Turkmenistan
The rooms here are clean, spacious and have bathrooms with hot water – a luxury in a small Turkmen town. There’s a small chaikhana here too, offering…
Must-see hotels in Central Asia
Kabul
Popular with Afghan businessmen, this tall greenish building has commanding views over the river. Rooms and shared bathrooms alike are drab but clean. The…
Kabul
This is a great new addition to the budget hotel scene, and the pick of the ultra-cheapies. Carpeted rooms are small but on the cosy side, with a fan and…
Kabul
Another long-standing favourite, this medium-sized guesthouse has a selection of well-turned out rooms, favoured by long-term guests. Worth a look, there…
Kabul
This tidy little hotel has a good central location. Rooms have attached bathrooms and TV, although some are a bit on the poky side. Communal areas are…
Kabul
This new guesthouse run by an Afghan-German is a great deal. Rooms, with attached bathroom, are very nicely furnished with lots of dark wood giving the…
Kabul
Look twice for the entrance to this place facing the park – security is tight but unobtrusive. Modern rooms have en suites and are positively cosy, with a…
Ashgabat
The lobby at Ashgabat’s top hotel says it all – the blur of gold, crystal and marble is enough to make even Donatella Versace exclaim ‘too much!’ Rooms…
Turkmenistan
This white-tile construction on the western side of town is one of the better options in Dashoguz. Rooms have private bathrooms, TVs and fridges…
Afghanistan
If you need to stay the night, the Shibirghan Hotel is the best option. It’s on the northern edge of the main square – look for the phone towers and…
Afghanistan
Two communal rooms sit above a chaikhana, up some extremely rickety wooden stairs. There’s a simple bathroom and toilet, but for hot water you’ll need to…
Afghanistan
If you’re after a solid Afghan business-class hotel, this is it. Set in large grounds, the rooms are equally spacious, all with a fridge and a bathroom…
Yasin International Guesthouse
Afghanistan
This guesthouse is attached to the Yasin BBQ Restaurant and has six rooms with bathrooms. They have plans for expansion in the near future. Like the…
Turkmenistan
This hotel is located near the Murgab River. The 30 rooms are built around a pleasant lobby, and each contains a TV, fridge and small desk. Other…
Turkmenistan
The main hotel option in Turkmenbashi is this white marble hotel overlooking the naval base and the Caspian. Travellers report the rooms are spacious,…
Kabul
A well-established guesthouse, the Kabul Lodge is impeccably run with helpful and efficient management. Rooms are large (with en suite) and there’s a…
Turkmenistan
The Turkmenabat offers comfortable rooms, each with high ceilings, a fridge, comfy beds and a tiny TV. There is a pleasant bar and a good restaurant (the…
Afghanistan
The Chist Hotel, a kilometre out of Chist-e Sharif, is a large white modern building built in the aftermath of the Taliban’s ouster, but has yet to open…
Afghanistan
Reportedly offering similar accommodation to the Marco Polo Hotel, the Star Club was temporarily closed at the time of research. It’s right on the river,…
Kabul
This is a traditional Kabul home turned into a cosy, well-run guesthouse. Generous rooms are well set up, and there’s a lovely garden. Given that the…
Afghanistan
Also known as Number One Guesthouse, this is a basic hotel with hard beds. The shared bathrooms are pretty basic, with squat toilets, but there’s a…
Afghanistan
Chist-e Sharif has a busy bazaar and several chaikhanas for eating and sleeping. The Eqbal Hotel is the pick of the bunch, with decent food, ice-cold…
Afghanistan
A basic guesthouse with six tidy rooms and a helpful manager. It’s centrally located, near the main moneychangers’ area. Food is available, as is hot…
Turkmenistan
Opened in 2014, this is one of Mary's most expensive hotels. Travellers report that it is centrally located and has comfortable, clean rooms and adequate…
Kabul
Another well-run guesthouse popular with contractors and UN workers, the Naween offers a high level of comfort and security. All rooms are en suite.
Turkmenistan
A standard Soviet-era hotel that has seen far better days. Appropriate only for budget travellers looking for a crash pad.
Turkmenistan
A Soviet-style hotel recommended only for budget travellers wanting a crash pad and nothing more.
