Hotels

Jahongir B&B is a privately run guesthouse with a history dating back to the end of 19th century. The building once belonged to a rich merchant but is converted now to a guesthouse.

Set in the middle of old quarters Jahongir B&B offers a traveler to immerse and observe the ordinary lives of Uzbek people. Indeed, a great spot to actually meet locals and see how people actually live in Samarkand. The place feels much more local than international, more in the style of a home stay than hotel. The courtyard and the shadowed tapchans are perfect to relax and hide from the midday heat.

This guesthouse is conveniently located on a quiet street within walking distance of all the major sites, so pretty much this is the place to stay in Samarkand, it takes 5 minute walk to Registan square through the residential neighbourhood. All other major attractions are within 25 mins walk. There is supermarket & a restaurant within 7 mins walk. When you go the Registan, just before the main street (on the left hand side), there is a small restaurant where locals and Uzbek tourists eat, pay a visit.

The location of B&B is in the middle of a residential neighbourhood. It is somewhat hard to find, mainly as none of the maps or directions seem to point out that someone built a wall in the middle of Suzangaron Street. Just go around the alley to the left of the house in the way (with a garden with a white metal fence, pond, vines and big trees) and it's easy. Still, it is best you ask hotel to arrange for a pick up as it is certainly not easy for a taxi driver to locate the B&B place. Once you know where it is, the location is excellent.

This is bed and breakfast so the facilities are limited. Jahongir B&B has 6 rooms in total: 5 twin rooms and 1 room with king size bed. All rooms are quite spacious, comfortable and almost equally good and well decorated with traditional fabrics, handicrafts and carpets. Rooms are located on the first floor, you have to take off your shoes to reach them as the place is covered with soft typical local carpets. Each room has: powerful air conditioning, flat screen TV, mini-fridge and private shower. Triple room is decorated in traditional Uzbek style and consists of two parts. The beds are classic Uzbeki beds that western tourist might find a bit hard (but you'll find that everywhere in Central Asia).

The rooms are a great value for what one receives and they have an amazing, serene outside sitting area with pillows and tables under grape vines and trees near their main entrance.  New rooms and refurbishments are taking place over the winter (2013-2014), so Jahongir will be even better.

Power cuts plague the cities due and Jahongir have their own generator to provide lighting.

Mammoth breakfasts which sustain you all day (possibility to have dinner there too) and an excellent attention. Staff very helpful, the setting made picturesque by means of various decorations (the building itself is not much, but the guys there have turned it into something very nice). Sitting in the pleasant courtyard you could have breakfast; typically have pancakes, bread, jam, tea, and coffee, eggs with rice or potato. You can also have tasty dinner at the hotel. It will be pleasure to spend a few afternoons chilling out below the stunning wine-yard, sipping green tea and eating complimentary white melon.

The Wi-Fi is slow but manageable. Also, they set a 200 MB quota for Internet use, so if you are a heavy user you might need to ask for extra quota.

The owners go out of the way to help tourists. Two English-speaking brothers that own and operate Jahongir B&B are very kind, incredibly friendly, considerate, and helpful - if you need anything, just ask. Although Uzbek in style the hotel management is thankfully very western due to the owners having lived in the USA previously. The staff is fantastic in all respects, whether serving the breakfast, giving advice or changing money. It feels like staying with a calm local family.

If you want to stay at a small hotel with the flavour of the area, choose Jahongir. Good value for money. Excellent Service. Homey feel. Hard to do better. You will enjoy your stay here thoroughly.