Caspian Riviera Grand Palace

Do NOT expect anywhere near a 5-star experience that is supposed to be worth 50 KZT / 100 USD a day. The hotel looks barren and empty. It feels like it is mostly air. Seems to be built for conferences and not really suited for guests who stay here. Let’s start with the good: The cleaning ladies are great and diligent. Everything else is at the level of a Bulgarian 2 star village motel. WiFi is bad. 15MBit in the room, if you are lucky, practically no stable WiFi anywhere else. The aquarium is dirty and overcrowded. The "spa area": tiny swimming pool with slimy, unclean water. Derelict sauna with loose, dirty wooden planks. Loud TV in the corner. Toilet and changing room in one small room. No service. Rooms are big, but the ancient A/C is loud as a motorcycle. The balcony is empty, no ash tray, nowhere to sit. Outside a lot of A/C noise. The lobby and restaurant staff either is not paid enough or not trained enough to care about the guests. There is always a surprise on their face if a guest requests something. Completely disorganised and forgetful. They always try to seem busy, but do not accomplish anything. Food looks pretty, but is from mediocre products with a 100% markup. Rather go to CheChil than eat here. No coffee or hot water at breakfast. Breakfast itself is readymade sausages and stew and old salad. The breakfast room seated 20 people (1/10 of the number of beds in this hotel). The breakfast room was full of dirty dishes and staff did not care to clean. All in all: It was a waste of money and energy. Would not stay here again and not recommend it to anyone.