The hotel's jaunty lobby lounge. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
The hotel's jaunty lobby lounge. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
The hotel's jaunty lobby lounge. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
The hotel's jaunty lobby lounge. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent

A wallet-friendly stay at Hampton by Hilton Tashkent – Hotel Insider


  • English
  • Arabic

The strategically located Hampton by Hilton Tashkent is a fresh-faced option in Uzbekistan’s capital city. It’s ideal for those looking to begin exploring this Central Asia nation, without breaking the bank or cutting back on comfort.

The welcome

We are met by a hotel driver for the 15-minute journey to the city centre property, after an efficient immigration check process on landing at Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport.

There’s a surprising level of activity in the lobby on our arrival given that its 3am. Staff quickly retrieve our reservation, check us in and dispatch key cards to a fifth-floor double room.

Our room is at the end of a corridor, which means less passing guest traffic and noise in the morning, as we catch up on some much-needed sleep.

If you are staying in a single Uzbek city for three days or more, be sure to ask staff for a printed confirmation of your stay, because it is required by the authorities.

The neighbourhood

Visitors to Uzbekistan are on the increase, according to locals — and a short walk from the Hampton’s front doors we see plenty of tourists snapping photographs of the surrounding architecture.

Direct daily flydubai flights to Tashkent and historic Samarkand mean Uzbekistan is within easy reach of the UAE with a journey time of just under four hours.

This address is ideal if you like to walk or use the metro to get around, although staff will happily call a cab. The hotel is an easy stroll from the striking State Museum of the Temurids with its history of Uzbekistan and art equivalents, the House of Photography, and Amir Temur Square, where you’ll find an impressive statue honouring the 14th-century ruler of that name.

The room

A twin room, with a Smeg fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
A twin room, with a Smeg fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent

Hampton by Hilton Tashkent is an eight-storey property that opened in October 2021. About a 10-minute drive from the city’s central railway station, it comprises 175 non-smoking rooms, including 65 standard and 104 superior standard options.

Our deluxe double is one of six available, with a sofa long enough to accommodate another family member, a laptop safe and a large Lazy Boy-style beanbag.

A corner unit, it has two tall windows, with blue and white curtains, allowing plenty of light in during the day and views across near city streets. There’s generous space either side of a wall-mounted widescreen TV, with a small desk and chair, plus a broad, firm bed. An open wardrobe with an iron and board faces a small sitting area with a long mirror.

A capsule coffee machine sits above a trendy Smeg mini-fridge on an ash wood unit. The bedroom’s wooden floor creates a warm, modern feel, while cream and burnt orange walls host a cluster of framed pictures.

The service

Reception staff mostly speak good English and are keen to help with every query, including calling cabs and checking train times.

There are plenty of warm smiles in the hotel’s 120-cover Midtown Restaurant and a helping hand when some of us are outwitted by the coffee machine.

Even the woman from housekeeping is keen to know where we are from and how we are enjoying Tashkent.

The scene

Hampton by Hilton’s lobby is a socially vibrant, airy open space. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
Hampton by Hilton’s lobby is a socially vibrant, airy open space. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent

Hampton by Hilton’s lobby is a socially vibrant, airy open space with colourful, eclectic furniture spread across three zones in which guests can mingle or relax.

Beside the check-in desk is a bar/cafe area and a small shop selling snacks, toiletries, local merchandise and drinks. To the other side of the main revolving entrance door is a space well supplied with tables and seating for guests to read, wait or meet visitors.

A tall shelving display filled with uplifting missives and a selection of curiosities sections off a small business centre with a funky-coloured wall. Dedicated meeting rooms are also available.

There’s an ATM and currency exchange machine which, while handy, gives a weaker rate than some exchange desks.

There is no pool — although Tashkent does have a few family-friendly water parks – but the Hampton has a 24-hour fitness centre, well stocked with TechnoGym core and cardio equipment.

The food

The breakfast lounge. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
The breakfast lounge. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent

Breakfast, which is complimentary with each room booking, is a casual buffet-style affair. While there is no live cooking station, plenty of hot food is available, including eggs and local dishes such as a stew-style option one morning that seems more befitting of lunch, but is delicious all the same.

Cereals, juices, yogurts, plenty of cold meats and cheeses, plus fruit and salad items, are also available, along with a good tea and coffee selection.

For lunch and dinner, the menu includes international and local cuisine. The latter features Uzbekistan’s famed laghman and chuchvara soups (Dh16 and Dh13 respectively), achchik-chuchuk salad (Dh13), manti dumplings (Dh26) and giz lamb (Dh39). A summer terrace allows for fine weather dining.

Beside the reception desk, the Lobby Bar serves guests with hot and cold drinks, including alcoholic beverages, 24 hours.

Highs and lows

The hotel is a short distance from key attractions and museums. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent
The hotel is a short distance from key attractions and museums. Photo: Hampton by Hilton Tashkent

At just 7km from Tashkent’s international airport and close to several major city centre attractions, plus a metro station, the Hampton by Hilton is ideally located, with competitive rates.

The warmth of staff, especially in the restaurant, is immediately apparent. The only grumble is occasional water discoloration in the bathroom, but this soon works itself out.

The insider tip

Try to secure a corner room for a view of the imperious Palace of International Forums close by and some city bustle. And ask desk staff to order your taxi via the local Yandex app – the Uzbek equivalent of Uber – to avoid destination confusion and inflated fares. Or instal it before you leave the UAE.

The verdict

While Tashkent offers plenty of hotel rooms, the Hampton by Hilton is a stylish, unfussy and wallet-friendly address in the heart of the city’s cultural district. With a young, helpful team, bright, fresh rooms, it’s an ideal way to start and conclude your daily city adventures.

The bottom line

Room prices at Hampton by Hilton Tashkent start from Dh539 ($147), including breakfast and taxes. Check-in from 2pm; check-out at noon; www.hilton.com

This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time, services may change in the future.

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket
'The Batman'

Stars:Robert Pattinson

Director:Matt Reeves

Rating: 5/5

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Checks continue

A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.

Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
SUNDAY'S ABU DHABI T10 MATCHES

Northern Warriors v Team Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangla Tigers v Karnataka Tuskers, 5.45pm
Qalandars v Maratha Arabians, 8pm

In The Heights

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda

Rating: ****

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Envision%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarthik%20Mahadevan%20and%20Karthik%20Kannan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20The%20Netherlands%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Technology%2FAssistive%20Technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204impact%2C%20ABN%20Amro%2C%20Impact%20Ventures%20and%20group%20of%20angels%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIXTURES (all times UAE)

Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)

Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

Top 5 concerns globally:

1. Unemployment

2. Spread of infectious diseases

3. Fiscal crises

4. Cyber attacks

5. Profound social instability

Top 5 concerns in the Mena region

1. Energy price shock

2. Fiscal crises

3. Spread of infectious diseases

4. Unmanageable inflation

5. Cyber attacks

Source: World Economic Foundation

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

City's slump

L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1

Updated: May 12, 2023, 6:02 PM`