Name: Estate 2 Hostel
Address: Al Farabi Street 16B, Almaty, Almaty, Almaty, 050051, Kazakhstan
Rating: 8

Common kitchen

Meals

Location

At the hostel

National Museum of Kazakhstan

Presidential Palace

Republic Square

Almaty Opera House

Almaty Central Stadium

Almaty Cathedral

28 Panfilov Heroes Memorial Park

Park Kul'tury I Otdykha

Botanic Garden

Green Bazar

Almaty Zoo

First president park

Medeu Stadium

Almaty Airport

Shymbulak Ski Resort

Estate 2 Hostel

This is the second time I've stayed at Estate 2 Hostel. It's exceptionally clean and nicely located. However, there have been issues with booking online. Also, I was told that my 4am arrival on Saturday was fine and that I could leave on Sunday at 6pm without paying for a 2nd day. This became the topic of at least 3 different conversations where I was told, 'no, you have to pay' and then 'no, you don't have to pay.' I ended up spending several hours hanging out in the living room area where there are several couches without being charged extra. Overall, the staff is helpful and nice. I just wish the original statement of being able to stay in my room Sunday afternoon had worked out.

Having arrived at 05:30am on the overnight flight from Istanbul, and had some issues with money and getting into town from the airport we were tired and probably quite irritable by the time we got to the hostel!  By10am we had made town and decided to see if we could drop our bags off and then check in properly later,

Locating the hostel was a bit tricky.  It's at the top of a very large set of flats on Al-Farabi and if you say 'hostel' to the security guards on the gate they will tell you where to go (or in our case they eventually took us there when we thought they were trying to send us to the wrong place).  It's actually a decent piece of general advice to know a bit of basic Russian when travelling out here as English is not widely understood by anyone over 25.

Once we found the hostel, we were welcomed warmly by the lady who I assume was the owner.  She didn't speak any English, but as it's a hostel the guests were all young and most spoke English - so one of them did the translation for her.  There was a little confusion over our rooms, but once that were sorted out they were already made up and we checked in there and then at 10am.  This was great as it allowed us to get a bit of rest rather than just kick our heels around Almaty with bags until 2pm.  Payment for the rooms was cash only and requested up front.  No credit cards were accepted.

There are house rules - no alcohol is allowed in the hostel and shoes have to be removed when entering.  There is a well equipped kitchen where you can prepare food and coffee etc - also a fridge/cupboards to store food and a washing machine available to use.

The rooms themselves were nicely decorated and spotlessly clean - I had the en-suite room with bathroom while my friend had the non en-suite room.  The other guests stayed in the 6-bed shared dorm - obviously I can't comment on how that was, but I popped my head in and it seemed to be just as good as the non shared room (but messier!).  There was satellite TV, free WIFI in both your room and the shared living room area downstairs.

The shared living room area is a place to chill and talk to the other guests - the people staying there when we did were very friendly but seemed slightly baffled as to why English people would want to go to Almaty!

The only thing that is slightly negative is the location - it's on a main ring road and while it's not miles out of the centre it's a good 10 minute walk to where there are things to do.  Saying that - once we had worked out how to use public transport, there is a stop just outside the shopping centre over the road and from there its possible to get practically anywhere for next to nothing.

Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Estate 2 Hostel either to groups or people wanting their own room.  It is excellent value for money.

Almaty

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Clean Hostel

Excellent little hostel on the edge of Almaty

Breakfast included

Free Internet

Transfer

Parking

Suitable for children

Swimming Pool

Fitness centre

Bar or restaurant

For guests with disabilities

Conference hall

Spa Services

Ski slope nearby

Beach nearby

Air-conditioning

Pets allowed

Jacuzzi

Private Bathroom

Kitchen

Balcony

View from the window

Smoking allowed

Electric car charging

Estate 2 Hostel

Location

Available rooms

Location

Description of the hostel

Services and amenities

Meals

Conditions of accommodation

Conditions of accommodation

Payment

Payment

For corporate clients