Qafqaz Riverside Hotel

We recently stayed at Qafqaz Riverside Hotel for three nights as a family with children, and overall, it was a wonderful experience! From the moment we arrived, the hotel staff made us feel truly welcome — everyone was warm, kind, and attentive. The rooms were spotless and well-maintained, offering a comfortable space to relax after a day of exploring. The surrounding scenery was absolutely breathtaking — nestled by the mountains and riverside, it provided a perfect nature escape for the whole family. A special highlight of our trip was celebrating our daughter’s birthday. To our delight, the hotel provided a complimentary birthday cake — a kind and thoughtful gesture that made our celebration extra special. We’re so grateful for that memory! Breakfast was tasty with a nice variety, though the live egg station had only one cook, which led to long wait times each morning. It would be great to see a second chef helping during peak hours to ease the wait. Also, while the front desk staff were always polite and helpful in person, a few of our in-room calls to “0” went unanswered. Having a bit more support at reception would improve the guest experience. Despite these minor issues, we had a lovely stay and would happily return. Highly recommended for families looking for comfort, nature, and hospitality in Gabala.

Beautiful Nature, But Overall a Disappointing Stay. The only truly beautiful thing about this hotel was the nature surrounding it — peaceful, green, and very relaxing. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was below average. We stayed in a one-bedroom villa. The furniture was old, the bed wasn’t comfortable, and the air-conditioning squeaked loudly all night long. There was also a strong smell of humidity in the room, which made it uncomfortable to stay in, especially for someone sensitive to that kind of smell. We usually sleep at home in total darkness, so it was impossible to get a good night’s sleep with the light coming in through the windows. There were no proper blackout curtains, which made things worse. On the next day we talked with reception, the hotel staff were nice and tried to be helpful, but their English was very poor. At times, they used strong or awkward words that didn’t sound appropriate when speaking to guests specially in the reception. I understood what they meant, but it came across as unprofessional — even though I believe they were trying their best. After long discussion, finally Mr. Ali Ahmed suggested to ask the housekeeping supervisor to help us, and when he came he added extra blackouts and fixed the AC. The breakfast had some variety, but if you care about what you eat or are looking for healthy options, you’ll be disappointed — there wasn’t much available. Overall, not worth the price, and I wouldn’t stay here again.

Overall, the hotel is wonderful with an exceptional location nestled among forested mountains and stunning nature. The hotel facilities are also excellent, including swimming pools and children’s play areas. In general, it was a good experience, and I hope that the observations will be taken into consideration to further enhance the hotel in the future.