Tsaghkahovit Hotel — Hotel in Tsakhkadzor

Tsagkhahovit: Comfortable and Cozy Hotel||||In this review, I will share about my overall Armenian trip experience.||||The main purpose of my trip to Armenia was to try skiing. I have read that it has good ski slopes especially for beginners, plus, it's a short flight from Dubai (about 3.5hours). ||||I travelled solo last February and decided to stay in this hotel for 3 nights as it is not far (about 15-20min walk) from the Tsaghkadzor ropeway. The hotel room is clean and comfortable, their breakfast is okay and the staffs speak English and they are nice and helpful. The hotel has a small bar with pool tables so it’s a good place to chill after a long cold day outside.||||Since it was my first time to try skiing, I dont own ski gears and just rented them at the Ropeway of Tzagkhadzor. The thing is, most people there don’t speak English, they do however speak Russian and Armenian (so it was a disadvantage for me). The hotel staff helped me booked with one of the instructors in the ropeway which was great. I had a good ski experience over-all. Just a tip, if you dont speak their language, make sure that you know how much you have to pay for everything at the Ropeway (instructor fee, Ski gear rent, and the payment for the cable rides. Note: I also paid for the cable ride for my instructor which was questionable) as its difficult to argue when you’re there and the instructor just keeps on asking for money to pay for something and you don’t understand what he is saying. I think I have spent an equivalent of around 500 AED for my ski experience. As a consolation, the instructor was nice and a good one, and I didn't break any bones. haha||||While in Tzagkhadzor, don’t miss seeingthe Kecharis monastery (it was just 30 minutes walk with few stops to take photos from my hotel).||||One of the things I love about Armenia is their food. It's fresh and delicious. Try Karas Restaurant when you’re in Tzagkhadzor, Old Erivan and Genaclave Pandok in Yerevan to experience authentic Armenian food.||||Since I travelled alone, I opted to join group tours which you can find in Viator or local tour agency. I booked my tours with the holiday factory representative, which was cheap. Had an amazing experience with them, our guide, Lilith is very knowledgeable. ||||Here are the tourist spots that I recommend: GArni, Sevan, Noravank, Geghard Monastery, and Khor Virap .||||Despite the fact that most Armenians don't speak English, they are friendly people. ||I had a sweet experience there and it happened when I was having dinner at Genacvale Pandok, I was the only foreigner in the restaurant at that time and the staffs gave me complimentary fruit basket and a glass of wine. I really appreciated their effort to make me feel like I belong. :)||||As a female solo traveler, I felt safe wandering around alone. So, to female solo travelers out there, see and experience Armenia, you won’t regret it.||||P.S. For the shopaholics, did you know that their tax refund is around 21%? Happy...

The hotel is very well located and close to Kecharis Church, Tsakhkadzor ropeway. It is ok for one night if you prefer budget stay but do not expect too much. I have stayed at this hotel several times and I saw a huge difference after my previous stay (in 2017). The hotel inventory has become outdated, the beddings and towels are worn-out, even with holes in some places, the windows and the floor in the room were dirty, the toilet smelled with humidity. It is not recommended to drink the water from the tap but there are water dispensers almost in any corner. The staff is very helpful. Although I had made my booking 2 weeks before my arrival they mistakenly fixed my check-in for a later date. Fortunately before arrival I decided to recheck my booking on the phone and managed to solve the problem though after a tough conversation with the staff. In general the staff was very helpful, because of the incident with my booking they upgraded my room, they also provided help with finding a local taxi, offered to leave the luggage in the reception because they do not have luggage storage room. The breakfast offered by the hotel is very good and value...

It’s fine to stay here for short period. Rooms are fine, although pretty budget and small. |The tap water is not for drink, they give you notice when handing the key, take it into account. |Many services and mentality here is soviet and obsolete. They call rooms with one wide bed as “two person room”, while it’s a clearly single. |Do not rely on breakfast, as it is stuck in soviet era and will remind you Soviet re-education facility for minors. It has enforced continental menu, your table will be served with certain things without a choice. It will include things like smetana (high-fat sour cream) and butter, also expect things buckwheat or some weird porridges. They don’t have coffee, which is in this day and age is funny, and they serve you tea instead. The tables are numbered with your room number and the badges with number visible publicly which is violation personal data law, and also simply bizarre. |Conclusion, if you want to stay close to ropeway, you want to stay one or two nights, and you are single or maximum couple, you can stay here, but buy your water, and don’t use...