International Hotel Tashkent

Rooms and decor

Picture a pale, ornate European-style building that has been a landmark on Amir Temur Avenue since the late 1990s — that is International Hotel Tashkent. Step into the lobby and you are somewhere out of a classic golden-era set: crystal chandeliers, high ceilings, glossy marble floors and carved European wood furniture. It is quiet and stately, a world away from the modern look of the international chains. The 230-odd rooms and suites run in warm beige, cream and soft gold, with king beds, crisp clean linens and matching classic wood furniture throughout. What reviewers single out most is the bathroom: every room, at every level, has a soaking tub, with slippers, a minibar, a hairdryer and a tea-and-coffee maker. The rooms run noticeably larger than the 5-star standard in this city. Those facing the TV Tower catch a pretty night view when it is lit, while the high-floor rooms on the avenue side look out over the Tashkent skyline.

Food and amenities

The heart of a stay here is the wellness floor — a curved indoor pool many call one of the prettiest hotel pools in Tashkent, with a high mosaic-tiled ceiling, clear water and a comfortable warm temperature. It is open all year, which matters a lot through the sub-zero Uzbek winter. Alongside it sit a 24-hour gym and a Russian sauna-and-spa running oil massage, eastern bodywork and a hammam-style scrub at friendly prices. Plenty of reviews say a 60-minute massage here costs about half what the international chains in town charge, with skill that holds its own. The main restaurant serves an international breakfast buffet kept hot throughout, with eggs cooked to order, fresh pastries, fruit, and a corner of genuine Uzbek dishes — plov, somsa and manti — done well by the local kitchen. Servers are warm and remember faces. In the evening there is a Middle Eastern restaurant and a lobby cocktail bar with a classic feel for an evening glass of wine.

Location and getting there

Location is another reason this place sells — it stands on Amir Temur Avenue in the Yunusobod district, the main artery of northern central Tashkent, just 1.5 km from the city center but quieter and more spacious. It is a 10-minute walk from the lobby to the Tashkent Expo Center, which makes it a top pick for anyone here for a conference or a trade-show booth. The International Business Center and TV Tower sit close by, and Bodomzor and Minor metro stations are about 5 minutes away by car for an easy ride into the center or the old town. From Tashkent airport (TAS) it is about a 25-minute drive to the door. For shopping, Mega Planet and the Samarqand Darvoza Shopping Mall are a 5-to-10-minute Yandex taxi away, while Chorsu Bazaar and the old town are about 4 to 5 km off, a 15-to-20-minute taxi ride.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide — the biggest thing to weigh is the styling. Both the lobby and the rooms are full late-90s classic: crystal chandeliers, thick patterned carpets, carved wood furniture. If you are expecting the modern minimalist look of a newer American chain like a JW Marriott or Hilton, this may feel a touch dated to you; if you like a period or classic-European feel, it has real charm of its own. The other recurring note is Wi-Fi: the signal is unstable in spots, especially in the high-floor rooms at the end of the building, and some guests had to head down to the lobby, where it is stronger. If you have online meetings, check with reception at check-in or ask to switch rooms. Rooms facing the main avenue can catch some traffic noise, mostly morning and evening, so if you sleep lightly ask for the TV Tower side or the garden at the back, which is quieter. Last, the distance: if your trip is built around the old town and Chorsu Bazaar, this northern location means a taxi every time, so budget for the fares.

Our take

After working through a stack of real reviews, International Hotel Tashkent is a 5-star that earns its reputation for value among the city's luxury names — a central spot in the Expo and business zone, rooms that run larger than standard with a soaking tub in every one, an indoor pool you can use all year, and a spa at friendly prices, all from a starting rate of about half what the newer international chains charge. If you are a business traveler here for the Expo Center or a couple after a comfortable, classic stay that does not squeeze the wallet, it fits beautifully. If you are after the newest design and fast, rock-solid Wi-Fi in every corner of the room, you may want to spend up for the Hyatt Regency or InterContinental instead. Overall we give it 8.8/10, best suited to Expo-bound travelers, business guests and couples who value comfort and full facilities over the most up-to-date design.