Rooms Kazbegi — Hotel in Stepantsminda

I initially wrote a comprehensive 1 ½ page review, but it was far too long to be accepted by Google, so here are the cliff notes:

-The ROOMS Kazbegi is undoubtedly the most luxurious option in Stepantsminda. Except for a trip up to the Gergeti Trinity Church, you could comfortably stay your whole visit in the hotel. The lounge/restaurant/bar/patio area are all decorated like a high-class ski lodge where you can plop down in an overstuffed armchair, at a rustic table, or on a leather sofa by the fireplace.

-The food is excellent (especially the breakfast buffet, which may be the best in Georgia,) and surprisingly affordable.

-While the food is authentically Georgian, so is the service. I live in Georgia, so I am absolutely used to unfriendly, almost hostile service, but it was surprising for a place that bills itself as a luxury international hotel to have every single waiter, bartender, busser, bellhop, and pool attendant across three days and two nights be so cold. Probably the most egregious example is the very well-dressed individual that stands by the elevators in the lobby and scowls at you while you’re struggling to get your bags to/from the car, opening the front door, or just passing through the lobby. (I saw at least three different people in this position during my stay, and I can only assume they will be fired if they replace their contemptuous stare with a smile, nod, or “gamarjoba.”) Again, I am 100% used to how things work here, and I wouldn’t care except that 1. it’s such an expensive hotel and 2. the front desk staff were all friendly and helpful to an international standard, so it’s clearly possible for more staff to be trained as such.

-The indoor pool is warm even in the dead of winter, has an amazing view, and the sauna is lovely.

-The rooms are severely overpriced for what you get. A standard mountain-facing room is 4-5 times the cost of some other hotels in the area, but it is small, has zero storage (just a few coat hooks – no dresser, wardrobe, or closet,) limited privacy (guests on either side of you can see into a portion of your room from their balcony because the divider is mesh rather than a privacy wall,) is too dark to read in at night even with every light switched on, the bathroom is quite literally the same size as the average Asian one-star hotel bathroom (and the shower isn’t separated, so a taking a shower gets the whole room wet,) there’s no towel bar in the bathroom (the two hooks are where the robes go,) and the vintage-style hot and cold taps make getting the right temperature difficult without scalding or freezing yourself. For what it’s worth, I would be accepting of all of the above (except it being too dark to read) were it not for the price tag.

Overall, I feel that every single person that visits Stepsminda owes it to themselves to make use of the ROOMS Kazbegi’s restaurant and bar, but the unwelcoming staff (except the front desk) and drastic overpricing for what you get make booking a room a pass. I would happily return if they upgraded their room lighting and either lowered prices or...

Sorry, I have to write this review as our disappointment on our 10th year anniversary is really a sad event. Everything is trying to look good but the services and quality is not there except the majestic view.

No welcome drinks for waiting for 3 hours, people are not helpful when we arrived at the main hall, no greetings. We sit at the library dining area with no one serving us, we checked in and ordered room service.

At the lobby's toilet, a few of the guests went into ladies, we need to turn on our phone's torchlight.

Again, no one is bothering us with our 5 bags and no helps offerings moving us up to the room, no one is bothering. The room given was having aircon leaking with water within 3 mins we turned it on. Service man came really fast, but the communication seems not able to communicate well, at last they turned off the aircon and called it done. And we on the aircon after they left, continued leaking within 1 minute.

Immediately we made a call and another room key was arranged. Key passed to us and no other helps given, serve yourself, find the room yourself. We walked into the room and opened the balcony door, the entire door almost slammed on me. I really freaked out. Another man came to fix. Next day morning, I opened it again, almost slammed on me again. If it is not the curtain blocking, the glass door would have slammed on me.

We decided not to extend our stay and next day morning, we lost our ring at the terrace area while I was doing exercise. The terrace was having small holes in between. Service man and front officer came to help unlocked 3 panels of the wood but nothing has found.

We are firmed that the ring was dropped within that few panels that section corner, each panel is only 6 screws to unlock and we are offered 3-4 panels and done. The front officer said "we can't do this during this hour, perhaps at night time, and will email me when its found." Honestly I try to give trust, but I think less hope is better.

The toilet hot cold shower is not consistent.

I never been spent money for so bad experience, if there is any satisfaction level guaranteed, please let me know.

We have to walk far to get to mini mart, and take a taxi come back up as street dogs are chasing and barking at the street.

The pool's heat steel not covered by anything, please do not bring kids to the pool, I accidentally touched it and hand almost got burned. They put too closed to the bench.

The room condition is stuffy, no good airflow. the bedsheet and pillow is good.

The breakfast was good, the view was good, the room services man is good, and the service man who willing to unlock 3 panels is definitely good as I was told to write good review for this help, and email was given, as per told they will find it at night. No calls no email received since 19th June 2024.

Anyway please get back to us if there is...

The views are spectacular. But rooms facing the forest are also facing the main lobby doors, the conference facility (noisy DJ's and parties until 3am), all the cars driving around, people honking horns, moving trolleys of supplies, etc. Rather book a room facing the mountain and village. For this reason and the other reasons below, I cannot give a higher rating.

Whenever there is a private function, one third of the front terraced deck is roped off and guests have no access to the lobby bar or the pool table either. If there are VVIP guests with entourage, expect many armed security personnel on site as well. Our stay coincided with 2 weddings and a VVIP function. Disappointing, as we could not relax and enjoy the hotel's limited amenities fully.

Also highly uncomfortable to have more than a dozen armed men watching your every move when you step outside of your room, try to use the lift or want to eat in the dining room. They occupied all the rooms in our corridor, spoke loudly and on their walkie-talkies, even at 3am while we were trying to sleep.

The tension was very unpleasant, as the security teams were openly on high alert at all times. I did not dare take photographs of ourselves in case of any unpleasant altercations. If the hotel staff were briefed about matters, the guests certainly were not. Suggestion to management: next time some VVIP wants to take over the hotel, do not allow regular guests at the same time, as it ruined half of our holiday.

The breakfast buffet is delicious and has great variety. The food menu (for dine-in and room service) is limited. Staff are constantly bustling, as the hotel is always busy with many day-trippers hanging out in the communal areas too. Be prepared to wait for service. In-house massage service is top notch. The room has no TV, so take along your own entertainment. Safes are available at reception. No matter the summer forecast, take a jacket with you, as the icy winds on the terrace and deck necessitate some cover.

If you can, rent a car and drive yourself to and from the hotel. There is no car rental available in Kazbegi. The roads are very steep and it is easier to drive short distances and save your energy for the beautiful hikes. The mountain road is a major thoroughfare, so beware of trucks, buses and cars. The average speed is about 50-60 km/hr with plenty of scenic stops...