Holiday Inn Express Almaty

Holiday Inn Express Almaty sits on Seifullin Avenue in the city center and does the simple things well. It offers modern rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and coffee and tea facilities, a free breakfast served from early morning, an on-site restaurant and a bar and lounge area, plus complimentary parking for guests. There is no pool, so it suits travelers who plan to spend their days on the sights, day trips and mountains and need a clean, convenient room at a sensible price. Smoking rooms and connecting rooms are available, which helps families and groups. The brand's predictable standards and central location make it a low-risk choice if you have a long list of excursions and little interest in resort facilities.

Location and getting around: Seifullin Avenue is a main road with plenty of taxis and buses, and the hotel is easy to reach from the airport and from the train stations. From here it is a short ride to Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, the Green Bazaar and the Kok-Tobe cable car, and tour pickups for Medeu, Shymbulak, Charyn and Kolsai are straightforward. Almaty taxi rides are inexpensive, so even without a metro stop outside the door the hotel is well connected.

Rooms and breakfast: expect modern, practical rooms with good beds, desks and coffee and tea supplies, sized for short stays. The free breakfast runs from early morning into the late morning, which is handy before early day-trip pickups. The restaurant and bar cover dinner and a drink, though many guests prefer to eat out in the city, where options are plentiful and good value.

Good to know: guests park free on site, which suits self-drive travelers, although driving in Almaty traffic and winter conditions takes some care. Request a quieter room away from the avenue if you are a light sleeper. There is no pool or spa, so mountain-day travelers who want a soak may prefer a hotel with wellness facilities. For value, location and breakfast, it is hard to beat.