Back on line at last, reading and writing to catch up on. Happy New Year!
Back on line at last, reading and writing to catch up on. Happy New Year!
Member since:25.07.2003
Reviews:104
Members who trust:43
Armenia. A lot of people have heard of it, but it's a bit like Timbuktu or Zanzibar: you've heard of it but does it really exist, where is it and why would you want to go there?
Yes it does exist and I have a few visas in the passport to prove it. It is a bit to the east of the Black Sea, north east of Turkey, north west of Iran and south of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Why would you go there? Well I went for business, some people go for pleasure, there is lots of history, good rambling and trekking and lots of good, cheap wine and brandy!
Where would you say? To be frank, if you are looking for Hyatt or Crowne Plaza standards, impeccable service and attention to detail then you are bound to be disappointed just about anywhere in Armenia. Much as I like the country and the people, five star service just does not seem to be exist. It's getting better, more people do make an effort, but it is still a hope rather than a reality!
Of all the hotels
in Yerevan, the Hotel Yerevan is not my favourite, but it is the best hotel of its size and location. I've stayed there five or six times over the past couple of years.
The Hotel Yerevan was completely rennovated and reopened in 2000 (give or take a few months). The rennovation was done by the Italian company Renco, who now run the hotel. A hotel run by Italian builders sounds like a recipe for diaster, but it's not! The rennovation has been done quite well and other than the reception area, which is a little small, it does feel light, airy and has a Mediterranean feel to it.
RECEPTION Most of the people at reception are cheerful and friendly. Check in is quite quick, but check out can be slow. Note than names on the register may be back to front (first name and family names mixed up), it is quite common to ask for a guest and be told that they are not listed - Joe Bloggs might be listed as Mr Joe and if you ask for Mr Bloggs they will tell you he is not there!
Through the small reception you come to the restaurant on the left, then a large atrium reaching up to the ceiling. In the centre is a fountain, decorated with a kind of sculpture made of sheets of glass. Behind, to the left is a small lobby bar, to the right a meeting room, and one of the non-descript doors takes you down to the fitness centre and the night club. The rest of the atrium compirses a lobby loujnge, filled with tables and chairs from where you can order drinks and snacks.
ROOMS The rooms are quite comfortable, light and with simple but pleasant decor. There is without doubt a slightly "basic" feel to it, whether it is the simple colours, the thin blanket on the bed or the print hanging on the wall, but overall the room is a reasonable size and plush enough.
The double bed is not especially large but firm and comfortable. The desk gives a reasonable working space with accessible power points. There is a minibar stocked with spirits, beer and soft drinks at prices that are not too extortionate as long as you stick to locak drinks! There is a direct-dial telephone.
The TV is easily watched from the bed, though the screen is a bit small. There are also not many channels to watch - BBC World, CNN, a movie channel or two, the rest are all in Armenian, Russian or Italian. Come to think of it, if you speak Italian you will be spoiled for choice!
The bath room has toilet, sink and a shower cubicle - no bath tub. Hanging in the shower, for some reason, is a cord with a red knob on the end. This is an emergency call - in case of emergency, pull cord and someone comes running. Why it is there, why the only place someone might have an emergency is in the shower, I have no idea. Perhaps the designer had recently watched "Psycho".
FACILITIES There is a roof top pool and bar which sounds nice but it is tiny - not quite postage stamp size but if you dive in one end you might hit your head on the far end! However it is a nice place to have a drink on a warm summer evening.
The gym and fitness centre is in the basement and is tiny. Not all of the equipment works, and there is not that much to start with! The massage is ok and there is also a hair dresser. There is also a night club, which is in reality a small bar, which looks like a half hearted attempt at a "pub", and a dance floor about the size of the pool. I've been in twice and it was empty both times!
The business centre is basically a couple of girls with a PC, fax and scanner. There is a small, over priced shop.
There are several meeting rooms available, a "Board Room" on the second floor which appears to be two rooms knocked together to accommodate the biggest table I have ever seen - it seats thirty - and a more casual room next to the business centre.
RESTAURANT There is one restaurant, "Rossini", which offers a buffet breakfast which is, in my opinion, dreadful. It seems to be a combination of Armenian and Mediterranean - cucumbers, tomato, flaky dry pastries, yogurt, cottage cheese, grilled oily eggplant and chicken franks. I just stick to a boiled egg and coffee.
Lunch and dinner is much better, a la carte and pricier though there is a set-menu "Business lunch".
Room service is ok but limited choice, slow and expensive. Small snacks are also available in the atrium lobby lounge and, if you get really desperate, there are usually some bowls of crisps on the bar.
SERVICE I've already said that service is not five star. Here at least some of the people try but they don't always succeed. Telephone calls can be an ordeal, requests out of the ordinary confuse, and you sometimes have to ask three or four times for something. However the people are generally friendly and try to help.
LOCATION Hotel Yerevan is on Abovian street, which is one of the main streets in the heart of the Commercial district. Immediately around the hotel are ATMs, a supermarket, souvenir shop and two night clubs. Down the street from the hotel you have several bars and good restaurants, and less than five minutes walk brings you to Republic Square. Up the street you have a couple more restaurants and shops, so plenty to choose from. At weekends the "vernisage" street market is less than ten minutes walk away.
The hotel gets used a lot for VIP meetings and functions and if any government ministers are attending they close the street off! So don't be surprised if you come back and find you have to walk from the previous junction! It's annoying but there is nothing you can do about it!
In summary, a nicely rennovated hotel in a great location. Overall it is good value, with rooms starting from around US$135, which is quite high for Armenia but much cheaper than hotels of a similar standard in other parts of the world. The facilities are basic but nice. I just wish they would sort out the breakfast!
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