The Khorezm Palace is right in the heart of town, just a few steps away from Independence Square. It has spacious, air-conditioned rooms with impeccably clean bathrooms, a decent restaurant and a nondescript bar in the lobby. The small business centre is closed on the week-ends.

Staff tend to be on the uncooperative side (unsurprisingly, as the hotel is state-owned), with the exception of a couple of waiters, who were friendly and efficient.

Should I ever go back to that part of Uzbekistan, I'd rather stay in Khiva (30 km away), which is far more pleasant than Urgench.