Hotels

Hotel Sharq is located ten minute drive from downtown. Quiet and calm area contributes to pleasant, productive work and a relaxing break. Hotel is situated in a quiet neighbourhood but within a walking distance from Kosmonavtlar metro station and fairly central to everything. Hotel is near the Interpol and the Ministry of Interior Affairs so the area is just more than safe. Make sure not to confuse Nur Hotel with the Grand Nur hotel which is in another part of Tashkent. If taking a taxi always make sure to give Interpol or Kosmonavtlar metro station as orienting point - hotel is just 100 m away from them.

There are three types of rooms: Standard, Luxe and Deluxe. All rooms are equipped with satellite TV channels, DVD-player, individually controlled air conditioning, tiny bar fridges, Wi-Fi Internet, telephone, individual safes, and hairdryer. Rooms are decorated in a classic style, very big and furnished reasonably well. Some guests might find mattresses very hard, but this is local tradition, nothing to do with this particular hotel. Rooms facing the road are quiet as well as there is not much traffic. Bathrooms have a shower cabin only. All is new, fresh and spotlessly clean.

They don't provide iron or ironing board, even on request.  There is only a tiny bar fridge, and no international adaptors for the power points. There are no dedicated "non-smoking" rooms, so you'd have to put up with people smoking in the corridors, rooms and restaurant. There is a pool outside - very handy on a hot summer day.

The breakfast is included in the rate at the restaurant on site. Apparently the restaurant is under a separate management from the hotel. Breakfast is traditional Soviet way of 'healthy breakfast' and would be an interesting challenge to Western tourist: lumpy semolina, stale bread, one slice of cheese and one slice of salami for each person. Luckily the breakfast menu alternates every other day between semolina one day and "omelette" - or overcooked eggs on another. No other choices are offered.  Juices and coffees are not included in the breakfast and are charged separately at the ridiculously high rates for Tashkent.

Staff are well-trained, friendly and is always ready to help. They speak pretty good English.

Overall a new and clean hotel with an outdoor swimming pool and a nice garden in a very good location. They need to sort out the acceptable breakfast choices for their international guests. Still good value for money.