Grand Sapphire Hotel — Hotel in Almaty

I would not recommend this hotel to anyone and will not be visiting Kazakhstan again because of this experience. I have traveled to many countries, and I have never seen such a lack of cooperation and service. From the start, the staff was completely unhelpful and rude. As a mother with three children, I was not even allowed a separate key card for my kids' room, with the staff insisting they only had three cards in total. It's a basic right for a parent to have access to their children's room. The rooms themselves were extremely disappointing. They were very small, with no space for luggage. The decor was depressing, and the overall "vibe" of the place felt sad and gloomy. The maintenance was also a major issue: one bedside lamp didn't work, the TV remote was barely functional, and the air conditioning was inconsistent, alternating between hot and cold. The biggest problem was a significant safety concern. The bathroom door locked on me while I was showering, and I was unable to get out. If my daughter hadn't been in the room to help me, I have no idea how long I would have been stuck. This shows a complete lack of regular maintenance. Other issues included: Ironing clothes was prohibited in the rooms, forcing me to go up and down to a special ironing room, which is extremely inconvenient with three children. After housekeeping, fresh towels were not provided unless I specifically asked for them. The entire experience was terrible and I do not recommend this...

I stayed here while visiting Almaty for a few days. The hotel is average with a unique golden aesthetic, which is neat. The people working the reception spoke some English, which is helpful for international travelers. The location is the best part of the hotel. It is a two-minute walk from the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, which includes the beautiful Ascension Cathedral and the Memorial of Glory monument. It is also near the Mar'ina Roshcha restaurant (Марьина Роща ресторан), a Russian restaurant that I would highly recommend. As for the negative aspects, the breakfast selection was not the best. It was sufficient, but a bit light. The hallways on the floor my room was on felt a bit empty and dead, due mainly to the off-white aesthetic. The elevators are quite fancy and ornate, which contrasted sharply with the lack of detail within the hallways. A decoration here or there could improve it. My room was comfy; however, I wish it could have been cleaned more thoroughly. I found a piece of candy by my bed that I had not brought with me. The views from the hotel are nothing special. The hotel did provide some complimentary drinking water, which I appreciated since it is not safe to drink the tap water in Kazakhstan. Despite the negatives, I would give the hotel a second chance and...

Great Stay at Grand Sapphire – Better Than Expected!

We stayed at the Grand Sapphire Hotel for 4 nights and had a very good experience overall. Before visiting Almaty, we came across many negative reviews about the hotel, especially regarding breakfast and service. Despite the concerns, we decided to go ahead with the booking and were pleasantly surprised.

The breakfast turned out to be quite good. Contrary to many reviews, we found a wide variety of options including different types of bread, meats, porridges, salads, fruits, desserts, as well as multiple types of coffee and juices. The spread was on par with a typical European breakfast. However, if you're expecting an Asian or Indian-style breakfast, this might not be the place for you. Room service and hotel amenities were also very good. The staff were helpful and courteous throughout our stay.

One of the biggest advantages of the hotel is its location—most major attractions are within walking distance. You'll also find many popular restaurants, bars, and pubs nearby, which makes exploring the city very convenient.

Overall, we had a pleasant stay and would recommend the Grand Sapphire to travelers who are looking for a centrally located and comfortable...