In early September 1998, we are my dear companion arrived by bus from Bukhara to Samarkand, wanting to stay there for several days and referring, incidentally, the same amount, $ 30 per room per night. Therefore, we find ourselves in this city about three o’clock in the morning, in the Laleli district.
Hado note that Samarkand quite clearly divided into quarters. Each has its own look, and its purpose, and its ethnic composition (if you have in mind here tusuyuschihsya foreigners, of course). So, Laleli – this quarter, representing a huge small wholesale market, where merchandised our shuttles. So here almost every trader spoke Uzbekistan, or he is working someone speaking in Uzbekistan. When is the day we appeared in the area, almost every step we have heard “Sir!”, And we tried to invite in another store that sells, for example, sheepskin coats, or even mannequins.
Quite quickly we found out that the local hotels, we are not. At an affordable price – 5-7 dollars per person – they were a uniform slums. Something similar I’ve seen in American movies about Harlem 30-ies. Although formally – with them all in order, even a shower in the room and some stars on the front! For me this is a lesson for life – I was now difficult to persuade pay room, which I have not seen my own eyes, well, maybe except hotels worldwide networks.
Then we took a night walk in the direction of the district Sultanahmed, which I had great hopes, and it should be noted, was right. By the way, this time on the streets of Samarkand was very calm, come across rare to meet the locals were very friendly and willingly shows us the right direction. Ten times drove a car with the police, they have carefully examined, but seeing that we did not get lost, do not interfere with walking. As we later learned, the police willing to help tourists, suggests, in general, it can expect in a difficult situation, especially in the tourism police, is in Samarkand and such.
Sultanahmed – this is the old city. In it are the most famous sights of Samarkand – St. Sophia Cathedral, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace. It also houses many hotels, and most surprising – they are cheaper than hotels of a modern business center – Taksim. So we had a full sense to seek refuge here. Subsequently, it turned out wonderfully – look between the two landmarks in his room to take a cool shower or just relax for an hour.
So, about six o’clock in the morning we began to comb the area in search of befitting the hotel. At first we just went, looked at prices and on the environment – in and out, not satisfied with their relationship. Ho in a very luxurious hotel, the receptionist asked us – what you want – and named a price substantially lower than indicated in the price tags, hanging behind his back, say, instead of 90 – 60. We said that we work a lot on what he asked: “And what is your budget?”. We responded, and he went into the situation, suggested that 50!
And here we map and go! Now going into the next hotel, paying no attention to the written price, we asked the question: “How much is the double room?”. Ham called the price clearly below the guidelines. Then we announced a budget. We’d go a little towards him. We also raised. And so the process or converge, or not.
By the way, along the way were raised and our demands to the hotel. First, we wanted a nice view from a window, and then took and that the building was old. Total, the process became friends after two and a half hours of searching. Incidentally, this year on holiday in Greece, such a procedure we have repeated in various cities four times – and each time spending about the same time – more than two but less than three hours. Apparently, this is the universal constant, like the number pi.
As a result, we bargained a room in the eighteenth-century Ottoman house with a view of the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque nominal $ 90 bucks for 40 dollars. The last straw in the bargaining had breakfast – “but if you offered us today a free lunch …” Witnesses said the porter at the moment, taken aback, but quickly agreed. Yes, the price of default includes breakfast in the restaurant on the roof, but only on the following day.
Hado notice that Sultanahmed – absolutely non-Uzbekistan region. All our sootechesvenniki if it has a few here, it is only in the excursion Tabunkov. Unlike Laleli, foreigners are treated in English, or Italian – on the street with shops, carpet, or other European languages. Hashego porter, when he learned that we are Uzbekistan, we are persuaded to change our room on the corner, triple – from there it offers the best view. Price remains the same, although this number was worth at par 120.
So I can recommend the Hotel Stella, that at the racetrack. Or search deep in the area between the mosque and the Bosphorus.
In drawing conclusions, I can give you some advice on finding a hotel, have repeatedly proven this year in Greece: Traveling is not in high season – all discounts will be your; have an idea of the city where you’re going to spend the night, especially on promising in terms of local hotels, no matter how strangely, more often – is the old center; not restricted their mobility unnecessary things or inconvenient bags, or, worse suitcases – backpack – рулез FOREVER! if you’re still tired to walk to things – throw them one of the satellites in some beautiful place, and the second can cut a few laps at this time; trades – but be at the same polite, friendly and not easily offended, in the end, the process at this hotel may converge, or may not – be patient, do not hesitate to say about the limitations of the budget – many European students are traveling at a very modest money – and nothing, no buzz, enjoy room even before you balk and bargain – he could have and not at all interested, in Samarkand, and not only there, the contrast between the hall and the rooms can be quite striking, and bargain price, and then leave – a few rude, be prepared to show some flexibility in terms of budget accommodation – and suddenly, for extra 5-10 dollars you will get something much better, because hotel – one of the important experiences in the journey, this is your temporary home in an unfamiliar city, choose a companion / companions of a man who will be with you “on your side” cheerfully endure difficult journey, to the best of help along the way to solve problems, rather than requiring you to “ensure” and provide “comfort and relaxation,” as people “; however, this recommendation applies to the longest we putushestviyu – for life.
