considering most hotels in almaty are well overpriced this one is reasonable enough

location not bad, rooms a bit soviet although very clean the usual CIS issues no bath plugs, bad design, doors opening on themselves etc etc

mini bar is sensibly priced, not often you can drink a bottle of cognac from the mini bar and not feel the pain at check out

lobby bar has all facilities a travelling businessman needs

breakfast is passable not grand

staff friendly helpful and english speaking, no issues at all there

be aware of staff doing things off the books such as offering to set up internet in your room 'unofficially' but will be at a price higher than doing it officially but they are soon haggled down to half the official price - things like this are rampant in this town

my second stay here, will continue to use,its good enough for this town

airport issues -
taxis are even worse even so called official ones will not agree price or have a meter but only have a paper print of so called official tariff sin the glove box to whip out when you arrive at your destination,sometime drivers make an excuse to carry a friend or colleague too who will help intimidate you at your destination, refuse to go with 2
much better to have a driver meet you and avoid nastiness....