerable change in my time here, not only with regard to the facilities available, but also to the levels of service.
As well as new hotels being established in the capital, Bishkek, and the traditional tourist destinations around Lake Issyk Kul, there are appearing in other places around the country such as Djalal Abad, where the newly constructed Rosa Park hotel has just opened. Considerable renovation work has been undertaken at many of the hotels, resorts, sanatoria, etc. throughout the country – with both large and small developments. In short, there is considerable investment being made – and planned for the future – in improving the “hotel stock” in the country.
Whereas, when I first came here almost seventeen years ago, levels of service were also basic, with a prevailing attitude of “take it or leave it”, but today a customer orientated approach is much more prevalent. Of course, there is room for improvement – but that is always the case anywhere in the world – after all, nobody’s perfect.
Although we at Celestial Mountains have our own accommodation in Bishkek and Naryn, we use a number of different options for our clients depending on their interests and budget. Some, for example, ask us to book rooms for them in the Hyatt whilst others want to stay in a small family run guesthouse. Some independent “budget travelers” want to stay in one of the private hostels. When it comes to travelling around the country, depending upon how long a tour is, and the places to be visited on the chosen itinerary, we usually recommend tourists to broaden their experience of the country by staying in a variety of different types of accommodation during their visit … for example, (and these are only suggestions):
- A hotel in Bishkek;
- A Sanatoria / Resort on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul
- A Guest house in Karakol
- A homestay in Kochkor
- A yurt in Son Kul
Bishkek